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The common rock rat (''Zyzomys argurus'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found only in Australia, where it lives in the rocky areas of woodlands, grasslands and low open forests, particularly on the talus, or scree, of cliff slopes.〔Larson, Matthes, and Kelly. (Cliff ecology: pattern and process in cliff ecosystems ). Cambridge University Press, 2000. page 159. ISBN 0-521-55489-6, ISBN 978-0-521-55489-3〕 As a nocturnal animal, it spends the daytime nesting in cool rock crevices. Direct exposure to the sun can quickly result in heat stroke and death.〔Cronin, Leonard and Westmacott, Marion. (Cronin's key guide Australian mammals ). Allen & Unwin, 2008, p. 176. ISBN 1-74175-110-1, ISBN 978-1-74175-110-9〕 The rock rat is an overall golden brown with white belly. It can weigh anywhere 25–65 grams, with a head to body length of 85–140 mm. The thick tail is 90–125 mm long and contains fat deposits.〔 The tail is covered in overlapping scales and sparse hairs. The skin of the tail can easily be pulled off, allowing the animal to escape predators in some situations (this function is similar to that of lizard tail autotomy).〔Breed, Bill and Ford, Fred. (Native Mice and Rats ). CSIRO Publishing, 2008. p. 82 ISBN 0-643-09166-1, ISBN 978-0-643-09166-5〕 They are sexually mature at 5 to 6 months of age. The females have 4 nipples but litters average 2 to 3 offspring. Gestation is about 35 days. By the 10th day, the offspring are covered in fur, and by the 12th day their eyes are open. They are weaned by 4 weeks of age.〔Nowak, Ronald (1999), Walker's Mammals of the World, JHU Press, ISBN 0801857899〕 The life span of the Common Rock Rat in the wild is unknown, but an age of 4.2 years in captivity has been reported.〔〔Weigl, Richard (2005), Longevity of Mammals in Captivity: from the Living Collections of the World, E. Schweizerbart'sche ISBN 3510613791〕 Their diet consists of plant matter, grasses, seeds, fungi and insects.〔 ==References== * Baillie, J. 1996. (Zyzomys argurus ). (2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. ) Downloaded on 20 July 2007. * Musser, G. G. and M. D. Carleton. 2005. Superfamily Muroidea. pp. 894–1531 ''in'' Mammal Species of the World a Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. D. E. Wilson and D. M. Reeder eds. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Common rock rat」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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