The Gambian pouched rat (Cricetomys gambianus), also commonly known as the African giant pouched rat, is a species of nocturnal pouched rat of the giant pouched rat genus Cricetomys, in the family Nesomyidae.

In many African countries, giant pouched rats are valued as an important food item. They are easily tamed as pets, but were associated with an outbreak of monkeypox in the USA in 2003, and have since been banned from importation to the U.S.

Species Profile: Gambian Giant Pouched Rat. Large rodent capable of becoming highly destructive to agricultural crops and native species; may also serve as a vector of several diseases (Engeman et al. 2007)

The Gambian pouched rat (Cricetomys gambianus), also known as the African giant pouched rat, is a nocturnal pouched rat of the giant pouched rat genus Cricetomys, and is among the largest muroids in the world, growing up to about 0.9 metres (3 ft) long including their tail which makes up half their length.

1 day ago · Ronin, an African giant pouched rat, has entered the Guinness World Records for detecting over 100 landmines in Cambodia. Ronin, who is five years old, is one of 104 rodents trained to sniff landmines by the Belgian non-profit Apopo. A landmine sniffing rat is making headlines around the world ...

The Gambian pouched rat (Cricetomys gambianus) is a species of pouched rat of the giant pouched rat genus Cricetomys. It is among the largest muroids in the world, growing to about 0.9 m (3 ft) long, including the tail, which makes up half of its total length.

African pouched rat, (subfamily Cricetomyinae), any of five species of African rodents characterized by cheek pouches that are used for carrying food back to their burrows, where it is eaten or stored.

6 days ago · Ronin, a giant African pouched rat, is the first rodent to uncover more than 100 mines in Cambodia. ... The rats can check an area the size of a tennis court in about 30 minutes, the charity says ...

Pouched Rats as a term covers a few species of giant pouched rats (genus Cricetomys) found within the sub-Saharan region of Africa. They are large Nesomyidae rodents and while not true “rats” and only distantly related to the rats we know as rats, they do resemble rats.

5 days ago · A five-year-old giant African pouched rat has set a world record after detecting 109 landmines during his deployment since 2021 in Cambodia, AFP reported. Ronin was deployed in Cambodia’s Preah Vihear province in August 2021 to detect landmines and war remnants through sniffing. He became the most ...