FlipFact of the Day:ย There are six cloud rat species (and two dwarf cloud rat species) that are native to the Philippines. All of them are either threatened or endangered. Among them, the Dinagat bushy-tailed cloud rat (๐๐ณ๐ข๐ต๐ฆ๐ณ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐บ๐ด ๐ข๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐ณ๐ข๐ญ๐ช๐ด) is the rarest and most elusive.
Long feared extinct, researchers unexpectedly rediscovered the 2.5-foot-long rodent in 2012, nearly four decades after its first appearance on an island northeast of Mindanao.
In an article for Mongabay, Jeremy Hance described the animal as such:
The almost orange-colored rodent sports a long tail with a bushy white end. From head to tip-of-tail, the Dinagat bushy-tailed cloud rat is nearly 2 feet (21.6 inches, 55 centimeters) long, making it one of the worldโs longest rodents.ย
Few studies exist about cloud rats, largely due to their restricted distribution and general elusiveness. Interestingly, the earliest species conservation program of the Philippine Biodiversity Conservation Foundation focused on Philippine cloud rats. The group even adopted the cloud rat as its mascot, symbolizing the uniqueness and vulnerability of Philippine wildlife.
Today’s Science History Milestone:ย On August 22, 1875,ย British physicist William Eccles was born. Many consider him to be a pioneer in the development of radio communications technology. He also co-patented the flip-flop circuit, which became the basis of electronic memory in computers.
Still remember your 5th-grade science classes? Test your knowledge and see if you still remember these facts and fundamental concepts in human anatomy, biology, botany, and other branches of science. Click here to try the “Are You Smarter Than A Pinoy Fifth-Grader” Challenge.
Follow the hashtag #FlipFacts on Facebook and Instagram to get your daily dose of science trivia!
Cover: Tarsius Project; William Oliver/Philippine Biodiversity Conservation Foundation
References
- https://news.mongabay.com/2012/04/two-foot-long-cloud-rat-rediscovered-after-missing-for-forty-years-in-the-philippines/
Author: Mikael Angelo Francisco
Bitten by the science writing bug, Mikael has years of writing and editorial experience under his belt. As the editor-in-chief of FlipScience, Mikael has sworn to help make science more fun and interesting for geeky readers and casual audiences alike.
