I just got back from a trip to Japan a few days ago and I was pleasantly surprised by the Kobe Animal Kingdom. It deserves a longer post on it’s own but for now I really wanted to highlight one of that taxa that I saw in their collection: the Northern Luzon Giant Cloud Rat (Phoeomys pallidus).

Some of my earliest posts on this blog were of animals I saw during a previous trip to the Philippines. It’s nice to be able to highlight another member of that faunal assemblage.

While the geological history of the formation of the Philippine archipelago is complex, it seems by the Miocene the landmass that became the island of Luzon had formed. Murid rodents, which include the common rats of dumpsters worldwide, made their way to that emergent landmass. This lineage may have arrived in the Philippines roughly 10 mya. Once on that landmass, they evolved into forms not seen elsewhere.

This species is rather large, the individuals here are about the size of a cottontail rabbit. They also seem much slower and deliberate with their movements unlike what we think of rats normally. There are 2 species of Phoeomys cloud rat. The Southern Luzon cloud rat (P. cumingi) is slightly smaller and typically sporting a dark brown pelage. This northern species, has much lighter patches of fur. I’ve seen images of some individuals that look almost like giant pandas with their coat pattern.

All in all it was a real treat to be in the presence of this neat member of the Philippine fauna.