Tuesday 18 June Whitehead's spiny rat (Maxomys whiteheadi)
Whitehead's spiny rat fact file - Find out more - Print
factsheet Whitehead's spiny rat description Named after the
British explorer John Whitehead who first documented its
existence (3), Whitehead’s spiny rat (Maxomys whiteheadi) has
reddish-brown upperparts with grey underfur (2) (4). As its name
suggests, Whitehead’s spiny rat also has numerous inflexible
grey spines with black tips on its upperparts, which are thought
to be for protection. The underparts are orange-buff with grey
underfur and numerous soft, pale spines (4) (5). The tail, which
is shorter than the head and body length combined, is
bicoloured, with a brown-black upperside separated from a white
underside by a sharp line (6). Male Whitehead’s spiny rats
generally have longer hindfeet than females. This species of rat
has the largest teeth of all Maxomys species. Six subspecies of
Whitehead’s spiny rat are currently recognised, all of which
differ slightly in appearance (7). - Also kn