Maned Rat Skull Replica

Description

Maned rat skull replica measures 2.5 x 1.4 x 1.1 inches. The Lophiomys imhausi skull is a museum-quality polyurethane resin cast from California Academy of Sciences specimen. 2-part skull (separate cranium and mandible). 1:1 scale. Made in USA.

The maned rat or African maned rat habitat ranges from nearly sea level, in Ethiopia and Somalia, to more typically drier highland forests and woodlands. These areas exist in Ethiopia, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya.

The maned rat is the world’s only poisonous rodent; they borrow toxins from plants to fend off predators. They can grow up to 14 inches long from head to tail. The coat consists of long silver and black-tipped guard hairs over a dense, woolly, grey and white undercoat. The face and limbs have short, black fur.

A mane of longer, coarser black-and-white banded hair extends from the top of the animal’s head to just beyond the base of the tail. A broad, white-bordered strip of hair borders this mane. These hairs cover an area of glandular skin.

Threats or excitment causes the rodent to erect is mane. This action exposes the glandular area. The hairs in this area resemble ordinary hair at the tips. However, they are otherwise spongy, fibrous and absorbent with a honeycomb structure.

Their diet consists of leaves, fruit and other plant material. It has been known to eat meat, cereals, root vegetables, and insects.

Scientific Classification

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Mammalia
• Order: Rodentia
• Family: Muridae
• Subfamily: Lophiomyinae Milne-Edwards, 1867
• Genus: Lophiomys
• Species: L. imhausi
• Binomial name: Lophiomys imhausi
• Conservation status; Least concern

Combining the Australian water rat skull replica, the greater cane rat skull replica, and the Gambian pouched rat skull replica with the maned rat skull creates a wonderful display of large rodents that survive by swimming, climbing, digging, and using plant poison.