Cane rats

(Thryonomyidae)

Class Mammalia

Order Rodentia

Suborder Hystricognathi

Family Thryonomyidae

Thumbnail description
Robust rodents with stocky bodies, small ears, and short tails; body covered with sharply pointed, but pliable, spiny hairs; broad, heavily built orange-colored chisel-shaped incisors, with the upper ones grooved longitudinally at the front

Size
1.3–2.6 ft (40.9–79.3 cm); 3.1–14.3 lb (1.4–6.5 kg)

Number of genera, species
1 genus; 2 species

Habitat
Wooded savanna and grassland

Conservation status
Not threatened

Distribution
Common throughout Africa south of the Sahara in humid and sub-humid areas where dense grass or reeds are found

Evolution and systematics

The fossil record indicates that the genus Thryonomys existed in the central Sahara during the Pleistocene. Romer and Nesbit (1930) described fossil forms collected approximately 497 mi (800 km) from the Niger River as T. logani. Bate (1947) described another fossil form, T. arkelli, from Pleistocene deposits in Sudan. Walker (1975) mentioned that they occurred in Africa from the Upper Miocene to the recent era.

The African cane rats (family Thryonomyidae) includes only one genus Thryonomys and, although many varieties have been described, there are probably only two species, the greater cane rat (Thryonomys swinderianus) and the lesser cane rat (Thryonomys gregorianus). The name comes from the Greek thryon, which means rush, and mys, which means mouse. It makes reference to its common association with vegetation along waterways. Cane rats are more closely related to porcupines than to rats. At present, no subfamilies or subspecies are recognized.

Physical characteristics

Except for size and mass, there is a great similarity in the external features between the two cane rat species. The description here concentrates mainly on the greater cane rat for which more information is available. They are heavily built with a head that looks small for the body, including small ears and a squarely cut muzzle. The muzzle is used as a pad when they butt each other. When panicking in captivity, they will also ram the walls of the enclosure with the muzzle. The body is covered with spiny hairs that are firm, sharply pointed yet supple, and varies in color from a speckled yellowish brown to a speckled grayish brown. The lips, chin, and throat are predominately white, with a brown pellage mottled with white on the ventral surface. The skin is very weak and tears easily, however, it also heals easily. The dark-brown tail tapers and is covered with short, bristly hair. When caught by the tail, it can easily be broken off. In adults, the genital area is an orange color. The legs are strong, the feet well padded. The front feet have five digits, the first one being rudimentary and the fifth one small. The hind feet have four larger digits, the first one being absent and the fifth one small. All the available digits are strong and possess strong, powerful, and fairly straight claws.

Cane rats are the second largest rodents in Africa, surpassed in size and mass only by the porcupine Hystrix

africaeaustralis (26.4–28.6 lb; 12–13 kg). Cane rat males are much larger than females. The greater cane rat is about twice the size of the lesser cane rat.

The dental formula is (I1/1 C0/0 P1/1 M3/3) × 2 = 20. The two upper and two lower incisor teeth are broad, heavily built, and chisel shaped. The bright orange enamel layer covers only the incisors on the front, while the rest is dentine. The upper incisors are deeply grooved longitudinally on the outer surface. Regardless of the enormous incisors, there is no record of people being bitten by wild cane rats when handling them. They will rather make frantic efforts to escape, a process in which they may injure themselves badly.

Distribution

The greater cane rat is much more widespread in Africa than the lesser cane rat, and although there are overlaps in their distribution, they occupy different ecological niches. They occur in grassland or in wooded savanna areas of Africa south of the Sahara. Because of specialized habitat requirements, their distribution is discontinuous. They do not inhabit rainforest, arid regions, or deserts. The only exception being forests where there are clearings with a grassland invasion. Cane rats (or "grasscutters" as they are known in West Africa) can be found in virtually all countries of west, east, and southern Africa, as far south as the eastern Cape, South Africa.

Habitat

Cane rats can be found in swampy low-lying areas along river banks and streams where there are reed beds or areas of dense tall grass, as well as the higher altitudes on the eastern tropical escarpment where they are able to utilize drier terrain. They are good swimmers and will easily take to the water when threatened.

Behavior

Cane rats are predominantly nocturnal in the wild and travel through trails in the reeds and grass. They appear to live in small groups of up to 12 animals. In captivity, greater cane rats exist as family groups of one male and from one to seven females. The dominant male will not tolerate the presence of another mature male. The same behavior is anticipated in the wild where a family group will consist of a dominant male, few females, and their offspring. When alarmed, they stamp their hind feet on the ground, making a booming sound. They also make a loud whistling sound, as a stress or warning sound. When relaxed and eating, they make soft grunting noises. In the reed beds or grass runs, waste products of feeding and scattered piles of feces can be found. Although they have well-developed claws, they do not appear to burrow. Where there appears to be a lack of cover, they make use of existing holes, dug by other animals or caused by water erosion alongside river banks.

Feeding ecology and diet

They are vegetarian and eat the roots, shoots, and stems of various grasses. They cut the grass stems at the base with their powerful incisors, and then while sitting in an upright position, they manipulate the grass stem or other foodstuff with their front paws while pushing it into the mouth and chopping it into small pieces with the incisors. Grasses are their principal food, including elephant grass, Pennisetum purpureum, and buffalo or guinea grass, Panicum maximum. They consume the soft parts of the grasses and shrubs, and the drier sections and leaves are often discarded. They can become severe agricultural pests in some areas where crops, such as peanuts, maize, sorghum, wheat, cassava, and sugar cane grow in close proximity to their habitat. They are very fond of kikuyu grass and will raid lawns. They scratch the soil aside to expose vegetables such as potatoes and sweet potatoes or, in certain grasses, to expose the succulent underground stems or roots. Fermentation of food occurs mainly in the caecum and the animals are coprophagous. They produce two kinds of feces, hard pellets that are excreted and soft pellets that are reingested.

Reproductive biology

In captivity, cane rats are polygynous and the same is expected for the wild. The gestation period is 156 days (range is 137–172 days). It is possible for them to have two litters per annum, with litter sizes ranging from one to five young and even eight. Newborn young are precocial, meaning fully furred with open eyes. Mass at birth varies from 2.7 to 7.2 oz (75–204 g). Three pairs of teats are situated high on the sides of the abdomen, and females suckle their young while standing or lying on their bellies. The young are weaned at about four weeks. They stay with the parents until about five months when they become sexually mature. At this age, in captivity, the dominant male starts showing aggressive behavior towards the young males. Dominant young males also show aggressive behavior towards their brothers. Young females are not bothered. Cane rats produce throughout the year although birth peaks occur at certain times of the year, presumably during rainy seasons when more food is available. In captivity, birth can occur any time males and females are placed together.

Conservation status

Neither species is threatened.

Significance to humans

Cane rats can be a pest by causing great damage to vegetable gardens and crops. The meat of the cane rat is tasty and is widely utilized in African countries. Cane rat meat is much in demand, and they are often hunted in organized drives with spears, dogs, and firearms. In West Africa, people have traditionally captured cane rats in the wild and raised them at home. As an off-spin of this, some farmers have initiated organized cane rat husbandry. Because the meat is considered excellent and a huge market for the meat exists, some farmers in South Africa are showing an interest in farming these animals as micro-livestock.

Species accounts

List of Species

Greater cane rat

Thryonomys swinderianus

taxonomy

Thryonomys swinderianus (Temminck, 1827), Sierra Leone.

other common names

French: Le grand aulacode; German: Großen Rohrratte.

physical characteristics

Male total length 26.1–30.9 in (670–792 mm); tail length 7.0–7.5 in (180–192 mm); mass 11.0–14.3 lb (5.0–6.5 kg). Females total length 25.5–26.1 in (654–670 mm); tail 6.4–7.6 in (165–195 mm); mass 7.5–8.4 lb (3.4–3.8 kg). They have stocky bodies with strong limbs. The front feet are smaller than the hind ones. The small ears are broader than they are high and almost completely covered by fur.

The skull is powerfully built with enormous orange incisors. Information on the size of these animals in Africa varies greatly with weights of up to 19.8 lb (9 kg) being reported. In the southern African subregion, such large animals have never been reported.

distribution

Almost all African countries west of the Sahara. It does not occur in rainforests, deserts, and dry shrub. Corresponding with their habitat, they either have a wide or restricted distribution in the countries where they occur. They have been documented in West Africa from Gambia to Cameroon, Central African Republic, Sudan, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi,

Mozambique, Zambia, Angola, northern border of Namibia and Botswana, Zimbabwe, and South Africa.

habitat

They can be found in swampy low-lying areas along river banks and streams where there are reed beds or areas of dense tall grass.

behavior

Predominantly nocturnal. Occur solitarily or in small family groups with a dominant male, females, and young. When alarmed, they stamp their hind feet and make a whistling sound. They make grunting noises when relaxed and feeding. When fleeing, they run very fast and will easily take to water.

feeding ecology and diet

They are vegetarian and consume various kinds of grass, bark, and shrubs. They can be a severe pest in vegetable gardens and crop plantations.

reproductive biology

Assumed to be polygynous. Normal gestation range is 152–156 days. Two to four young at birth; range is one to six. Birth mass 2.8–5.3 oz (80–150 g). Weaning mass 13.1–24.1 oz (374–688 g).

conservation status

Not threatened.

significance to humans

Meat very popular in many African countries. Many families depend on the selling of cane rat meat for income. In South Africa, some farmers are experimenting to farm them on a commercial basis. On the other hand, they can be severe pests in vegetable gardens and crops and can be regarded as a local pest.

Lesser cane rat

Thryonomys gregorianus

taxonomy

Thryonomys gregorianus (Thomas, 1894), Kiroyo, Kenya.

other common names

French: Le petit aulacode; German: Kleine Rohrratte.

physical characteristics

Males total length 16.0–22.4 in (410–575 mm); tail 4.3–6.8 in (110–175 mm); mass 3.1–5.3 lb (1.4–2.4 kg). Females total length 19.3–21.1 in (495–540 mm); tail 4.9–5.5 in (125–140 mm); mass 4.0–4.2 lb (1.8–1.9 kg). Except for size they are similar in build to the greater cane rat, with similar features. The skull is powerfully built, with large orange incisors.

distribution

The lesser cane rat can be found in a narrow belt from northern Cameroon to East Africa, where they are common and widespread, and further south as far as Zimbabwe and parts of Mozambique. More thorough investigation may extend their distribution into parts of South Africa.

habitat

They prefer higher altitudes on the eastern tropical escarpment where they are able to utilize drier terrain including rocky habitats.

behavior

Nocturnal with some diurnal activity. They occur solitarily or in small family groups with a dominant male, females, and young. They prefer good grass cover but will also reside in rock crevices, under rocks, or in abandoned holes of springhare.

feeding ecology and diet

Vegetarian, feeding on the stems of many plants and grasses.

reproductive biology

Information sparse. Assumed to be polygynous. Records from eastern Zimbabwe reveal pregnant females during May (one female, two fetuses) and November (one female, three embryos).

conservation status

Not threatened.

significance to humans

The same as the greater cane rat. They play an equally important role as bushmeat. In cultivated areas, they are regarded as a pest due to the destruction of crops and vegetables.

Resources

Books

De Graaff, G. The Rodents of Southern Africa. Durban and Pretoria: Butterworths, 1981.

Meester, J. A. J., I. L. Rautenbach, N. J. Dippenaar, and C. M. Baker. Classification of Southern African Mammals. Transvaal Museum Monograph, No. 5. Pretoria: Transvaal Museum, 1986.

Mills, M., G. L. Hes, and H. L. Hes. The Complete Book of Southern African Mammals. Cape Town: Struik Winchester, 1997.

National Research Council. Microlifestock: Little-Known Small Animals with a Promising Economic Future. Washington, DC: National Academic Press, 1991.

Rautenbach, I. L. Mammals of the Transvaal. Ecoplan Monograph No. 1. Pretoria: Ecoplan, 1982.

Rosevear, D. R. The Rodents of West Africa. London: Museum (Natural History), 1969.

Skinner, J. D., and R. H. N. Smithers. The Mammals of the Southern African Subregion. Pretoria: University of Pretoria, 1990.

Walker, E. P. Mammals of the World. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins Press, 1975.

Wilson, D. E., and D. M. Reeder. Mammal Species of the World. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1993.

Woods, C. A. "Hystricognath Rodents." In Orders and Families of Recent Mammals of the World, edited by S. Anderson and J. Knox Jones Jr. New York: John Wiley, 1984.

Periodicals

Bate, D. M. A. "An Extinct Reed-rat Thryonomys arkelli from the Sudan." Annual Magazine of Natural History 14, no. 11: 65–71.

Romer, A. S., and P. H. Nesbit. "An Extinct Cane-rat Thryonomys logani from the Central Sahara." Annual Magazine of Natural History 6, no. 10: 687–690.

Van der Merwe, M. "Breeding Season and Breeding Potential of the Greater Cane Rat (Thryonomys swinderianus) in Captivity in South Africa." South African Journal of Zoology 34, no. 2 (1999): 69–73.

Van der Merwe, M. "Tooth Succession in the Greater Cane Rat Thryonomys swinderianus (Temminck, 1827)." Journal of Zoology, London 251 (2000): 541–545.

Van der Merwe, M., and A. van Zyl. "Postnatal Growth of the Greater Cane Rat Thryonomys swinderianus in Gauteng, South Africa." Mammalia 65, no. 4 (2001): 495–507.

Mac van der Merwe, PhD