Giant root-rat
| Giant root-rat | |
|---|---|
| Bale Mountains, Ethiopia | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Spalacidae |
| Genus: | Tachyoryctes |
| Species: | T. macrocephalus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Tachyoryctes macrocephalus Rüppell, 1842
| |
| Synonyms | |
|
Tachyoryctes hecki Neumann & Rümmler 1928 | |
The giant root-rat (Tachyoryctes macrocephalus), also known as the Ethiopian African mole rat or giant mole rat, is a rodent species in the family Spalacidae. It is endemic to Ethiopia's Bale Mountains. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland, where it can reach densities of up to 2,600 individuals per square kilometre. It is threatened by habitat loss.