The southern giant slender-tailed cloud rat or southern Luzon giant cloud rat (Phloeomys cumingi), bugkon (in Filipino)
The southern giant slender-tailed cloud rat or southern Luzon giant cloud rat (Phloeomys cumingi), also known as bugkon in Filipino, is a vulnerable species of rodent of the murid family found only in southern Luzon in the Philippines.
Appearance
Size ranges from 44 to 48 cm. Tail length ranges from 32 to 35 cm. Weight ranges from 1.45 to 2.1kg.
Habitat
Tropical forests of the southern part of Luzon Island. Luzon and small neighbouring islands.
In the wild
Southern giant slender-tailed cloud rat in the wild, living in forests or shrub thickets. Their claw-like limbs with bare, broad soles, long toes and enlarged tubercles make them excellent tree climbers. All five toes of the forelimbs are adorned with large, tenacious claws. Rats are mainly nocturnal and spend most of their time in the crowns of trees. The Southern giant slender-tailed cloud rat feeds on young leaves, fruits, fruit and grain.
Breeding
A single cub of this species is born in a tree hollow or burrow in the ground. It is fully formed, with open eyes and covered with fur.
Captivity
The cage or enclosure for keeping must necessarily be made of materials that these animals will not be able to chew. The cage should be of the vertical type, as large a volume as possible. It is decorated with branches, shrubs, and a wooden house.
Feed and water for rats should be constant. A rat needs 30-40 g of food per day. Oats or wheat, seeds, nuts, greens, apples, carrots are suitable. Sometimes mealworms and grey bread soaked in milk should be given. Daily it is necessary to throw away not eaten food. It is necessary that the rat should have an opportunity to chew on bones or hard wood.
It is good for rats to run outside the cage.
Life expectancy in captivity is up to 13 years.
