Common rock rat

Description

Zyzomys argurus is a rodent from the genus Zyzomys that occurs in Australia.Its distribution area consists of four separate populations: the Pilbara and nearby islands in northwestern Western Australia;from the Kimberley in northern Western Australia to North-West Queensland;the Tully Range in central Queensland;from Cooktown to Mount Inkerman along the east coast of Queensland.He usually lives in rocky areas.In the west of its distribution area it is more general than in the east.Z.argurus is both the smallest and the most widely spread species of its genus.The back is gold or gray brown,the bottom is white or light gray.The feet are pink from above.The ears are olive brown.The tail is rosy gray and gradually becomes thinner and more dense from the thick,bare root to the narrow,hairy tip.The head-body length is 74 to 124 mm,the tail length 90 to 122 mm,the hindfoot length 18 to 24 mm,the ear length 16 to 20 mm and the weight 35 to 75 grams.Females have 0 + 2 = 4 mammae.The species is active at night.During the day he sleeps in deep rock crevices.He eats seeds,roots,insects and fungi.Most young are born in the wet season (March-May),but youngsters are born all year long.