Philippine Giant Cloud Rats

Never heard of it, would probably be your first reaction, but cloud rats (Phloeomys) do exist. At present, there are (probably) 18 different species living on several islands of the Philippines. Only two species are adequately described and several are extinct[1].

The northern Luzon giant cloud rat (Phloeomys pallidus), also known as northern Luzon slender-tailed cloud rat and buot in Filipino, is a large species of rodent. It is only found on Luzon, the Philippines.

This species is a very large rodent and weighs almost three kilograms and is around 75 centimeters long (including the tail). The colour of its relatively long pelage, which also covers the tail, is highly variable, but usually it is mostly very pale brown-grey or white with some dark brown or black patches. The northern Luzon giant cloud rats often have a black mask and collar, but can also be entirely white.

The northern Luzon giant cloud rat is only found in northern and central parts of Luzon, the Philippines. It prefers forest and scrub, but also occurs in degraded habitats such as plantations. In some areas it overlaps with the rarer giant bushy-tailed cloud rat (Crateromys schadenbergi), but that species mainly occurs at higher altitudes than the northern Luzon giant cloud rat.

The northern Luzon giant cloud rat is nocturnal and feeds on various types of vegetation. It can cause extensive damage to rice crops and are sometimes considered a pest. They are regularly hunted for food in the Sierra Madre and as a result it has been extirpated from some regions.

The only other described member of this genus, the southern Luzon giant cloud rat (Phloeomys cumingi), has a more southerly distribution, is generally somewhat smaller than its northern family member (although with some overlap), and it is entirely dark brown.

[1] Ochoa et al: Three new extinct species from the endemic Philippine cloud rat radiation (Rodentia, Muridae, Phloeomyini) in Journal of Mammalogy - 2021