CLOUD RAT

any of three species of long-haired, arboreal Philippine rodents of the genera Phloeomys and Crateromys, belonging to the family Muridae (order Rodentia). Cloud rats are large rodents, roughly 35 to 50 cm (14 to 20 inches) long without the long, hairy tail. There are two species of Phloeomys: P. cumingi is more or less cream coloured with variable darker markings, and P. pallidus is brownish with dark ears, cheeks, and tail. Little is known of their habits. They are found from sea level to high mountainsides. The bushy-tailed cloud rat (Crateromys schadenbergi) is a black or black and white animal with a bushy tail. Found in mountain forests, it is nocturnal and reportedly vegetarian.