SEWELLEL

also called Mountain Beaver (Aplodontia rufa), burrowing rodent of western North America generally found in well-watered, forested areas. The sewellel is the only living member of the family Aplodontidae (order Rodentia). Nocturnal and vegetarian, it digs extensive burrow systems and gathers stores of food. It is stocky, thick furred, and reddish or brown with a grayish belly. It has small eyes and ears and has almost no tail. Its length is about 30 to 46 centimetres (12 to 18 inches) and its weight about 1 to 1.5 kilograms (2.2 to 3.3 pounds). The female bears two to six young in spring, after about one month's gestation.