Cane rat
The genus Thryonomys, also known as the cane rats or grasscutters, is a genus of rodent found throughout Africa south of the Sahara, the only members of the family Thryonomyidae. They are eaten in some African countries and are a pest species on many crops. The family name comes from the Greek word thryon, meaning a "rush" or "reed" and mys meaning "mouse".
| Cane rats Temporal range: | |
|---|---|
| A man with a greater cane rat (Thryonomys swinderianus) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Suborder: | Hystricomorpha |
| Infraorder: | Hystricognathi |
| Parvorder: | Phiomorpha |
| Family: | Thryonomyidae |
| Genus: | Thryonomys Fitzinger, 1867 |
| Type species | |
| Aulacodus swinderianus | |
| Species | |
|
Thryonomys gregorianus (lesser cane rat) | |
| Reconstructed range of Thryonomys gregorianus (orange) and Thryonomys swinderianus (red), with overlapping ranges in stripe pattern. | |
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