Sulawesi spiny rat

rodent

Also known as: Echiothrix leucura

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July 16, 2026

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The Sulawesi spiny rat is one of 24 species of carnivorous, ground-dwelling rodents found exclusively on the tropical islands of Sulawesi, the Philippines, and New Guinea. These mammals have small eyes, long whiskers, and wide front feet. The Sulawesi spiny rat is the largest among them, measuring up to 23 cm (9.1 inches) and weighing up to 310 grams (11 ounces). Its coat is notably prickly, a striking exception among shrew rats. They are nocturnal and forage for food by probing through wet leaf litter and moss. The Sulawesi spiny rat belongs to the subfamily Murinae, within the family Muridae, and the order Rodentia.1

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shrew rat
Natural history
…the prickly coat of the Sulawesi spiny rat (Echiothrix leucura) is a striking exception. The Sulawesi spiny rat is the largest shrew rat, measuring 20 to 23 cm (7.9 to 9.1 inches), not including its slightly longer tail; it weighs 220 to 310 grams (about 8 to 11 ounces). Shrew…
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…the prickly coat of the Sulawesi spiny rat (Echiothrix leucura) is a striking exception. The Sulawesi spiny rat is the largest shrew rat, measuring 20 to 23 cm (7.9 to 9.1 inches), not including its slightly longer tail; it weighs 220 to 310 grams (about 8 to 11 ounces). Shrew…
Read More