American rock rat (SciiFii)

The American rock rat (Americanastes lutra), sometimes known as the "rat-squirrel", is a species of rodent, most closely related to the Laotian rock rat (Laonastes aenigmamus) of Asia and is a member of the family Diatomyidae, that originally did not exist, but has since been created by SciiFii and introduced throughout the rainforests, wetlands, forests, open woodlands, grasslands, and shrublands across North America to help boost biodiversity. The American rock rats look generally like rats, with thick, furred tails similar to a squirrel's, but limp. The head is large, with round ears and a somewhat bulbous bridge of the nose, and very long whiskers. Their fur is dark slate grey, with a blackish tail. The belly is lighter, with a small, whitish area in the center. Their eyes are beady and black. They are about 26 centimeters (10 inches) long with a 14 centimeter (5.5 inch) tail and weigh about 400 grams (14 oz). The American rock rats are known to be nocturnal. The American rock rats are predominantly herbivorous, eating leaves, grass, and seeds. They may occasionally eat insects as well, but not in high abundance. Females can give birth to between 1 and 7 young at a time. American rock rats appear to be quite docile and slow-moving over open ground. They walk with feet splayed outward in a gait described as duck-like. Although not ideal for mobility on open surfaces, this appears to be efficient when scrambling up and across large rocks. The sideways angle allows for greater surface area for their feet to find purchase on tilted or parallel surfaces. The conservation status of the American rock rat is Least Concern due to successful conservation efforts, the American rock rat's wide range and its tolerance to many of the human activities.