Rare seriously, seriously cute chubby-cheeked rat discovered

July 9, 2023 1:40 AM

Rare seriously, seriously cute chubby-cheeked rat discovered near Melbourne. Shy broad-toothed rat found after a detection dog tracked down its bright green poo.
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries (20 comments total)

Hee! Ratty potato!
posted by prismatic7 at 2:01 AM on July 9, 2023 [2 favorites]

I am enjoying MetaFilter modless marsupial month thus far.
posted by But tomorrow is another day... at 3:32 AM on July 9, 2023 [8 favorites]

Stay sleeping, mods
posted by Fiasco da Gama at 3:38 AM on July 9, 2023 [3 favorites]

RAT isn't a word. It's an acronym

Round
Adorable
Toesies!

u no believe?

ⓇⒶⓉ
posted by lalochezia at 4:58 AM on July 9, 2023 [5 favorites]

A wildlife detection dog officer, Dr La Toya Jamieson, said Moss had been taught to associate the smell of broad-toothed rat scat with having a party.

If my dog is anything to go by, it is probably not hard to convince Moss that finding rodent poop is a celebratory occasion. Still, good boy!

This article claims that wildlife scientists refer to the broad-toothed rat as Australia's guinea pig, if anti-rat bias is making it hard for you to get excited for these lil guys.
posted by the primroses were over at 5:40 AM on July 9, 2023 [3 favorites]

I just want to boop that adorable little nose.
posted by johnxlibris at 7:40 AM on July 9, 2023

SQUEEEE!!!!!!
posted by kathrynm at 8:02 AM on July 9, 2023 [1 favorite]

SO CUTE
posted by cooker girl at 8:36 AM on July 9, 2023

Isn't that just a giant Russian hamster?
posted by amtho at 8:56 AM on July 9, 2023

Crossed with a miniature otter?
posted by amtho at 8:57 AM on July 9, 2023

Seriously, seriously cute indeed. And for more information about the Good Dogs involved in Zoos Victoria preservation work, including a video of Moss: The Fighting Extinction Dog Squad.
posted by EvaDestruction at 9:17 AM on July 9, 2023 [3 favorites]

I am enjoying MetaFilter modless marsupial month thus far.

Don’t want to ruin it for you but it’s a rodent! I checked.

It’s still cute. Had no idea Australia had any native placentals, other than bats.
posted by caution live frogs at 9:35 AM on July 9, 2023

This one needs to play cat-and-mouse with a manul. So much floof!
posted by supermedusa at 9:36 AM on July 9, 2023

Had no idea Australia had any native placentals, other than bats.

The broad-toothed rat is grouped with what are called the Old Endemics, Hydromyini who arrived in Australasia about 10 million years ago, unlike the johnny-come-lately New Endemics, Rattini who have only been there for three or four million years.
posted by zamboni at 9:51 AM on July 9, 2023 [2 favorites]

And not to be confused with invasive rats, which are a plague especially on remote islands where they seriously disrupt migratory seabird populations.
posted by kaibutsu at 10:12 AM on July 9, 2023 [1 favorite]

Eeeeeeee!!!
posted by kitten kaboodle at 10:44 AM on July 9, 2023

#roumd
#friend shaped
posted by The Ardship of Cambry at 4:45 PM on July 9, 2023

I'm just happy for Moss the Labrador who is living the life every Labrador dreams of.
Just wandering about the bush sniffing things, looking for a reason to party.
posted by nickzoic at 5:54 PM on July 9, 2023 [2 favorites]

I am enjoying MetaFilter modless rodent month thus far.
posted by y2karl at 7:43 AM on July 10, 2023

Bright green poo????
posted by The Adventure Begins at 11:18 PM on July 10, 2023