Amazon bamboo rat

The Amazon bamboo rat has a body length of over 60 centimetres (24 in) from the nose to the tip of the tail,[6] and weighs approximately 600–750 grams (21–26 oz).[5] The rat has a stout appearance, olive-grey fur streaked with black, and a tail with short, fine hairs.[6] It has elongated digits, which are an adaptation for the rat's frequent need to climb, hence the species name: dactylinus derives from the ancient greek word δάκτυλος (dáktulos), meaning "finger".[7][8][5] Its paws are covered with hundreds of bumps called tubercles to aid in climbing.[5] Despite being nocturnal, the Amazon bamboo rat has weak eyeshine.[5] The bamboo rat may benefit from weak eyeshine because it makes the rat more difficult to detect in the canopy, and because the rat moves so slowly that it does not require as much light. It has horizontally slit pupils, similar to those of a goat, to aid in its occasional diurnal activity.[5] Like other arboreal browsers, the Amazon bamboo rat has scent glands which it uses to mark its territory.[5]

Due to the restricted diet of arboreal folivores, many of them move slowly to avoid wasting energy. The Amazon bamboo rat's slow and cautious manner of climbing has the added effect of making its movements completely silent, helping to protect it from predators.[5] Because the rat moves so slowly, its displacement may only reach 62 meters (about 203 feet) in a single night.[5] If a bamboo rat is quietly approached, it will back away slowly and silently; however, the rat is capable of disappearing swiftly into the foliage if necessary.[5] This behavior allows the rodent to minimize its energy usage.

The Amazon bamboo rat lives in dense rainforest vegetation. There is also a report of its presence in a gallery forest in the cerrado.[6] It can be found in much of the Amazon Basin, in parts of Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.[1][6]