large-headed rice rat
Hylaeamys megacephalus
About the large-headed rice rat
Hylaeamys megacephalus, also known as Azara's broad-headed oryzomys or the large-headed rice rat, is a species of rodent in the genus Hylaeamys of family Cricetidae, of which it is the type species. It is found mainly in lowland tropical rainforest from its type locality in Paraguay north through central Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, and Venezuela onto Trinidad and Tobago. To its west and east, other closely related species of Hylaeamys are found: H. perenensis in...
Key Facts
- Rarely spotted - fewer than 100 recorded observations!
Classification
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the scientific name of the large-headed rice rat?
The scientific name of the large-headed rice rat is Hylaeamys megacephalus.
How many large-headed rice rat sightings have been recorded?
25 observations of the large-headed rice rat have been recorded on iNaturalist.
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Featured in Beat Darwin
The large-headed rice rat was Beat Darwin's Animal of the Day on challenge #34 — April 14, 2026. Can you identify it in 3 attempts?
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