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Cricetomys gambianus Waterhouse, 1840 (ITIS)
Gambian giant pouched rat, African giant pouched rat
Africa (Engeman et al. 2007)
Discovered in Florida in 2004, but was first introduced in 1999 (Perry et al. 2006)
Released by an exotic pet breeder (Perry et al. 2006)
Large rodent capable of becoming highly destructive to agricultural crops and native species; may also serve as a vector of several diseases (Engeman et al. 2007)
Currently established on Grassy Key, Florida (Engeman et al. 2018)
Gambian rat
Photo by John Woolard; USDA
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Distribution / Maps / Survey Status
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Selected Resources
The section below contains highly relevant resources for this species, organized by source.
State and Local Government
Engeman, R., G.W. Witmer, J.B. Bourassa, et al. 2007. The path to eradication of the Gambian giant pouched rat in Florida. In: Managing Vertebrate Invasive Species: Proceedings of an International Symposium. USDA/APHIS Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.
Engeman, R.M., M.L. Avery, A.B. Shiels, et al. 2018. Diverse examples from managing invasive vertebrate species on inhabited islands of the United States. Australasian Journal of Environmental Management 25(1):43-61.
Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Cricetomys gambianus. [Accessed Jul 14, 2019].
Perry, N.D., B. Hanson, B., W. Hobgood, R.L. Lopez, et al. 2006. New invasive species in southern Florida: Gambian rat (Cricetomys gambianus). Journal of Mammalogy 87(2): 262-264.