Tag Archives: Oryzomys luciae Major

Megalomys luciae (Major)

Saint Lucia Giant Rice Rat (Megalomys luciae)

The Saint Lucia Giant Rice Rat, also known as Saint Lucia Pilorie, was a very large rodent that formerly was restricted to the island of Saint Lucia in the Lesser Antilles.

The species was the second largest rice rat of the Caribbean, it almost reached the size of a cat.

The Saint Lucia Giant Rice Rat dissapeared in the latter half of the 19th century, it was last recorded in 1881, the reasons are the same as in all the other extinct Caribbean rice rat species.

*********************

Photo: Vassil

(public domain)

*********************

edited: 17.02.2020