Description
The Allegheny woodrat is a medium-sized rodent almost indistinguishable from the closely related eastern woodrat, although slightly larger on average, and often with longer whiskers. Adults typically range from 31 to 45 centimetres (12 to 18 in) in total length, including a tail measuring 15 to 21 centimetres (5.9 to 8.3 in). Males weigh 357 grams (12.6 oz) on average, while females are slightly smaller, weighing an average of 337 grams (11.9 oz).
It is the second largest member of the native North American rats and can weigh up to a pound, roughly the size of an eastern gray squirrel.
The fur is long, soft, and brownish-gray or cinnamon in color, while the undersides and feet are white. They have large eyes, and naked ears. Their most distinguishing feature is their tail: while the tails of European rats are naked with only slightly visible hairs, the tails of woodrats are completely furred with hairs about one-third of an inch long, and predominantly black above and white beneath.
The whiskers are unusually long, typically over 5 centimetres (2 in) in length. There are about fifty whiskers on each side, consisting of a mixture of stiff black hairs and softer white ones.
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