World's Deadliest Rat Can Kill An Elephant With 1 Bite
By: EjazUlHaqBhat
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The African crested rat, also known as the crested rat and the maned rat, is the deadliest of its kind
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It is the only known poisonous rodent, and the only known mammal to sequester plant toxins for use as a defense mechanism
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The unique element of the crested rat is its killer abilities. One bite is enough to kill
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In fact, the rat carries enough toxin to kill an elephant. It feeds on the bark of the African poison arrow tree, Acokanthera schimperi
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The bark, as well as the roots, stems, leaves and seeds of this tree, contain acovenoside A and ouabaine. These are heart stimulating chemicals called cardenolides
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It also has a particularly thick dermis or skin, making it very resistant to bites, and a very long, strong, and flexible spine with four extra vertebrae
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This species lives in forests, savannah and shrubland, favouring rocky terrain, and nesting in hollow tree trunks, holes, and hollows
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Crested rats seem to be mostly solitary, sometimes living within a small family group of male, female and offspring