Pack Rat (Neotoma sp.) From: "scotus09@NoSpamhotmail.com" 
Newsgroups: alt.binaries.pictures.animals
Subject: Packrat - Packrat.jpg (1/1)
Date: Mon, 30 Oct 2000 23:57:16 -0600
Comments
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From: Chris Booton 
Newsgroups: alt.binaries.pictures.animals
Subject: Re: Packrat - Packrat.jpg (1/1)
Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2000 17:50:12 GMT
That's so cute, if I remember correctly pack rats are another name for a
wood rat, or trader rat.
Comments
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From: Carlos the ambiguous 
Newsgroups: alt.binaries.pictures.animals
Subject: Re: Packrat - Packrat.jpg (1/1)
Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2000 15:12:27 -0500
Yep.  Used to dig up runways to burrows (typically under large stands of prickly
pear, in S Texas) on behalf of Smithsonian entomology dept, screening the soil,
looking for larvae and adults of small (3 mm) beetles who's habitat seemed to be
restricted to that niche.  They ate the droppings.  Found three new specie,
one named after me.
Among other esoteric undertakings.
Warm Regards, Carlos
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A pack rat, also called a trade rat or wood rat, can be any of several species in the genus Neotoma, but most commonly the Bushy-tailed Woodrat (Neotoma cinerea).