Manticore (SciiFii)

The manticore (Gigalophiomys mantikorus), also known as the giant maned rat, the giant crested rat, and the lion-tailed giant rat, is a species of rodent of the subfamily, Lophiomyinae, most closely related to the maned rat (Lophiomys imhausi), that originally did not exist, but has since been created by SciiFii and introduced throughout the open woodlands, grasslands, shrublands, and scrublands of southwestern Asia to help boost biodiversity. The manticore is the largest member of the Muridae family, with the shoulder height of 1.3 meters (4.2 feet), the length of about 2.2 meters (7.2 feet), and weighing around 45 kilograms (99.2 lbs). Its diet in the wild consists largely of leaves, fruit, and other plant material, but it has been known to eat meat, cereals, root vegetables, and insects in captivity. Like the closely-related maned rat, the manticore eats the bark of Acokanthera oppositifolia and apply its, now toxic, saliva onto its tail bristles and mane. The bristles are loosely connected with the skin and are sometimes shot through the air when the manticore swing its tail. The manticore was once believed to be solitary in the wild, but is now known to be somewhat sociable, with multiple animals trapped in the same territory; they purr and groom one another. Thus it is possible they form family groups of a male, female, and offspring. The litter size is 1–3. The young are slightly haired at birth and white markings and black stripes on the body are visible after 9 days. By day 13, the eyes open. The hair is sufficiently long that the crest can be erectile by day 20. The newborns become mobile by day 23 and are weaned by day 40. The conservation status of the manticore is Least Concern due to successful conservation efforts and the manticore's tolerance to most of human activities.