The Phloeomys cumingi and Phloeomys pallidus are still off the endangered list because there is still a healthy population of these species in the wild. Unlike their parasite and disease carrying cousin rats in urban places, cloud rats are forest dwellers. They are slow moving creatures but are excellent tree climbers. Cloud rats are nocturnal creatures spending most of the day sleeping in the hole of large trees. Their diet is simple consisting mostly of tender young leaves, bananas, guavas, and young corns (Novak, 1999). Survival of cloud rats is threatened by hunting and wide scale deforestation. Cloud rats are usually hunted for their meat, which is a favorite finger food or pulutan during drinking session in rural areas. Others keep them as pets. Cloud rats are among the wildlife species protected by the Haribon Foundation for the Conservation of Natural Resources a member of the World Conservation Union with linkages with a number of conservation groups nationally and internationally.
Basic studies on the biology and health aspects of cloud rats should be encouraged to complement variouson-going conservation measures. In the Philippines, Maala and Arreola (1996) described the hair cuticles of the cloud rat from those of flying lemur and Philippine monkey by means of scanning electron microscopy. Based on the result of their study the three species could be differentiated from each other through the cuticular patterns of their hair. A study on the anatomy of the cloud rat is presently undertaken at the Institute of Biological Sciences, University of the Philippines Los Banos.
They actually look cuter compared to their rat relatives. Its amazing that they only live in mountains and pine forests of the Philippines. Sad that them and their habitat are decreasing every not even ever studied long enough. People should know and protect those areas where cloud rats and other endemic species live.
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