Distant relatives?

In response to a comment from Moonrat, I have done a bit of genealogical research, hoping to discover some long lost rodent relative. I was skeptical because Moonrat's appearance seemed to me to be more possum-like than rat-like. Quite reminiscent, in fact, of the opossum that sometimes engages in moonlight raids of my compost bin.

Alas, Moonrat is but a distant mouse relation. Native to the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, and Borneo, the moonrat (Echinosorex gymnura), also called Raffles's gymnure, is an insectivore, more closely related to the hedgehog than the mouse.

Sorry there's no relation, Moonrat. Give my regards to your Aunt Tiggy-Winkle.