Thallomys paedulcus.
I had never seen this species before at Chester. Their exhibit is normally dark and the rats do not show themselves; but I chose to visit the Okapi House early to see the Lake Chilingali cichlids and I was amazed to see this rat sitting up beside the glass, calmly eating while the lights were still on. Another rat was sitting beside one of the food bowls. I think the keepers service the exhibit and put out the food before turning the lights out, and the rats don't wait: indeed they both disappeared when the lights went out at about 10.30.
