X;

XEROMYS MYOIDES
(Pronounced ‘zer-omis my-oids’)
(False Water Rat)
Xeromys myoides, I hear you declaim,
What kind of beast could have such a name?
Could it be a pachyderm, saurian or bat?
No, it’s common name is "False Water-Rat."
So xeromys myoides originates from Latin;
A scientific name, just to fit the pattern,
Because it is most difficult, to say the least,
To locate an “X"-starting word for a beast!
But back to our subject, this Australian critter,
This false water-rat is no counterfeiter!
A rare mammal, it lives near South Alligator river,
And near Andranangoo Creek, its small nose all a’quiver.
It loves swamp habitats and tidal zones,
Paperbark thickets, reeds and mangrove it condones.
It’s clearly aquatic and food afloat it does grab,
Crunching on insects, worms and, particularly, crab.
It cosily nests in a mound of leaves and mud,
Which can be adequate as long as rivers don’t flood.
An Australian mammal, oh so rare!
We should leave it alone and never go where
It scampers about, hither and thither,
All along the banks of Alligator river!