What is "rock rat"

The term rock rat has been used for several different types of rodents:

• Members of the family Muridae:
  • Zyzomys, an Australian genus in the subfamily Murinae
  • Aethomys, an African genus in the subfamily Murinae
• Members of the family Nesomyidae:
  • '' Petromyscus, a ''southwestern African genus in the subfamily Petromyscinae (though these are more frequently referred to as rock mice)
• Members of the family Octodontidae:
  • Aconaemys, a genus in Argentina and Chile
• Members of the family Petromuridae:
  • Petromus, an African genus often called dassie rats.
• Members of the family Diatomyidae:
  • Laonastes, a genus from Laos