Dedenne

The **dedenne** (*Voltarattus pokevus*) is a species of rat-sized mouse that originally did not exist, but has since been created by SciiFii due to the demand for Pokémon-like animals as pets. However, due to pet releases by careless pet owners, the dedennes can be found throughout the mainland Africa, Eurasia, and Americas. The dedenne is a rather large murid and can weigh twice as much as a black rat (*Rattus rattus*) and many times more than a house mouse (*Mus musculus*). The head and body length ranges from 15 to 28 cm (6 to 11 in) while the tail ranges in length from 10.5 to 24 cm (4 1⁄4 to 9 1⁄2 in), therefore being shorter than the head and body. Adult weight ranges from 140 to 500 g (5 to 17 3⁄4 oz). Exceptionally large individuals can reportedly reach 900 to 1,000 g (31 1⁄2 to 35 1⁄2 oz) but are not expected outside of domestic specimens. Dedennes have acute hearing, are sensitive to ultrasound, and possess a very highly developed olfactory sense. Their average heart rate is 300 to 400 beats per minute, with a respiratory rate of around 100 per minute. The vision of a pigmented dedenne is poor, around 20/600, while a non-pigmented (albino) with no melanin in its eyes has both around 20/1200 vision and a terrible scattering of light within its vision. Dedennes are dichromates which perceive colors rather like a human with red-green colorblindness, and their colour saturation may be quite faint. Their blue perception, however, also has UV receptors, allowing them to see ultraviolet lights that some species cannot. The dedenne is nocturnal and is a good swimmer, both on the surface and underwater, and has been observed climbing slim round metal poles several feet in order to reach garden bird feeders. Dedennes dig well, and often excavate extensive burrow systems. A 2007 study found dedennes to possess metacognition, a mental ability previously only found in humans and some primates, but further analysis suggested they may have been following simple operant conditioning principles. Dedennes may also emit short, high frequency, ultrasonic, socially induced vocalization during rough and tumble play, before receiving morphine, or mating, and when tickled. The vocalization, described as a distinct "chirping", has been likened to laughter, and is interpreted as an expectation of something rewarding. Like rat vocalizations, the chirping is too high in pitch for humans to hear without special equipment. Bat detectors are often used by pet owners for this purpose. Dedennes also produce communicative noises capable of being heard by humans, such as bruxing (or teeth-grinding), squeaks, and quick clicking or 'burring' sounds. The dedenne is a true omnivore and, just like rats such as brown rats, will consume almost anything, but cereals form a substantial part of its diet. The dedenne can breed throughout the year if conditions are suitable, with a female producing up to five litters a year. The gestation period is only 21 days, and litters can number up to 14, although seven is common. They reach sexual maturity in about five weeks. Under ideal conditions (for the dedenne), this means that the population of females could increase by a factor of three and a half (half a litter of 7) in 8 weeks (5 weeks for sexual maturity and 3 weeks of gestation), corresponding to a population growing by a factor of 10 in just 15 weeks. As a result, the population can grow from 2 to 15,000 in a year. In the wild, dedennes prefer damp environments, such as river banks. However, the great majority are now linked to man-made environments, such as sewage systems. Just like pikachus, dedennes, when agitated, will use their red cheek pouches to create small electric shocks to scare off predators. The conservation status of the dedenne is **Least Concern** due to successful conservation efforts, the dedenne's wide range, and its tolerance to habitat loss, allowing it to survive and thrive in man-made habitats, including cities and suburbs, being viewed by humans as "Pokémon-looking rats" by many, despite being mice instead of rats.