The Laotian rock rat or kha-nyou ( Laonastes aenigmamus ) is a rodent species of the Khammouan area of Laos , first named in 2005 . The Laotian rock rat or kha-nyou ( Laonastes aenigmamus ) , sometimes called the `` rat-squirrel '' , is a rodent species of the Khammouan region of Laos .