Malayan field rat
Malayan field rat | |
---|---|
Conservation status | |
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1] | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Rodentia |
Family: | Muridae |
Genus: | Rattus |
Species: | R. tiomanicus |
Binomial name | |
Rattus tiomanicus (Miller, 1900) | |
The Malayan field rat, Malaysian field rat or Malaysian wood rat, (Rattus tiomanicus) is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is nocturnal and mainly arboreal and is found in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines. It is a common species and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed it as being of "least concern".
Description
The Malayan field rat has a head-and-body length of 140 to 190 mm (5.5 to 7.5 in) and a tail 150 to 200 mm (6 to 8 in). It has a weight of between 55 and 150 g (2 and 5 oz). The ears are large and nearly naked. The fur is smooth and flattened, interspersed with short spines. The dorsal pelage is a grizzled olive-brown with scattered medium-length black guard hairs, and the underparts are whitish. The tail, which is a similar length to the body, is a uniform dark brown. The feet are broad, and the soles have fine ridges for climbing. It differs from Annandale's rat (Rattus annandalei) in having sleek fur with spines and fewer mammae, and from the ricefield rat (Rattus argentiventer) in having plain white underparts and lacking an orange spot in front of the ear.[2]
Distribution and habitat
The Malayan field rat is known from Malaysia, Thailand, Sumatra, Borneo, the Philippines and many smaller islands.[1] Its typical habitat is primary and secondary forest, including coastal forest but it is seldom found in dipterocarp forests. It is also found in plantations, shrubby areas, grassland and gardens, but seldom invades buildings.[2]
Behaviour
The Malayan field rat is nocturnal. It climbs well and spends much of its time in trees as well as foraging on the ground. It hides in log piles, heaps of palm fronds, under fallen logs and in the crowns of palm trees. It feeds on both vegetable and animal matter, with oil palm fruits forming part of its diet.[2]
Status
The Malayan field rat is an abundant and adaptable species with a very wide range, a large total population and an ability to live in a number of different environments. No particular threats have been identified, and in some areas it is regarded as a pest. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being of "least concern".[1]
References
- ^ a b c Aplin, K. (2016). "Rattus tiomanicus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T19368A22445426. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T19368A22445426.en. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
- ^ a b c Francis, Charles M.; Barrett, Priscilla (2008). A Field Guide to the Mammals of South-East Asia. New Holland Publishers. p. 351. ISBN 978-1-84537-735-9.
Data related to Rattus tiomanicus at Wikispecies
- Musser, G. G.; Carleton, M. D. (2005). "Superfamily Muroidea". In Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 894–1531. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
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(Bandicoot rats)
- Lesser bandicoot rat (B. bengalensis)
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- Savile's bandicoot rat (B. savilei)
(White-toothed rats)
- Small white-toothed rat (B. berdmorei)
- Bower's white-toothed rat (B. bowersi)
- Kenneth's white-toothed rat (B. mackenziei)
- Manipur white-toothed rat (B. manipulus)
- Bagobo rat (B. bagobus)
- Camiguin forest rat (B. gamay)
- Lagre Luzon forest rat (B. luzonicus)
- Andrew's hill rat (B. andrewsi)
- Yellow-haired hill rat (B. chrysocomus)
- Heavenly hill rat (B. coelestis)
- Fraternal hill rat (B. fratrorum)
- Karoko hill rat (B. karokophilus)
- Inland hill rat (B. penitus)
- Long-headed hill rat (B. prolatus)
- Tana Toraja hill rat (B. torajae)
- Ryukyu long-tailed giant rat (D. legatus)
- Sody's tree rat (K. sodyi)
- Komodo rat (K. rintjanus)
- Gray-bellied mountain rat (L. bryophilus)
- Mindanao mountain rat (L. sibuanus)
- Bunn's short-tailed bandicoot rat (N. bunnii)
- Short-tailed bandicoot rat (N. indica)
- Ceram rat (N. ceramicus)
- Palawan soft-furred mountain rat (P. furvus)
- Flores giant rat (P. armandvillei)
- Sulawesi giant rat (P. dominator)
- Flores long-nosed rat (P. naso)
(Typical rats)
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(Giant Sunda rats)
- Annandale's rat (S. annandalei)
- Mountain giant Sunda rat (S. infraluteus)
- Bartels's rat (S. maxi)
- Müller's giant Sunda rat (S. muelleri)
- Salokko rat (T. arcuatus)
- Lovely-haired rat (T. callitrichus)
- Celebes rat (T. celebensis)
- Sulawesi montane rat (T. hamatus)
- Small-eared rat (T. microbullatus)
- Sulawesi forest rat (T. punicans)
- Tondano rat (T. taerae)
- Long-footed rat (T. apoensis)
- Spiny long-footed rat (T. echinatus)
- Kampalili moss mouse (T. orientalis)
- Luzon short-nosed rat (T. adustus)
- See also
- Aethomys–Chrotomys
- Colomys–Golunda
- Hadromys–Maxomys
- Melasmothrix–Mus
- Oenomys–Pithecheir
- Pogonomys–Pseudomys
- Stenocephalomys–Xeromys
- Otomys
- Others