Bandi rats
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| JE Gray , 1873 |
The bandi rats ( Bandicota ) are a genus of very large, rat-like rodents from southern and eastern Asia. Because of their burrowing way of life, they are also known as "mole rats"; however, this name is also applied to numerous other rodents.
Bandicut rats should not be confused with bandikuts , a group of marsupials. Originally, however, the bandikut rats were called bandikuts and the animals now called bandikuts were later named after them.
There are three types:
- The large or true Bandicota indica ( Bandicota indica ) is widespread in South and Southeast Asia, on some islands such as Java or Taiwan the species was introduced.
- The little bandi rat, also called Indian mole rat or Indian pestratte, ( Bandicota bengalensis ) lives on the Indian subcontinent and Myanmar. The species was introduced in some places in Southeast Asia.
- The Savile Bandicut Rat ( Bandicota savilei ) lives in northern Southeast Asia.
The small bandi rat is occasionally placed in its own genus Gunomys . The very extensive areas of distribution of the first two species mentioned were probably due to the connection of animals as cultural followers to humans.
With a head body length of up to 36 centimeters and a tail 28 centimeters, the great bandi rat is significantly larger than a brown rat . The weight averages 550 grams, but in extreme cases it can reach one and a half kilograms. The little bandi rat is significantly smaller with 20 centimeters plus 15 centimeters of tail. There is great variability in both types in terms of color, hair length and hair texture. There are gray, brown and almost black animals, as well as bandi rats with soft fur and those with bristle fur.
The original habitat of the bandi rats is tropical rainforest . However, the large and small bandi rats followed people into villages and towns as cultural followers. They dig a structure with several entrances, which can be recognized by a molehill-like elevation. The burrows reach up to 60 cm deep and include several chambers that are used for reproduction and the storage of food. They are often laid out in rice fields , where the animals often swim around. But you can also find them in Indian cities along streets and in backyards.
The small and large bandi rats are feared as pests in the cities in their area of distribution and in some places acquire a similar importance as the black rat and the brown rat. According to the IUCN , none of the species is threatened. The bandi rats were or are involved in the transmission of the plague and other diseases.
The Bandikutrats are systematically classified in the Rattus group , that is, they are closely related to the rats .
literature
- Ronald M. Nowak: Walker's Mammals of the World. 2 volumes. 6th edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD et al. 1999, ISBN 0-8018-5789-9 .
- Michael D. Carleton , Guy G. Musser : Order Rodentia . In: Don E. Wilson , DeeAnn M. Reeder (Eds.): Mammal Species of the World. A taxonomic and geographic Reference. 2 volumes. 3. Edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 2005, ISBN 0-8018-8221-4 , pp. 745-752.
