Little rice field rat

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Little rice field rat
Systematics
Family : Long-tailed mice (Muridae)
Subfamily : Old World Mice (Murinae)
Tribe : Rattini
Rattus group
Genre : Rats ( rattus )
Type : Little rice field rat
Scientific name
Rattus losea
( Swinhoe , 1871)

The small rice paddy rat ( Rattus losea ) is a rodent from East and Southeast Asia , which is one of the pests in agriculture there . The medium-sized rat is often found with other rats, such as rice field and house rats . Much is still unknown about the biology of R. losea .

Scientific names also used for this species are R. exiguus , R. hoxaensis (usually a synonym for R. argentiventer ) may also be used incorrectly .

distribution

Distribution area of R. losea

In the lowlands of East and Southeast Asia , two distinct forms of R. losea occur. One can be found in South China (including the Hainan Islands ), Taiwan and North and Central Vietnam . The second form is found in the Mekong Delta region in South Vietnam as well as in Cambodia , Thailand and northern Laos ( Vientiane Province ).

On the Malay Peninsula , south of the Isthmus of Kra, there is another, isolated population whose degree of relationship to the two previously mentioned is still unclear.

Appearance

The small rice field rat differs from other Rattus species in Southeast Asia in that it has smaller ears, a softer back fur and a shorter, finer ribbed tail. The two main populations mentioned above differ both morphologically and genetically. R. losea from Taiwan and North Vietnam are medium-sized rats (up to 90 grams) with a gray-brown back fur and a gray peritoneum, the tips of which can be white or cream-colored. The tail can be two-colored (upper side darker than lower side) and is usually 5 to 15 millimeters shorter than the head-torso length (120 to 185 millimeters). In comparison, R. losea occurring in Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and in the lowlands of Laos are smaller and more colorful (head-torso length 120 to 177 millimeters). Their back fur is brown to red-brown, the peritoneum is dark gray with yellow-brown hair tips. The tail is also somewhat shorter and dark on both the top and bottom. Their paws are dark.

Habitat

Rice fields, orchards and plantations are the habitat for R. losea , in the Thai province of Chaiyaphum a population in natural grassland has been described, which could possibly have been the original habitat. They mostly come together with larger rat species, but are inversely proportionate. It only becomes the dominant type of rat in areas (rice fields) with strong, irregular flood events and rice fields that have a very high water level.

reproduction

Reproduction is very much adapted to agricultural activities. Usually the reproductive phase begins during the tillage of the rice fields and ends a few weeks after the rice harvest. The average litter size is 7.5 pups.

Rattus losea as a pest

The small rice paddy rat is often described as a pest , due to its common occurrence with other, larger rat species ( rice paddy and house rats ) and their harmful effects, there is no detailed knowledge about the harmful effects of R. losea . Regionally, this species can occur as the main pest.

swell

  • KP Aplin, PR Brown, J. Jacob, CJ Krebs, GR Singleton: Field methods for rodent studies in Asia and the Indo-Pacific (= ACIAR Monograph. No. 100). Australian Center for International Agricultural Research, Canberra 2003, ISBN 1-86320-393-1 (book), ISBN 1-86320-394-X (electronic).

Web link