Pest rats
| Pest rats | ||||||||||||
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Pestratte ( Nesokia indica ) |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Nesokia | ||||||||||||
| JE Gray , 1842 |
The pest rats ( Nesokia ) are a genus of rodents from the group of old world mice (Murinae). The genus includes two types. They are close relatives of the Bandikutrats and with them are integrated into the Rattus genus group within the old world mice.
The body of the pestratten is stocky, the head is short and rounded, the snout is broad, the ears are rounded. The tail is relatively short, the toes have strong claws. At 0.1 to 0.5 kilograms, they are among the larger old world mice.
They are native to southwest and western Asia and inhabit different habitats.
There are two kinds,
- the red pest rat ( Nesokia bunnii ) and
- the pest rat ( Nesokia indica ).
The red pest rat, which is unique to Iraq , is larger and has more reddish fur and a hairier tail than the pest rat.
The Pest rats are systematically classified in the Rattus group , so 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 .
- 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 .
