Filipino wood rat
| Filipino wood rat | ||||||||||||
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Rattus everetti | ||||||||||||
| ( Günther , 1879) |
The Philippine wood rat ( Rattus everetti ) is a rodent in the rat genus that is found in the Philippines .
Taxonomy
The species cannot be assigned to any of the known subgroups of the genus rats. An examination of the mitochondrial DNA of several rat species revealed that the Philippine wood rat is either a very original form or that it is more closely related to other genera of the Rattini tribe ( Philippine moss mice , Tarsomys and Limnomys ). A later classification in a new genus is not excluded.
features
With a total length of 388 to 526 mm, a tail length of 211 to 257 mm and a weight of 170 to 490 g, this rat is a strikingly large rodent. It has 40 to 53 mm long hind feet and 22 to 30 mm long ears. The top is covered with harsh dark brown fur with several black hairs interspersed. On the belly there is white fur, occasionally with a yellow or orange shade. Typical is the long tail, which is longer than the head and trunk together. It has a dark color in the front area, while the last 20 to 50 percent are white. The other actual rats in the Philippines do not have a white tip and are mostly smaller.
Similar large specimens are only found in the Philippines moss mice. In these, the tail is shorter in relation to the rest of the body.
Distribution and way of life
With the exception of the province of Palawan , the species occurs in all of the Philippines. It lives in the lowlands and in mountains up to 2,400 meters above sea level. The Philippine wood rat can be found in various forms of forests. She visits neighboring landscapes with bushes.
The individuals are omnivores and mostly nocturnal. They move on the ground or climb trees. Seeds, fruits and invertebrates serve as food . There are four pairs of teats in females .
status
There are no known threats to the Philippine wood rat. The introduced rat species is competitive on set . The IUCN lists the species as Least Concern .
Individual evidence
- ↑ Don E. Wilson , DeeAnn M. Reeder (Ed.): Mammal Species of the World . A taxonomic and geographic Reference . 3. Edition. 2 volumes. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 2005, ISBN 0-8018-8221-4 (English, Rattus everetti ).
- ↑ a b c Heaney et al .: Rattus everetti ( en ) In: Synopsis of Philippine Mammals . The Field Museum, Chicago. 2010. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
- ↑ a b Rattus everetti in the endangered species Red List of IUCN 2016. Submitted By: Heaney, L., Alviola, P., Duya, MR, Tabao, M., Gonzalez, JC & Balete, D., 2016. Retrieved on December 6, 2017.