Pale field rat
Pale field rat | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Rodentia |
Family: | Muridae |
Genus: | Rattus |
Species: | R. tunneyi
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Binomial name | |
Rattus tunneyi |
The pale field rat (Rattus tunneyi) is a small
Taxonomy
The description of the species was published in 1904 by
Rattus tunneyi is also known as Tunney's rat,[5] and the Australian pale field rat.[6]
Description
The pale field rat is a medium-sized species of
Behaviour
The behaviour of the species is generally docile, and they are found living with others in loosely connected and scattered groups. Breeding takes place in the austral autumn, although this occurs a little later in the year with north-west subspecies. The litter size is around 4 young, but this may range from 2 to 11. As is usual in the genus, the
Distribution and habitat
Rattus tunneyi once occupied almost all areas of mainland Australia, but is now found only in tall grasslands in northern Australia.[8] The rats were once found as far inland as Alice Springs, but are currently restricted to coastal and sub-coastal regions. This species has become regionally extinct in some areas of its former range, which contracted greatly during the twentieth century.[4] An outlying specimen obtained from South Australia was probably collected at Kangaroo Island. The mainland occurrence in that region is only confirmed from sub-fossil specimens.[6]
The distribution range of the east coast subspecies R. tunneyi culmorum is from
The preference of habitat includes
Populations of pale field rats in the Northern Territory have declined substantially since European colonisation of Australia, with one study identifying a 15% reduction in the extent of occurrence and a 35% reduction in the breadth of occupied environmental space.[9] A significant contraction towards areas of lower fire frequency, higher vegetation cover, and higher rainfall was observed, which are likely refuge habitats that help to buffer the impacts of feral cat predation.[9]
Ecology
Pale field rats are vegetarians that eat grass stems, seeds, tubers and roots, and rest in shallow burrows dug in loose, crumbly soil during the day. The habitat is within the range of pastoralist leases and, with the introduction of cattle, local ecology has been degraded by soil compaction. Feral cats are also known to have placed pressure on the population.[10] This rat is terrestrial, foraging across the soil surface.[3]
The breeding period of the eastern subspecies is primarily around the austral spring (September to November). The northernmost group reproduce during the drier period of the year from March to August.[3]
Rattus tunneyi was identified as a damaging pest species in Queensland, where they feed at the roots of hoop pine, Araucaria cunninghamii, and destroy partially matured trees in plantation crops.[4]
References
- . Retrieved 14 March 2023.
- ^ .
- ^ ISBN 9780195573954.
- ^ ISBN 0207144540.
- ^ "Prm2 - Protamine-2 - Rattus tunneyi (Tunney's rat) - Prm2 gene & protein".
- ^ OCLC 62265494.
- ^ Braithwaite, RW; Griffiths, AD (1996). "The Paradox of Rattus tunneyi: Endangerment of a Native Pest" (PDF). Wildlife Research. 23 (1): 1–21.
- ^ Morris, K., Burbidge, A., Aplin, K. and Ellis, M. (2008). Rattus tunneyi. In: IUCN (2008). 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
- ^ S2CID 221758373.
- ^ Phillips, Nicky (28 December 2012). "Feral cats' devastating threat to native animals laid bare". The Age.