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Rodentia (rats & rodents)
Rattus exulans
EOL Text
Global Range: Native to southeastern Asia, west to eastern Bangladesh, and many islands in the southwestern Pacific Ocean (Roberts 1991; Musser and Carleton, in Wilson and Reeder 2005); most Pacific insular occurrences result from inadvertent or intentional introduction or possibly natural rafting (Musser and Carleton, in Wilson and Reeder 2005). Hawaii: Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Lanai, Maui, Kahoolawe, Hawaii, Kure Atoll, Popoia, Mokumanu, Kaula; Niihau?
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| Rights holder/Author | NatureServe |
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Polynesian rats (Rattus exulans) have an extensive distribution from Southeast Asia and New Guinea through the Pacific. They spread to several thousands islands in the western and central Pacific Ocean through the colonizing efforts of the Polynesian people. The rats were carried along on the large sea-going canoes with pigs, dogs and jungle cocks.
Biogeographic Regions: palearctic (Introduced , Native ); oriental (Introduced , Native ); australian (Introduced ); oceanic islands (Introduced )
- Tobin, M. 1994. Polynesian Rats. Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage: 121-124.
- Walton, D., J. Brooks, K. Thinn, U. Tun. 1980. Reproduction in Rattus exulans in Rangoon, Berma. Mammalia, 44/3: 349-360.
- Dwyer, P. 1978. A study of Rattus exulans in the New Guinea highlands. Australian Wildlife Research, 5/2: 221-248.
- Masaharu, M., L. Kau-Hung, H. Masashi, L. Liang-Kong. 2001. New records of Polynesial Rat Rattus exulans (Mammalia:Rodentia) from Taiwan and the Ryukyus. Zoological Studies, 40/4: 299-304.
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| Rights holder/Author | ©1995-2013, The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors |
| Source | http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Rattus_exulans/ |
Type; Renamed for Rattus exulans
Catalog Number: USNM 101764
Collection: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Division of Mammals
Sex/Stage: Male; Adult
Preparation: Skin; Skull
Collector(s): W. Abbott
Year Collected: 1899
Locality: Pulo [= Pulau] Tioman, Pahang, Malaysia, Asia
- Type: Miller, G. S. 1900 Aug 20. Proceedings of the Washington Academy of Sciences. 2: 213.; Renamed: Miller, G. S. 1901 Sep 25. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington. 14: 178.
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| Rights holder/Author | This image was obtained from the Smithsonian Institution. Unless otherwise noted, this image or its contents may be protected by international copyright laws. |
| Source | http://collections.mnh.si.edu/search/mammals/?irn=7240422 |
Comments: Opportunistic; eats mainly plant material in most areas; also invertebrates and small vertebrates (Wirtz 1972, Williams 1973).
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| Rights holder/Author | Hammerson, G., NatureServe |
| Source | http://explorer.natureserve.org/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Rattus+exulans |
Rounded Global Status Rank: G5 - Secure
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| Rights holder/Author | NatureServe |
| Source | http://explorer.natureserve.org/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Rattus+exulans |
Lectotype for Rattus exulans
Catalog Number: USNM 3730
Collection: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Division of Mammals
Sex/Stage: Unknown;
Preparation: Mounted Skin
Collector(s): Collector Unknown
Locality: Tahiti, Society Islands, South Pacific Ocean
- Lectotype: Peale, T. R. 1848. Mammalia and Ornithology. United States Exploring Expedition during the years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842 under the command of Charles Wilkes, U.S.N. 8: 47.
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| Rights holder/Author | This image was obtained from the Smithsonian Institution. Unless otherwise noted, this image or its contents may be protected by international copyright laws. |
| Source | http://collections.mnh.si.edu/search/mammals/?irn=7225139 |
As a prey species, these animals undoubtedly affect predator populations. In their foraging, they affect plant communities, as well as populations of small invertebrates upon which they prey.
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| Rights holder/Author | ©1995-2013, The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors |
| Source | http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Rattus_exulans/ |
Population
Population Trend
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| Rights holder/Author | International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources |
| Source | http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/19330 |
This species is widespread throughout both mainland and insular Southeast Asia (including the islands of Taiwan, Sumatra, Java, Bali and Borneo) (Corbet and Hill 1992; Musser and Carleton 2005). It is likely introduced and widespread in the Philippines and several Indonesian islands (including Sulawesi, Buru, Lombok, Sumbara, Flores), the island of New Guinea (approximate range only given). It has also been widely introduced throughout the Pacific (Corbet and Hill 1992; Musser and Carleton 2005). It is now extinct from North Island, New Zealand (Flannery 1995). The map for this species depicts only an estimate of the species extensive range.
| License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
| Rights holder/Author | International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources |
| Source | http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/19330 |
Type for Rattus exulans
Catalog Number: USNM 124888
Collection: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Division of Mammals
Sex/Stage: Female; Old adult
Preparation: Skin; Skull
Collector(s): W. Abbott
Year Collected: 1904
Locality: Banka Island [= Pulau Bangka], W side Klabat Bay [= Teluk Klabat], Sumatra, Kepulauan Bangka Belitung, Indonesia, Asia
- Type: Lyon, M. W. 1906 Dec 18. Proceedings of the United States National Museum. 31: 596.
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| Rights holder/Author | This image was obtained from the Smithsonian Institution. Unless otherwise noted, this image or its contents may be protected by international copyright laws. |
| Source | http://collections.mnh.si.edu/search/mammals/?irn=7246730 |