Rattus tanezumi

Range: The range of R. tanezumi converges in the central and southern regions of Korea, with populations especially prominent in and near port cities including Jeju Island and Ulleung Island (Fig. 125). Interactions with R. norvegicus limit the distribution of the roof rat. On Jeju Island, the range of R. tanezumi was restricted to within 1 km of the port (Won 1967).

Sumber: Mammals of Korea: a review of their taxonomy, distribution and conservation status

DISTRIBUTION: Apparently indigenous to SE Asia, from E Afghanistan through highlands of Nepal and N India into S and C China (incl. Hainan Isl), Korea, and mainland Indochina (incl. offshore islands) south to Isthmus of Kra; also probably native to Mergui Arch., Andaman Isls, and some of the Nicobar Isls; also in SW peninsular India. Whether native or introduced to Taiwan and Japan is unknown (but see Yosida and Harada, 1985). Most likely introduced to the Malay Peninsula and islands on the Sunda Shelf (Medway and Yong, 1976) and nearby archipelagos just off of the Shelf, including the Mentawais (Musser and Califia, 1982; Musser and Newcomb, 1983). Certainly introduced to the Cocos-Keeling Isls (Musser and Califia, 1982), the Philippines (Musser, 1977 «), Sulawesi (Musser and Holden, 1991), and numerous islands east through the Moluccas and Nusa Tenggara (Musser, 1970 «, 1972, 1981 c) to W New Guinea (Sody, 1941), and farther east through Micronesia to islands of Eniwetok and Fiji (Johnson, 1962 «, b), but not to the Samoas where R. rattus occurs (Yosida et al., 1985).

Sumber: Order Rodentia - Family Muridae

Habitat. Human settlements and primary and secondary habitats in more tropical parts of its distribution and generally restricted to human settlements, agricultural areas, and cities in colder regions, from sea level to elevations of ¢. 2000 m. Food and Feeding. Oriental House Rats are highly adaptive and omnivorous, with similar food habits as the Roof Rat. They eatjust about anything, although they prefer more plant foods than animal foods and readily eat human trash. Breeding. Reproduction of the Oriental House Rat occurs year-round. Gestation is ¢. weeks, and litters usually have 3 - 7 young. Eyes open at c. 15 days old. Young can eat solid food at ¢. 3 weeks old, are weaned at c. 1 month, and reach sexual maturity as early as three months. Females reach maturity at weights of 80 - 100 g, although a minimum weight of 50 g has been reported. Activity patterns. The Oriental House Ratis primarily nocturnal, but in areas with high densities (cities in particular), it can be seen during the day. Most activity occurs early at night, usually before midnight. It is mostly arboreal and scansorial, generally making nests aboveground in walls, roofs, trees, bushes, and other dark and secluded areas. Movements, Home range and Social organization. Nests usually contain many individuals, with dominant individuals having better access to food and mates. The Oriental House Rat is probably ecologically similar to the Roof Rat; most ecological studies within the R. rattus species complex have been done on Roof Rats in Europe.

Sumber: Muridae

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Oriental House Rat is a vector for many disease and highly invasive, being a risk to native species and an agricultural and urban pest. Throughout its native and introduced distribution, it is vigorously trapped and poisoned to attempt to control populations, which are increasing across its distribution.

Sumber: Muridae

Descriptive notes. Head — body 105 - 215 mm, tail 120 - 230 mm, ear 17 - 23 mm, hindfoot 17 - 23 mm; weight 100 - 200 g. The Oriental House Rat is a typical medium-sized species of Rattus, very similar to the Roof Rat (R. rattus). Pelage is short, sleek, and coarse, with mixed pale brown and black-tipped hairs throughout. Dorsum is usually various shades of brown and black, being less variable than is typical on Roof Rats. Venter is usually grayer white (but always white), with individual hairs having gray bases and buffy white tips. Ventral pelage is not sharply demarcated from dorsal pelage. Feet have darkgrayish brown stripe dorsally, being white on sides and fingers. Ears are dark and mostly hairless; vibrissae are long and stiff. Tail is ¢. 109 % of head-body length, scaly, and naked, being mostly unicolored brown, but ventral part of base can be slightly paler. Skull is similar to that of the Roof Rat. Various mites (including more than 50 species of gamasid mites), lice (Polyplax and Hoplopleura are common), fleas, and ticks have been recorded from the Oriental House Rat, as well as many endoparasites, including Taenia taeniaeformis (liver cestode), Rodentolepis (tapeworm in the duodenum), Raillietina garrison: (tapeworm in the small intestines), Angiostrongylus cantonensis (rat lungworm / nematode in lungs and pulmonary arteries), Nippostrongylus muris (intestinal nematode), Euparyphium (trematode in the small intestine), among others. There are five pairs of mammae: one pectoral, one post-axillary, one abdominal, and two inguinal. Chromosomal complement is 2 n = 42, FN = 60 (most populations) or 2 n = 40 (Sri Lankan population, with FN data not available).

Sumber: Muridae

Distribution. Native distribution ranged from E Afghanistan through N & NE India, Nepal, Bhutan, and N Bangladesh into C & China (including Hainan I), Korean Peninsula, and mainland SE Asia including many offshore Is S to the Isthmus of Kra; presently unclear whether the species is native or introduced to Taiwan and Japan. Native and introduced distributions are currently unresolved, especially because there are probably three distinct species, currently recognized as lineages. Introduced into in the Andaman and Nicobar Is, Peninsular Malaysia and Sunda Shelf Is, Philippines, W New Guinea, Eniwetok and Fiji within Micronesia and Palau, although these seem to be more recent than other introductions. Specimens from South America and S California, USA, have been genetically identified as this species, probably originating from individuals transported there by boats in recent times. Because of ambiguity between when species were introduced and confusion as to what populations are native or not, the more ancient introduced distribution of the speciesis included in the distribution map throughout Indonesia and Melanesia, but not in other regions where the species has been introduced more recently (North America, South Africa, and Micronesia).

Sumber: Muridae