Greater bandicoot rat
| Greater bandicoot rat | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Muridae |
| Genus: | Bandicota |
| Species: | B. indica |
| Binomial name | |
| Bandicota indica (Bechstein, 1800) | |
The greater bandicoot rat (Bandicota indica) is a species of rodent in the family Muridaefound in Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. It can grow to about 27–29 cm without including the tail which tail can grow to 28 cm.
In Sri Lanka, the bandicoot rat is known as maha uru-meeya - මහ ඌරු මීයා" in the Sinhala language, the meaning of which directly translates to "pig-rat".
Description
The greater bandicoot rat has a dark gray-brown upper parts with a profusion of long, black hairs. Sides are gray with a few long, black hairs. Short, light gray fur occurs on the ventral surfaces. It has a dark and naked, scaly tail, and dark feet with light-colored claws. The young are much lighter in colour.[2]
Reproduction
A female has between 8 and 10 litters. Young (8–14 per litter) are born blind and naked. Young reach sexual maturity around 50 to 60 days after birth. The lifespan of adults is around a year.
Behaviour
Large, aggressive bandicoot rats erect their guard hairs on their backs and emit grunts when disturbed. If caged with other bandicoots, it is likely to fight to death within a few hours. Usually, they occupy the outskirts of human dwellings such as compounds and gardens and are commonly found near garbage bins. Their burrowing habits cause great damage to grounds and flooring, as they can also tunnel through brick and masonry. Their characteristic large burrows give away their presence. They are not fastidious eaters, feeding on household refuse, grain, and vegetables, and are very serious pests in poultry farms. They are also a carrier for many diseases.[3]
Parasites
Parasites of Bandicota indica include:
Rat-borne diseases
References
- ↑ Baillie J. (1996). "Bandicota indica". 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 19 July 2007.
- 1 2 Yapa, A.; Ratnavira, G. (2013). Mammals of Sri Lanka. Colombo: Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka. p. 1012. ISBN 978-955-8576-32-8.
- ↑ http://www.pestcontrolindia.com/know-your-pest/pest/rodent-bandicoot-rat-or-largergreater-bandicoot-rat-29-0-88.aspx
- ↑ Inder Singh, K.; Krishnasamy, M.; Ambu, S.; Rasul, R.; Chong, N. L. (1997). "Studies on animal schistosomes in Peninsular Malaysia: Record of naturally infected animals and additional hosts of Schistosoma spindale". The Southeast Asian journal of tropical medicine and public health 28 (2): 303–307. PMID 9444010.
- ↑ Singh, K. I.; Krishnasamy, M.; Ambu, S. (1992). "The large bandicoot rat, Bandicota indica, a new host for Schistosoma spindale, Montgomery, 1906, in Peninsular Malaysia". The Southeast Asian journal of tropical medicine and public health 23 (3): 537–538. PMID 1488714..
External links
- http://www.plantwise.org/KnowledgeBank/Datasheet.aspx?dsid=8439
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/2541/
- Musser, G.G.; Carleton, M.D. (2005). "Superfamily Muroidea". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M. Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 894–1531. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.