The bulldog rat (Rattus nativitatis) is an extinct species of rat formerly endemic to Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean. It was one of two rats endemic to Christmas Island, alongside Maclear's rat.
The head and body length was about 25 to 27 centimetres (9.8 to 10.6 in), considerably larger than black rats, and their backs were covered in a two-centimetre thick layer of fat. They have been estimated to weigh 250 to 300 grams (8.8 to 10.6 oz). They had short, thick tails estimated to be around 17.5 centimetres (6.9 in) long. Their hair was described as being thick, coarse and dark reddish-brown in colour, with a slightly lighter underside.[2] Despite being traditionally thought to be a part of the genus Rattus, the bulldog rat is now thought to be nested within Bunomys, a genus otherwise endemic to Sulawesi and the surrounding islands.[3]
Life historyedit
The rats lived on the higher hills and denser forests of the island. They lived in small colonies, in burrows among the roots of trees or under hollow logs of sago palms in primary forest. They were sluggish and never climbed. Bulldog rats have been suggested to have been half-dazed in daylight and were strictly nocturnal.[2]
Extinctionedit
The last record dates from 1903. They are suggested to have succumbed to a disease brought by black rats that had been inadvertently introduced by sailors, as mass die-offs are noted around 1902–1903, after which they were never seen again.[4]
Skulls of R. nativitatis and R. macleari
Referencesedit
^Lamoreux, J.; Burbidge, A.A.; Woinarski, J. (2016). "Rattus nativitatis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T19351A22443478. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T19351A22443478.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
^ ab"Rattus nativitatis — Bulldog Rat, Christmas Island Burrowing Rat". Species Profile and Threats Database www.environment.gov.au. from the original on 2 June 2011. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
^Ali, Jason R; Aitchison, Jonathan C; Meiri, Shai (5 May 2020). "Redrawing Wallace's Line based on the fauna of Christmas Island, eastern Indian Ocean". Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. 130 (1): 225–237. doi:10.1093/biolinnean/blaa018. ISSN 0024-4066.
^Wyatt KB, Campos PF, Gilbert MT, Kolokotronis SO, Hynes WH, et al. (2008). "Historical mammal extinction on Christmas Island (Indian Ocean) correlates with introduced infectious disease". PLOS ONE. 3 (11): e3602. Bibcode:2008PLoSO...3.3602W. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0003602. PMC2572834. PMID 18985148.
Further readingedit
Flannery, Tim & Schouten, Peter (2001). A Gap in Nature: Discovering the World's Extinct Animals. Atlantic Monthly Press, New York. ISBN978-0-87113-797-5.
This Rattus article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
bulldog, bulldog, rattus, nativitatis, extinct, species, formerly, endemic, christmas, island, indian, ocean, rats, endemic, christmas, island, alongside, maclear, conservation, statusextinct, 1903, iucn, scientific, classificationdomain, eukaryotakingdom, ani. The bulldog rat Rattus nativitatis is an extinct species of rat formerly endemic to Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean It was one of two rats endemic to Christmas Island alongside Maclear s rat Bulldog ratConservation statusExtinct 1903 IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass MammaliaOrder RodentiaFamily MuridaeGenus RattusSpecies R nativitatisBinomial name Rattus nativitatis Thomas 1888 Contents 1 Description 2 Life history 3 Extinction 4 References 5 Further readingDescription editThe head and body length was about 25 to 27 centimetres 9 8 to 10 6 in considerably larger than black rats and their backs were covered in a two centimetre thick layer of fat They have been estimated to weigh 250 to 300 grams 8 8 to 10 6 oz They had short thick tails estimated to be around 17 5 centimetres 6 9 in long Their hair was described as being thick coarse and dark reddish brown in colour with a slightly lighter underside 2 Despite being traditionally thought to be a part of the genus Rattus the bulldog rat is now thought to be nested within Bunomys a genus otherwise endemic to Sulawesi and the surrounding islands 3 Life history editThe rats lived on the higher hills and denser forests of the island They lived in small colonies in burrows among the roots of trees or under hollow logs of sago palms in primary forest They were sluggish and never climbed Bulldog rats have been suggested to have been half dazed in daylight and were strictly nocturnal 2 Extinction editThe last record dates from 1903 They are suggested to have succumbed to a disease brought by black rats that had been inadvertently introduced by sailors as mass die offs are noted around 1902 1903 after which they were never seen again 4 nbsp Skulls of R nativitatis and R macleariReferences edit Lamoreux J Burbidge A A Woinarski J 2016 Rattus nativitatis IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016 e T19351A22443478 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2016 1 RLTS T19351A22443478 en Retrieved 11 November 2021 a b Rattus nativitatis Bulldog Rat Christmas Island Burrowing Rat Species Profile and Threats Database www environment gov au Archived from the original on 2 June 2011 Retrieved 11 June 2020 Ali Jason R Aitchison Jonathan C Meiri Shai 5 May 2020 Redrawing Wallace s Line based on the fauna of Christmas Island eastern Indian Ocean Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 130 1 225 237 doi 10 1093 biolinnean blaa018 ISSN 0024 4066 Wyatt KB Campos PF Gilbert MT Kolokotronis SO Hynes WH et al 2008 Historical mammal extinction on Christmas Island Indian Ocean correlates with introduced infectious disease PLOS ONE 3 11 e3602 Bibcode 2008PLoSO 3 3602W doi 10 1371 journal pone 0003602 PMC 2572834 PMID 18985148 Further reading editFlannery Tim amp Schouten Peter 2001 A Gap in Nature Discovering the World s Extinct Animals Atlantic Monthly Press New York ISBN 978 0 87113 797 5 nbsp This Rattus article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte nbsp This Christmas Island related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bulldog rat amp oldid 1144344644, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
