Black-footed tree-rat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Black-footed tree-rat |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Mesembriomys
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| Species: |
gouldii
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| Synonyms | |
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Hapalotis hirsutus Gould, 1842 |
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The black-footed tree-rat also known as Djintamoonga (Mesembriomys gouldii) is one of two endemic arboreal rat species from the genus Mesembriomys found in the northern regions of Australia.
The species is one of the largest murids found in Australia.
Contents
Description
The tree rat has a greyish-brown coat that is shaggy and coarse and has a creamy white underbelly. The hind feet are black with well developed pads and strong sharp claws. They have large ears and a long tail with a brush of white hair at the tip. They grow to a mass of 830 grams (29 oz). The height of the rat is typically 250 to 310 millimetres (9.8 to 12.2 in) with a length of 320 to 420 millimetres (13 to 17 in).
Behaviour
The tree rat is solitary and nocturnal, it is arboreal sheltering in tree hollows and pandanus stands during the day.
Feeding
It is a folivore and frugivore and its diet may be supplemented by invertebrates such as termites and molluscs.
Distribution
Mesembriomys gouldii has a range extending from the savannahs of Cape York Peninsula in Queensland westward to the Kimberley region of Western Australia. Habitats such as tropical woodlands or open forest are suitable for the tree rat. It is not commonly found across the area and the population has been reduced between 30 and 50% in the last decade. The estimated population is 30,000.
