White-footed rabbit rat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids White-footed rabbit-rat |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Conilurus
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| Species: |
albipes
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The white-footed rabbit-rat (Conilurus albipes) was a type of rodent that is now extinct. This means it no longer exists anywhere in the world. It used to live in the woodlands of Australia, from Adelaide all the way to Sydney.
This rabbit-rat was about the size of a small kitten. It was one of the biggest native rodents in Australia.
Contents
What Was It Like?
The white-footed rabbit-rat was a nocturnal animal. This means it was active mostly at night. It lived among trees, making its home in hollow eucalyptus trees.
Its Home
It built its nests inside the hollow limbs of trees. These nests were filled with leaves and sometimes grass.
Baby Rabbit-Rats
Female rabbit-rats carried their babies attached to their teats. This helped the young stay safe and close to their mother. There's a story from Sir George Grey, a governor at the time. He once found a baby rabbit-rat clinging tightly to his glove after its mother had died.
Why Did It Disappear?
The white-footed rabbit-rat became extinct for several reasons.
New Animals
When European settlers arrived, they brought new animals like rats and cats.
- Rats might have spread diseases to the rabbit-rats.
- Rats might also have competed with them for food.
- Cats were likely predators, hunting the rabbit-rats.
Changes to the Land
Aboriginal people used a method called "firestick farming." This involved carefully burning parts of the woodland. This practice helped keep the woodlands open and healthy. When this practice stopped, the woodlands changed, which might have made it harder for the rabbit-rat to survive.
Last Sightings
The people of Sydney called this animal 'gnar-ruck'. This name means 'rabbit-biscuit'. It was a common sight in settlers' food stores around 1788. The last time a specimen was officially recorded was around 1845. However, some people reported seeing them later, in 1856–57, and even possibly in the 1930s.
See also
In Spanish: Rata conejo de pies blancos para niños
