Pale Field Rat

Rattus tunneyi

Identification:

Body length 140 mm; tail length 120 mm; weight 80 g. Yellow-brown above; bulging eyes; tail shorter than head-body length.

Habitat and Range:

Mainland — grassy or tussocky open forest, cultivated pasture, pine plantations and canefields. Bay islands and wallum swamps. Northern Australia and along east coast of Qld.

Notes:

Attractive gentle animal. Nocturnal. Builds runways through dense grass. Most easily confused with the Bush Rat, also similar to the Fawn-footed Melomys, Ship Rat and Sewer Rat.

Traces:

Trackways through tussock grass. Droppings torpedo-shaped, usually pointed at one end (17 mm long by 4 mm wide).

Threats:

Unknown.

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