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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