Rattus pyctoris

• Main Authors: Don E. Wilson, Russell A. Mittermeier, Thomas E. Lacher, Jr
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: unknown
• Published: Lynx Edicions 2017
• Subjects: Biodiversity; Taxonomy; Animalia; Chordata; Mammalia; Rodentia; Muridae; Rattus; Rattus pyctoris; Rata; Hodgson; Rattus rattus
• Online Access: https://zenodo.org/record/6827861; https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6827861

664. Himalayan Rat Rattus pyctoris French: Rat pugiliste / German: Nepal-Ratte / Spanish: Rata del Himalaya Other common names: Turkestan Rat Taxonomy. Mus? pyctoris Hodgson, 1845, “central region of Nepal.” Rattus pyctoris is in the R. norvegicus species group. Two distinctive morphs are known in western parts of its distribution that might warrant additional taxonomic research. Monotypic. Distribution. CE Iran, Afghanistan, E Uzbekistan, SE Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajik-1stan, N Pakistan, N India, Nepal, Bhutan, N Bangladesh, S China (Tibet [= Xizang], Yunnan, Sichuan, and Guizhou), and N Burma (= Myanmar). Descriptive notes. Head-body 140-215 mm, tail 135-213 mm, ear 19-25 mm, hindfoot 31-38 mm; weight 100-200 g. The Himalayan Rat is medium-sized and similar to the Brown Rat (R. norvegicus) but smaller with more densely furred tail generally and short broad snout. Pelage is long, dense, and shaggy. Dorsum is grayish brown with reddish hue, becoming paler on sides. Venter is yellowish white (typical) or grayish white (western), with creamy tipped hair and gray underfur; gray underfur can be patchily on chest or throat. Ventral pelage is sharply demarcated from dorsal pelage. Feet are white dorsally, lacking pearly luster that characterizes the Brown Rat and the Gag Island Rat (R. nitidus). Ears are small (typical), although some populations have larger ears (western), and are covered in mix of light and dark hairs; vibrissae are long. Tail is c¢.100% of orless than head-body length and is either weakly (typical) or sharply bicolored (western), being brown dorsally and paler ventrally. Skull is similar to that of the Brown Rat and the Gag Island Rat but with reduced anterolabial cusp, not found in either of the other species in the norvegicus species group. Various species of lice (Hoplopleura and Polyplax) and mites (Radfordia) have been recorded on the Himalayan Rat. There are six pairs of mammae: three axillary and three inguinal. Chromosomal complementis 2n = 42, FN = 61-72. Habitat. Highland habitats (e.g. ...