Rabbit rat

White-footed rabbit rat ( Conilurus albipes ) Gould

The Australian Rabbits Rats ( Conilurus ) are a rodent species. The genus now includes only one living species, the brush -tailed rabbit rat ( Conilurus penicillatus ). A second type, the white-footed rabbit rat ( Conilurus albipes ) is extinct in the 19th century.

Characteristics and lifestyle

Rabbits Rats reach a body length 16-20 inches, added a 18 to 22 centimeters long tail. Their fur is gray -brown to dark brown at the top, the belly and the feet are whitish. While the white-footed rabbit rat had a soft fur, the fur of the brush -tailed rabbit rat is prickly. The ears and hind feet of these animals are relatively large.

While the brush -tailed rabbit rat lives in southern New Guinea and northern Australia, the white-footed rabbit rat was located in the eastern and southern Australia. The still living species inhabits a variety of habitats, such as sandy beaches and grasslands, as well as forests. It is nocturnal, during the day she sleeps in self-built grass nests, which they built in tree cavities or other hiding places. At night she goes in search of food, while they frequently searched the beaches in search of flotsam.

Endangering

The white-footed rabbit rat was in the 18th century still so frequently that they often penetrated into barns and stables. As a crop pest she was feared by the farmers. However, the rapid population decline began even then. Beginning of the 19th century it was already a rarity, and since 1845 no one has ever seen this kind. The rapid extinction is a mystery to this day. Possible causes include the competition will be discussed by introduced rabbits, hunting by also brought by the white foxes and cats and infection with diseases by brown rats.

The brush -tailed rabbit rat has a fragmented distribution area in northern Western Australia, the northern Northern Territory and South New Guinea. It is threatened by the readjustment caused by introduced animals and habitat destruction, the IUCN lists them as "low risk" ( near threatened ).

System

Systematically, the Rabbits Rats part of the Pseudomys group, a diverse, mainly living in Australia group of Altweltmäuse ( Murinae ).