Maclear's rat

Maclear Rat ( Rattus macleari )

The Maclear Rat ( Rattus macleari ) is an extinct species of rat from Christmas Island. It was named after Captain (later Admiral ) John Lee Pearse Maclear Fiot, the captain of the research vessel HMS Flying Fish, which brought the first settlers in 1886 for soft Eight Island.

Description

The Maclear rat reached a head-body length of 21-26 cm and a tail length of 24 to 26.5 centimeters. The skull length was 4.2 to 5.3 centimeters and the Hinterfußlänge 4.9 to 5.4 centimeters. Characteristic were the distinctive upright black hair back. The coat was stained predominantly reddish gray and was towards the belly lighter.

Occurrence and habitat

The Maclear Rat lived in the jungle vegetation of Christmas Island.

Lifestyle and food

The Maclear Rat occurred in large groups. She was active at night and stayed on during the day under the roots of trees, rotting logs or in shallow burrows. They fed on plants, especially of the fruit of the papaya and young saplings. The reproductive period was throughout the year. The Maclear rat was described as being particularly common. On their nocturnal foraging she ran in all directions and made not before tents and accommodation support. There were frequent fights and a strange plaintive squeaks echoed here through the jungle.

Extinction

1896 founded miners at Flying Fish Cove a settlement to operate phosphate mining in the region. 1899 laid the supply ship S. S. Hindustan escaped on Christmas Island on of the house rat (Rattus rattus ) on the island. They dragged a pathogen such as trypanosomes, the mass extinction at the two endemic species of rats - caused - in addition to Maclear Rat Christmas Island rat. 1902/1903 was a company doctor only account for sick animals, even during the day crawling in her agony on the floor. 1903 was the Maclear - rat thought to be extinct. A search in 1908 failed.