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. montane habitats, inland cliffs, mountain peaks, and other rocky areas), cultivated land, and near residential areas at elevations of 1200— 4250 m. The Himalayan Rat is more commonly found in natural forests in western parts of its distribution and more around agriculture in the east.

Food and Feeding. The Himalayan Rat eats early ripening rice crops, bananas, and oranges; it might be omnivorous.

Breeding. In Guandon and Fujiang, breeding activities of Himalayan Rats peak in June and October, linked to rice maturation. In Xiamen, breeding peaks in March—-May and August—October. Numbers of embryos/female were 2-11 (mean 6-8) in the Pearl River Delta and 4-11 (mean seven) in Fujian; both varied throughout the year with highest number of embryos in August-October and March—-May.

Activity patterns. The Himalayan Rat might be nocturnal. It is terrestrial and builds nests in areas of dense ground cover.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Nests of Himalayan Rats have been recorded at average densities of almost 50 holes/100 m in dense ground cover. Nests are located in embankments and are most abundant in weedy embankments in rice fields. One study found that individuals anointed themselves with anal gland secretions of the Siberian Weasel (Mustela sibirica), but the implications ofthis are unknown. High densities in Fujian occur in November-December through to April, with substantial decline in May; densities in Xiamen tend to stay fairly stable in rice fields but vary in other habitats. In Guandong, Himalayan Rats reportedly migrated from rice fields to orange groves after rice was harvested.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Himalayan Rat has awide distribution and presumably large overall population; it is found in numerous protected areas and is considered an agricultural pest throughoutits distribution.

Bibliography. Aplin, Brown et al. (2003), Aplin, Chesser & ten Have (2003), Bekasova & Mezhova (1983), Bochkov & Fain (1997), Caldarini et al. (1989), Durden & Musser (1994), Hong Chaochang et al. (1989), Johnsingh & Manjrekar (2015), Niethammer & Martens (1975), Smith & Johnston (2016), Smith & Yan Xie (2008), Xu Zhongjian et al. (1995), Zheng Zhimin & Huang Yingxiu (1988) .