Rattus ranjiniae Agrawal & Ghosal 1969

665.

Ranjini’s Rat

Rattus ranjiniae

French: Rat de Ranjini / German: Kerala-Ratte / Spanish: Rata de Ranjini

Other common names: Kerala Rat, Ranjini’s Field Rat

Taxonomy. Rattus ranjiniae Agrawal & Ghosal, 1969,

Trivandrum, Kerala State,

south-western Indian Peninsula, India.

Placement of R. ranjiniaein Rattus is unresolved, and it has not been included in any phylogenetic studies. This unique species should eventually be included in different genus. Monotypic.

Distribution. Only scattered localities in Kerala, SW India.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 162 261 mm, tail 187-232 mm, ear 18-21 mm, hindfoot 44-47 mm. No specific data are available for body weight. Ranjini’s Rat is medium to large and distinctive. Pelage is long and soft, with soft spines throughout; dorsum is grayish brown; and venter is off white. Hindfeet are long and slender; claws are rather long proportionally compared with other species of Rattus. Ears are fairly short; vibrissaeare long. Tail is ¢.100% of head-body length, thin, and unicolored brown. Skull has large bulla, narrow incisive foramina, and short bony plate that does not extend past third molar.

Habitat. Arable land, waterlogged areas, and inundated cultivated fields at elevations up to 1000 m.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. Ranjini’s Rat is nocturnal and fossorial.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Endangered on The IUCN Red List. Ranjini’s Rat is known from a very fragmented and restricted distribution and few specimens. Nevertheless,it is considered a pestin Schedule V of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Major threats include conversion of agricultural fields for developmental activities and increased use of pesticides and other agrochemicals. Additional research is needed fully understand its natural history, taxonomy, and conservation threats.

Bibliography. Agrawal (2000), Corbet & Hill (1992), Johnsingh & Manjrekar (2015), Molur (2016j), Musser & Carleton (2005).