Kingdom Animalia Order Rodentia Genus Bandicota Higher classification Bandicota | Phylum Chordata Family Muridae Scientific name Bandicota indica Rank Species | |
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Similar Bandicota, Lesser bandicoot rat, Rodent, Lesser ricefield rat, Mammal | ||
The greater bandicoot rat (Bandicota indica) is a species of rodent in the family Muridaefound in Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. It can grow to about 27–29 cm without including the tail which tail can grow to 28 cm.
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In Sri Lanka, the bandicoot rat is known as maha uru-meeya - මහ ඌරු මීයා" in the Sinhala language, the meaning of which directly translates to "pig-rat".
Description
The greater bandicoot rat has a dark gray-brown upper parts with a profusion of long, black hairs. Sides are gray with a few long, black hairs. Short, light gray fur occurs on the ventral surfaces. It has a dark and naked, scaly tail, and dark feet with light-colored claws. The young are much lighter in colour.
Reproduction
A female has between 8 and 10 litters. Young (8–14 per litter) are born blind and naked. Young reach sexual maturity around 50 to 60 days after birth. The lifespan of adults is around a year.
Behaviour
Large, aggressive bandicoot rats erect their guard hairs on their backs and emit grunts when disturbed. If caged with other bandicoots, it is likely to fight to death within a few hours. Usually, they occupy the outskirts of human dwellings such as compounds and gardens and are commonly found near garbage bins. Their burrowing habits cause great damage to grounds and flooring, as they can also tunnel through brick and masonry. Their characteristic large burrows give away their presence. They are not fastidious eaters, feeding on household refuse, grain, and vegetables, and are very serious pests in poultry farms. They are also a carrier for many diseases.
Parasites
Parasites of Bandicota indica include: