Discovering Australia's remarkable rodents
April 3, 2024 8:30 PM Subscribe
Happy World Rat Day! 🐀
Australia’s native rodent species are incredibly diverse - from the Rakali, an otter-like rodent with webbed feet, to tiny desert-dwelling Hopping Mice that weigh no more than a golf ball.
Discovering Australia's remarkable rodents
Greater Stick-nest Rat (Leporillus conditor). Sometimes called ‘Stickies” the Greater Stick-nest Rat is one of the larger native rodents, growing between 17-26 centimetres in body length and weighing up to 450 grams. They have fluffy yellow-brown to grey fur on their back and cream fur below, with a blunt snout, large, dark eyes and large, rounded ears.
The mainly nocturnal species builds large communal nests using sticks, dry grass, and stones. These nests can be up to one metre high and 1.5 metres wide, with tunnels leading from the outside to the centre of the structure where the animals place grass and other soft green vegetation.
The nests can be incredibly intricate, with multiple chambers and levels, and so strong they are almost impossible to pull apart. This sturdy construction is partially due to the Greater Stick-nest Rat’s sticky urine, known as amberat, which acts as an adhesive to glue the sticks together.
Nests can reach such grand proportions because they are built upon over several generations, occasionally even acquiring additional structures nearby. Up to 20 Greater Stick-nest Rats may occupy a nest at a time to shelter from predators and temperature extremes.
Greater Stick-nest Rat (Leporillus conditor). Sometimes called ‘Stickies” the Greater Stick-nest Rat is one of the larger native rodents, growing between 17-26 centimetres in body length and weighing up to 450 grams. They have fluffy yellow-brown to grey fur on their back and cream fur below, with a blunt snout, large, dark eyes and large, rounded ears.
The mainly nocturnal species builds large communal nests using sticks, dry grass, and stones. These nests can be up to one metre high and 1.5 metres wide, with tunnels leading from the outside to the centre of the structure where the animals place grass and other soft green vegetation.
The nests can be incredibly intricate, with multiple chambers and levels, and so strong they are almost impossible to pull apart. This sturdy construction is partially due to the Greater Stick-nest Rat’s sticky urine, known as amberat, which acts as an adhesive to glue the sticks together.
Nests can reach such grand proportions because they are built upon over several generations, occasionally even acquiring additional structures nearby. Up to 20 Greater Stick-nest Rats may occupy a nest at a time to shelter from predators and temperature extremes.
Great post chariot, what an amazing group of wild life - I love the Spinifex Hopping Mouse. But I'm glad most of your mammals have not migrated here - in NZ we have just two native mammals (both bats), and a wide range of ground-dwelling flightless birds.
posted by unearthed at 11:33 PM on April 3 [1 favorite]
posted by unearthed at 11:33 PM on April 3 [1 favorite]
But I'm glad most of your mammals have not migrated here - in NZ we have just two native mammals (both bats), and a wide range of ground-dwelling flightless birds
unearthed, yes, I am very sorry that Australian possums are causing so much damage to New Zealand. It's a great shame that due to the difficulty of catching them; and the biosecurity risks (tuberculosis) you can't just ship all the possums back to Australia.
I have bought several possum fur/Merino wool products made from feral New Zealand possums, both for myself (before I developed a wool allergy), and for gifts for friends.
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries at 12:09 AM on April 4 [2 favorites]
unearthed, yes, I am very sorry that Australian possums are causing so much damage to New Zealand. It's a great shame that due to the difficulty of catching them; and the biosecurity risks (tuberculosis) you can't just ship all the possums back to Australia.
I have bought several possum fur/Merino wool products made from feral New Zealand possums, both for myself (before I developed a wool allergy), and for gifts for friends.
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries at 12:09 AM on April 4 [2 favorites]
I'm sure I'm not the first to say this, but I love your animal posts, chariot pulled by cassowaries. Thank you.
posted by kimberussell at 5:52 AM on April 4 [1 favorite]
posted by kimberussell at 5:52 AM on April 4 [1 favorite]
what a wonderful post for all us Rats
Tigers and Dragons can suck it
posted by elkevelvet at 7:24 AM on April 4 [1 favorite]
Tigers and Dragons can suck it
posted by elkevelvet at 7:24 AM on April 4 [1 favorite]
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