{{Short description|Species of rodent}} {{About|the Australian species}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}} {{Use Australian English|date=January 2012}} {{Speciesbox | name = Bush rat | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name=iucn>{{cite iucn |author1=Menkhorst, P. |author2=Lunney, D. |author3=Ellis, M. |author4=Burnett, S. |author5=Friend, T. |year=2016 |title=''Rattus fuscipes'' |errata=2017 |article-number=e.T19333A115146907 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T19333A22441590.en |access-date=9 March 2022}}</ref> | fossil_range = Holocene | image = Australian Bush Rat 5783.jpg | genus = Rattus | species = fuscipes | authority = (Waterhouse, 1839)<ref name="Darwin1839" /> | range_map = Rattus_fuscipes-distribution2.gif | range_map_caption = Distribution on subspecies-level: red=''R. f. fuscipes''; green=''R. f. greyi'', blue=''R. f. assimilis'', brown=''R. f. coracius'' }}
The '''bush rat''' or '''Australian bush rat'''<ref name="MSW3" /> ('''''Rattus fuscipes''''') is a small Australian nocturnal animal. It is an omnivore and one of the most common indigenous species of rat on the continent, found in many heathland areas of Victoria and New South Wales.
== Taxonomy == The description of the species by G. R. Waterhouse was published in the second part of the series ''Zoology of the Voyage of H.M.S. Beagle'', edited by Charles Darwin.<ref name="Darwin1839" /><ref name="MSW3" /> The species was assigned to the genus ''Mus'', a once broader classification, and later placed with the genus ''Rattus''. The collection of the type specimen was made when HMS ''Beagle'' was anchored at King George Sound, a port at the southwest of the continent. The capture was noted by Darwin as "caught in a trap baited with cheese, amongst the bushes ...".<ref name="Darwin1839" /> The type locality has been determined as Little Grove, Western Australia, {{convert|6|km|spell=in}} south of Mount Melville in the city of Albany. The population is regarded as the ''fuscipes'' species group, as the species has received various treatments of subspecies.<ref name="MSW3" />
Four subspecies are recognised, each occurring in different regions or habitat, these are<ref name="Menkhorst2011" /> * ''R. f. assimilis'', common in the coastal region of the south and east of continent, Rockhampton, Queensland to Timboon in Victoria * ''R. f. coracius'', north-east Queensland, Cooktown and Townsville, in rainforest at low or high altitudes * ''R. f. fuscipes'', the nominate found in south-west Australia extends from Jurien Bay to Israelite Bay * ''R. f. greyii'', southern subspecies found from Eyre Peninsula to west of Portland in Victoria
The subspecies ''R. f. coracius'' was once supposed to share a closer ancestry with the Cape York species ''R. leucopus'', which share a distribution range, although later evidence has not supported this morphological similarity.<ref name="MSW3" />
== Description == While there are not many characteristics that readily distinguish the bush rat from other ''Rattus'' species, it is characterised by having small tympanic bullae and a straight incisive foramen. Adult bush rats are smaller than the Australian swamp rat (''R. lutreolus'') and in addition, the bush rat's foot pads are a pink colour, whereas the swamp rat's foot pads are dark brown.<ref name="assimilis" /> The hair at the foot is short and pale in colour, subspecies ''R. f. coracius'' is notably darker.<ref name="Menkhorst2011" /> The feet are pentadactyl and all digits are clawed.<ref name="assimilis" /> The tail is a pink shade of brown, almost free of hair, with scales that overlap and give an obvious ringed appearance.<ref name="Menkhorst2011" /> The bush rat exhibits sexual dimorphism: the males are larger than the females in the species.<ref name="assimilis" /> Their prominent eyes are large, and this distinguishes them from the narrower snouted Cape York species ''Rattus leucopus'' where their range overlaps.<ref name="Menkhorst2011" />
The species varies greatly in coloration and size. The length of the head and body combined is from {{convert|100|to|205|mm|in}}, the tail is {{convert|100|to|195|mm|abbr=on}}; these measurements are approximately the same in the individuals. The ventral side of the pelage is a light grey or cream colour, which grades with the rufous flank and darker brown of the upper-side; the overall colour is a greyish or reddish brown. The length of the hind foot is {{convert|30|to|40|mm|in|abbr=on}} and the ear {{convert|18|to|25|mm|abbr=on}}. The average weight, for a range of {{convert|50|to|225|g}}, is {{convert|125|g|abbr=on}}. The number of teats is variable in the regional populations, the females bears one pair of pectoral teats and four at the inguinal region, except in the north of Queensland where the pectoral teats are absent.<ref name="Menkhorst2011" />
==Distribution and habitat== The bush rat is found primarily in the coastal regions of south and eastern Australia. While it is mainly found in the lowlands, the species is also found at higher altitudes in the Australian Alps. The coastal distribution extends to some offshore islands, including Kangaroo Island. The range of the southwestern subspecies ''R. f. fuscipes'' is through sclerophyll forest of a high rainfall region. Along the southern coast the subspecies ''R. f. greyii'' inhabits arid habitat, while subspecies ''assimilis'' is found from Victoria to Queensland.<ref name="Menkhorst2011" />
The habitat of ''R. fuscipes'' is terrestrial and favour wetter areas with dense undergrowth.<ref name="Menkhorst2011" /> The species constructs a shallow burrow that leads down into a nest chamber lined with grass and other vegetation.<ref name=iucn/>
==Threats== Some of the biggest threats to the bush rat include red foxes and feral cats, both introduced species. Evidence suggests that the incidence of fire can increase predation of bush rats due to the removal of undergrowth in which they are usually able to hide.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Responses of invasive predators and native prey to a prescribed forest fire|first1=Bronwyn|last1=Hradsky|first2=Mildwaters|last2=Craig|first3=Euan G.|last3=Ritchie|first4=Fiona|last4=Christie|first5=Julian|last5=Di Stefano|date=8 March 2017|journal=J Mammal 2017 Gyx010|volume = 98|issue = 3|pages = 835–847|doi=10.1093/jmammal/gyx010|doi-access=free|hdl=10536/DRO/DU:30100106|hdl-access=free}}</ref>
==Diet== The bush rat does not show much overlap in diet with other local rodent species. In the summer it consumes primarily fruit, arthropods, and seeds, but in the winter its main source of food is from a particular cyperaceous species. When found in the forest it consumes primarily fungi and various fibrous plant material.<ref>{{cite journal|doi=10.1071/WR9870035|last=Cheal|first=DC|year=1987|title=The Diets and Dietary Preferences of ''Rattus-fuscipes'' and ''Rattus-lutreolus'' at Walkerville in Victoria|journal=Australian Wildlife Research|volume=14|pages=35–44}}</ref> Bush rats have been observed feeding on nectar without damaging the blossoms, thus likely aiding in pollination.<ref>{{cite thesis |last=Saul |first=A. |date=2013 |title=Aliens replacing natives: are black rats effective substitutes for extinct native mammalian pollinators? |type= PhD thesis|publisher=University of Sydney |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/262301294 |access-date=21 October 2015}}</ref>
==Behaviour== thumb|Illustration accompanying the first description The bush rat is strictly nocturnal and is active year-round. Adults seem to be nomadic, but will rarely leave the forest floor.{{citation needed|date=June 2016}} The species is primarily herbivorous, consuming fungi and plant tissue, but includes arthropods in their diet.<ref name="Menkhorst2011" /> It is also the host to more parasites than any other Australian rodent.{{citation needed|date=September 2015}} They exhibit stereotypically normal behaviour when approaching an intruder; boxing, threat-posture, clash, approach. The bush rat is prey to some local predators, including dingos, foxes, birds of prey and reptiles.{{citation needed|date=December 2015}}
Bush rats tend to avoid areas impacted by humans, and populations tend to decline when anthropogenic influences in a region increase.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Lindenmayer|first1=D. B.|last2=Cunningham|first2=R. B.|last3=Peakall|first3=R.|year=2005|title=The recovery of populations of bush rat ''Rattus fuscipes'' in forest fragments following major population reduction|journal=Journal of Applied Ecology|volume=42|issue=4|pages=649–658|doi=10.1111/j.1365-2664.2005.01054.x|doi-access=free|bibcode=2005JApEc..42..649L }}</ref>
===Breeding behaviour=== The bush rat begins breeding around November and has litter sizes ranging usually between 4–5. The majority of individuals do not live to a second breeding cycle due to their short life span. The gestation period of the bush rat varies between 22 and 24 days. The "nursery" of the bush rat is its burrow. The nursing period lasts for about the first 20–25 days of life.<ref>{{cite journal|doi=10.1071/ZO9710371|last=Wood|first=DH|year=1971|title=The ecology of ''Rattus fuscipes'' and ''Melomys cervinipes'' (Rodentia: Muridae) in a south-east Queensland rain forest|journal=Australian Journal of Zoology|volume=19|issue=4|pages=371–392}}</ref>
==Notes and references== {{Reflist|1|refs= <ref name="Darwin1839">{{cite book |last1=Darwin |first1=C. |last2=Bell |first2=T. |last3=Gould |first3=E. |last4=Gould |first4=J. |last5=Owen |first5=R. |last6=Waterhouse |first6=G.R. |title=The zoology of the voyage of H.M.S. Beagle ... during the years 1832–1836. |volume=2 |date=1839 |publisher=Smith, Elder & Co. |url=https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/40299804}}</ref> <ref name="Menkhorst2011">{{cite book |last1=Menkhorst |first1=P.W. |last2=Knight |first2=F. |author-link1=Peter Menkhorst |author2-link=Frank Knight |title=A field guide to the mammals of Australia |date=2011 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=Melbourne |isbn=978-0-19-557395-4 |page=204 |edition=3rd}}</ref> <ref name="MSW3">{{MSW3 Muroidea|id=13001744}}</ref> <ref name="assimilis">{{cite web|url=http://www.wiresnr.org/bushrat.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080504155058/http://www.wiresnr.org/bushrat.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=4 May 2008|publisher=NSW Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service|title=Bush Rat – Rattus fuscipes assimilis}}</ref> }}
==External links== *[https://museum.wa.gov.au/catalogues/digitised-types/rattus-fuscipes-0 Image of the type specimen's skull and skin] {{Murinae (Rattus)}}{{Taxonbar|from=Q28970}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Rattus Category:Mammals of South Australia Category:Mammals of Queensland Category:Mammals of New South Wales Category:Mammals of Victoria (state) Category:Rodents of Australia Category:Mammals described in 1839