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Rattus fuscipes

Bush Rat at Cotter River, ACT

Rattus fuscipes at Cotter River, ACT - 14 May 2022
Rattus fuscipes at Cotter River, ACT - 14 May 2022
Rattus fuscipes at Cotter River, ACT - 14 May 2022
Rattus fuscipes at Cotter River, ACT - 14 May 2022
Rattus fuscipes at Cotter River, ACT - 14 May 2022
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Identification history

Rattus fuscipes 15 May 2022 DonFletcher
Unidentified 14 May 2022 pixelnips

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User's notes

Unable to definitvely identify as rattus rattus. Curious to see if it could be something else

2 comments

pixelnips wrote:
   14 May 2022
Apologies for the grotesque images
   15 May 2022
Hi pixelnips, Thanks for trying and thanks for trying to image all the feet that remain. As you apparently know, they are useful in distinguishing some rat species. A rat on Brindabella Rd well away from any watercourse could only be either Bush Rat (R fuscipes) or Black Rat (R rattus). The best features for ID are not present, i.e. tail length in relation to body length, and how far the ear folds forward in relation to the eye, but I think this might be a Bush Rat based on the following 3 features. Elongated post-hallucal pad, Tail pinkish and not very well furred, Upper surface of feet brownish, not whitish with black guard hairs.
BTW, some feedback on etiquette, for the future. In zoological forums you apologise for not having kept the specimen in your fridge/freezer so it could be examined properly, or for posting blurry images that didn't include every side of every anatomical part :-). They aren't grotesque to any proper person. Thanks and well done for bothering to consider what species this was, and for posting the photos to CNM.

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Nearby sightings

Page 1 of 1 - image sightings only 14 0 13

Eucalyptus fastigata (Brown Barrel) at Cotter River, ACT - 29 Jan 2023 by Tapirlord Eucalyptus globulus subsp. bicostata (Southern Blue Gum, Eurabbie) at Cotter River, ACT - 29 Jan 2023 by Ned_Johnston Eucalyptus globulus subsp. bicostata (Southern Blue Gum, Eurabbie) at Cotter River, ACT - 29 Jan 2023 by Tapirlord Hydrocotyle hirta (Hairy Pennywort) at Cotter River, ACT - 29 Jan 2023 by Tapirlord Billardiera macrantha (Mountain Appleberry) at Cotter River, ACT - 29 Jan 2023 by Ned_Johnston Astrotricha ledifolia (Common Star-hair) at Cotter River, ACT - 29 Jan 2023 by Ned_Johnston Astrotricha ledifolia (Common Star-hair) at Cotter River, ACT - 29 Jan 2023 by Tapirlord Plantago debilis (Shade Plantain) at Cotter River, ACT - 29 Jan 2023 by Ned_Johnston Olearia lirata (Snowy Daisybush) at Cotter River, ACT - 29 Jan 2023 by Tapirlord Cassinia aculeata subsp. aculeata (Dolly Bush, Common Cassinia, Dogwood) at Cotter River, ACT - 29 Jan 2023 by Tapirlord Petauroides volans (Greater Glider) at Cotter River, ACT - 4 Mar 2022 by Helberth Leucosarcia melanoleuca (Wonga Pigeon) at Cotter River, ACT - 31 Dec 2018 by KumikoCallaway
Eucalyptus fastigata (Brown Barrel) at Cotter River, ACT - 29 Jan 2023 by Tapirlord
Eucalyptus globulus subsp. bicostata (Southern Blue Gum, Eurabbie) at Cotter River, ACT - 29 Jan 2023 by Ned_Johnston
Eucalyptus globulus subsp. bicostata (Southern Blue Gum, Eurabbie) at Cotter River, ACT - 29 Jan 2023 by Tapirlord
Hydrocotyle hirta (Hairy Pennywort) at Cotter River, ACT - 29 Jan 2023 by Tapirlord
Billardiera macrantha (Mountain Appleberry) at Cotter River, ACT - 29 Jan 2023 by Ned_Johnston
Astrotricha ledifolia (Common Star-hair) at Cotter River, ACT - 29 Jan 2023 by Ned_Johnston
Astrotricha ledifolia (Common Star-hair) at Cotter River, ACT - 29 Jan 2023 by Tapirlord
Plantago debilis (Shade Plantain) at Cotter River, ACT - 29 Jan 2023 by Ned_Johnston
Olearia lirata (Snowy Daisybush) at Cotter River, ACT - 29 Jan 2023 by Tapirlord
Cassinia aculeata subsp. aculeata (Dolly Bush, Common Cassinia, Dogwood) at Cotter River, ACT - 29 Jan 2023 by Tapirlord
Petauroides volans (Greater Glider) at Cotter River, ACT - 4 Mar 2022 by Helberth
Leucosarcia melanoleuca (Wonga Pigeon) at Cotter River, ACT - 31 Dec 2018 by KumikoCallaway

Location information

Species information

  • Rattus fuscipes Scientific name
  • Bush Rat Common name
  • Not Sensitive
  • Local Native
  • Non-Invasive

Sighting information

  • 1 Abundance
  • 14 May 2022 01:16 PM Recorded on
  • pixelnips Recorded by

Additional information

  • Deceased Animal health

Record quality

  • Images or audio
  • More than one media file
  • Confirmed by an expert moderator
  • Nearby sighting(s) of same species
  • GPS evidence of location
  • Description
  • Additional attributes
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