Ohiya rat

Ohiya rat
Conservation status
Vulnerable  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Rodentia
Family:	Muridae
Genus:	Srilankamys Musser, 1981
Species:	S. ohiensis
Binomial name
Srilankamys ohiensis (Phillips, 1929)

The Ohiya rat (Srilankamys ohiensis), or Sri Lanka bi-colored rat, is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is the only species in the genus Srilankamys. It is found only in Sri Lanka where it is known locally as ශ්‍රී ලංකා දෙපැහැ මීයා in Sinhala.

Description

Head and body length is 15–18 cm. Tail is 19–21 cm. Steel gray above grading to pale yellowish gray on the sides. Underparts pure white. Tail distinctive. Dusky purple above, white below, the tip white all round. Head relatively large. Large ears pink inside. Eyes small, almond-shaped. Pinkish muzzle. Light-colored feet.

References

• de A. Goonatilake, W.I.L.D.P.T.S., Nameer, P.O. & Molur, S. 2008. Srilankamys ohiensis. 2009 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 6 October 2009.
• Musser, G. G.; Carleton, M. D. (2005). "Superfamily Muroidea". In Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 894–1531. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.