Ohiya rat
Appearance
Ohiya rat | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Rodentia |
Family: | Muridae |
Genus: | Srilankamys Musser, 1981 |
Species: | Srilankamys
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Binomial name | |
Srilankamys (Phillips, 1929)
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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.