What is a tree rat

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Related to Tree rat: tree mouse, roof rat

(Zool.)

any one of several species of large ratlike West Indian rodents belonging to the genera Capromys and Plagiodon. They are allied to the porcupines.

See also: Tree

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, published 1913 by G. & C. Merriam Co.

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You won't read about such things in any other magazine but a few days ago a certain editor of your acquaintance unexpectedly confronted a squirrel crouching on a limb so close the journalist could smell the acorns on his (the tree rat's) breath.

Plus, no mention of the iconic red squirrel, resident since the Ice Age, which Brussels downgrades to the status of a flying tree rat.

In addition to many birds, she has spied two hedgehogs in the borders and Roland, the resident tree rat, is a regular in the towering Washingtonia.

They include everything from the very small delicate mouse to large (frightfully large, actually) tree rat, various common field mice and even the infamous the carnivorous water rat.

Now with prices out of control, the lost arts of vegetable cultivations and bush tucker are making a comeback, and here out in the wilds of the northwest Midlands any tree rat, rook, wood pigeon or magpie that ventures onto my manor could quire easily end up as Sunday lunch for a family of ex-Eastenders.

It is, in fact, a tree rat. Like most rats, it is highly intelligent and will do clever things for foolish people to make videos of.

DON”T KILL RANDOM RATS!– The photograph below is a Black- footed Tree-rat (Mesembriomys gouldii). A dead one, accidentally killed by a resident in Howard Springs who mistook it for a Rattus rattus (our common introduced pest rat).

Please pass on the message that before killing rats that you are think are pests- make sure that they are not our natives!

Rat-sack, snap traps and other methods do not discriminate! If you are unsure if you have natives then you can live trap and then re-release if they are.

Keeping pets (in particular dogs and cats) under control and not allowed out at night when these nocturnal animals are out and about eating fruit.

This is a juvenile rat (pictured above), but generally they are larger than our pest rat, with darker ears and black feet and their tail looks like it is dipped in white paint.

These gorgeous creatures are endangered and although seemingly common in the Darwin and rural area they are declining greatly in numbers elsewhere- so let’s look after them!

ENHANCE THEIR HABITAT (like in our member’s program) is always helpful- plan some more of their favorite native fruit trees, and install nest boxes. In addition to try and retain, or begin to grow old growth trees that can harbor hollows by keeping any uncontrolled and hot fires out of your property and further landscapes.

REPORT IF YOU SEE THEM–
Many members and people in the rural area say they often see the Black-footed Tree-rat or that they live in an old car or roof.

If you can positively identify these fantastic rats and have seen them recently- then let everyone know. They are endangered and a lot less common further away from Darwin and the rural area. The more data on them the better.
Similarly any other species of native fauna, such as echidnas, sugar gliders and phascogales can be recorded.

You can upload your sightings of any native fauna species to the NT’s Wildwatch. Your sightings will be recorded in official records and be able to be viewed by others via NR Maps. Check out www.wildwatch.nt.org.au

If you are in our nest box program and the species are in the nest box we will be submitting this information for you.

Tree-rats live in eucalypt forest and woodland, preferring areas with tall eucalyptus trees with a dense under storey of shrubs and trees.

While tree-rats mainly live in trees, they spend time on the ground to forage. They nest in tree hollows and in pandanus when hollows are not available.

They can travel large distances to forage and their home territories are large. They are very secretive and territorial.

Black-footed tree-rat

The black-footed tree-rat (Mesembriomys gouldii) has large ears and a long tail with a brush of white hair at the tip.

Their greyish-brown coat is coarse and shaggy and their belly is creamy white. Their hind feet are black and strong with well-developed pads and strong claws.

Their incisors continue to grow throughout the animal’s life and are covered in a layer of tough enamel. Wear on these incisors forms a sharp leading edge, which is ideal for a diet of tough, woody plant material.

They breed throughout the year, usually with a litter size of one to three.

The young are born with upper incisors and their eyes closed. They weigh around 34g. They become adults at about 80 days old, with females weighing around 580g and males around 650g.

The black-footed tree-rat is considered vulnerable in the NT. If you see this species, report it to Parks and Wildlife immediately.

Tree rat or tree-rat may refer to the following rodents:

Squirrels (family Sciuridae), occurring worldwide;
Black rat (Rattus rattus), occurring worldwide;
Brachytarsomys (several species), from Madagascar;
Callistomys (the painted tree-rat), from Brazil;
Carpomys, from the Philippines;
Chiromyscus (Fea's tree rat), from southeastern Asia;
Conilurus, from Australia and southern New Guinea;
Diplomys labilis, the rufous tree rat, from Panama, Colombia, and Ecuador;
Diplothrix, the Ryukyus Islands tree rat, from the Ryukyu Islands;
Echimys, from Amazonia;
Kadarsanomys, Sody's tree rat, from Java;
Lenothrix, the gray tree rat, from Southeast Asia;
Lonchothrix, the tuft-tailed spiny tree rat, from Brazil;
Macaques, from SE Asia
Makalata, from Amazonia;
Mesembriomys, from Australia;
Mesomys, from Amazonia;
Niviventer langbianis, the dark-tailed tree rat, from Southeast Asia;
Papagomys armandvillei, the Flores giant tree rat, from Flores;
Pattonomys, from South America;
Phyllomys, from the Atlantic Forest of eastern South America;
Pithecheir, from Southeast Asia;
Santamartamys, the red crested tree rat, from Colombia;
Thallomys nigricauda, the black-tailed tree rat, from southwestern Africa;
Toromys, the giant tree rat, from Brazil;
Xenuromys, the mimic tree-rat, from New Guinea.

This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title Tree rat.
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