The rabbit rats, genus ''Conilurus'' represent an unusual genus of
Old World rats
The Old World rats and mice, part of the subfamily Murinae in the family Muridae, comprise at least 519 species. Members of this subfamily are called murines. In terms of species richness, this subfamily is larger than all mammal families excep ...
from
Australia,
New Guinea
New Guinea (; Hiri Motu: ''Niu Gini''; id, Papua, or , historically ) is the world's second-largest island with an area of . Located in Oceania in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, the island is separated from Australia by the wide Torr ...
, and
Melville Island.
Head and body are 16.5–20 cm. Tail length is 18–21.5 cm. The tail is haired and has a distinct tuft at the end. These
nocturnal animal
Nocturnality is an animal behavior characterized by being active during the night and sleeping during the day. The common adjective is "nocturnal", versus diurnal meaning the opposite.
Nocturnal creatures generally have highly developed sen ...
s are found in habitats ranging from coastal areas, swamps, plains, and forests. They have been reported along the edge of oceanic surf, presumably feeding.
Young have been found to cling to one of the mother's four nipples while she forages. Gestation is 33–35 days.
Species
Genus ''Conilurus'' - rabbit rats
*†
White-footed rabbit rat
The white-footed rabbit rat (''Conilurus albipes'') is an extinct species of rodent, which was originally found in woodlands from Adelaide to Sydney, but became restricted to south-eastern Australia. It was kitten-sized and was one of Australi ...
, ''Conilurus albipes''
*†
Capricorn rabbit rat
The Capricorn rabbit rat (''Conilurus capricornensis'') is an extinct species of rodent from Queensland, Australia. It was described as a new species in 2010 on the basis of Pleistocene and Holocene dental remains. The specific name refers to th ...
, ''Conilurus capricornensis''
*
Brush-tailed rabbit rat, ''Conilurus penicillatus''
References
*Duff, A. and A. Lawson. 2004. Mammals of the World A Checklist. New Haven, Yale University Press.
*Nowak, R. M. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World, Vol. 2. Johns Hopkins University Press, London.
{{Taxonbar, from=Q738245
*
Mammal genera with one living species
Rodent genera