The lesser ricefield rat (''Rattus losea'') is a species of

rodent Rodents (from Latin , 'to gnaw') are mammals of the Order (biology), order Rodentia ( ), which are characterized by a single pair of continuously growing incisors in each of the upper and Mandible, lower jaws. About 40% of all mammal specie ...

in the family

Muridae The Muridae, or murids, are either the largest or second-largest family of rodents and of mammals, containing approximately 870 species, including many species of mice, rats, and gerbils found naturally throughout Eurasia, Africa, and Australia. ...

. It was first described by

Robert Swinhoe Robert Swinhoe FRS (1 September 1836 – 28 October 1877) was an English diplomat and naturalist who worked as a Consul in Qing-era Taiwan (then known to Westerners as Formosa). He catalogued many Southeast Asian birds, and several, such as ...

in 1871 and is found in China, Laos, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.

References

* Rattus Rats of Asia Rodents of Southeast Asia Rodents of China Mammals described in 1871 Taxonomy articles created by Polbot Taxa named by Robert Swinhoe {{Rattus-stub