Ohiya rat

The Ohiya rat, Srilankamys ohiensis, also known as the Sri Lanka bi-colored rat, is a rodent of the family Muridae and the only species in the genus Srilankamys. It is found only in Sri Lanka, where it is also known locally by a Sinhala name. The head and body measure 15 to 18 centimetres and the tail 19 to 21 centimetres. The fur is steel grey above, grading to pale yellowish grey on the sides, with pure white underparts, and the tail is distinctive: dusky purple above and white below, with a white tip all round. The head is relatively large, the ears are large and pink inside, the eyes are small and almond-shaped, the muzzle is pinkish and the feet are light-coloured. Animal Diversity Web places the genus in the subfamily Murinae, the Old World rats and mice, within the order Rodentia.