The plains rat, Pseudomys australis, is a conilurine rodent native to arid and semi-arid Australia, also called the palyoora, plains mouse or eastern mouse and known to Indigenous groups as the pallyoora or yarlie. It was once widely distributed across central Australia, including north-west New South Wales and south-west Queensland, but habitat degradation from grazing, introduced predators and drought have driven its decline, and it is listed as presumed extinct in New South Wales and Victoria. The IUCN lists it as vulnerable with a declining population. The species digs shallow connected tunnels beneath the cracking clay of stone-covered gibber plains and emerges at night to feed on seeds, stems and arthropods. It has a stocky build of around 65 grams, a head and body length of 90 to 145 millimetres and a tail roughly as long as its body. Grey first described it in 1832, and the genus name Pseudomys means false mouse.
Facts
Classification
Population Trend System (Realm) ThreatsAgriculture and Aquaculture 1 ThreatsInvasive and Other Problematic Species, Genes and Diseases 1 Living or Extinct Conservation Status Activity Pattern Connections
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Source Plains rat (Wikipedia)LeadQuote, Lead
is a conilurine rodent native to arid and semi-arid Australia
Sources
1. Plains rat (Wikipedia)
Lead, conservation status
the IUCN conservation status for the species is 'vulnerable'
Lead, population trend
the current population trend of the plains rat has been listed as 'declining' by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature
Threats, predators
Reduced vegetation cover and damaged burrows only makes it easier for introduced predators such as the European fox (Vulpes vulpes) and feral cat (Felis catus) to excavate shallow burrows.
Threats, habitat degradation
Habitat degradation mainly derives from introduced hoofed stock and land clearing.
Behaviour and ecology, diet
emerging only at night to feed on seeds, stems and arthropods
Behaviour and ecology, night activity
emerging only at night to feed on seeds, stems and arthropods
Behaviour and ecology, burrows
constructs a complex system of shallow connected tunnels beneath the cracking clay of gibber plains
Lead, present in recent research
While recent research has indicated the presence of the plains rat in areas such as the Fowlers Gap and Strzelecki Desert regions of New South Wales
Behaviour and ecology, lifespan
The lifespan of the plains rat is generally two years
Lead
is a conilurine rodent native to arid and semi-arid Australia
Child Taxon Of: Muridae, Taxonomy
the largest group, the Family Muridae, is inclusive of the Subfamily Murinae and Genus Pseudomys, of which the plains rat is classified
In Biome: Desert, Lead, arid habitat
is a conilurine rodent native to arid and semi-arid Australia
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