Bandicoot Rat

Any of five Asiatic rodent species closely associated with human populations, such as the bandicoot rat. The biggest is the greater bandicoot rat (Bandicota Indica), which weighs 0.5 to 1 kg (1.1 to 2.2 pounds). The shaggy, blackish-brown body measures 19 to 33 cm (7.5 to 13 inches) in length, not including a short, infrequently haired tail.

The lesser bandicoot rat (B. bengalensis) and Savile's bandicoot rat (B. savilei) have dark brown or brownish-grey body hair, weigh up to 350 gram and have brown tails that can reach up to 40 cm long. The lesser bandicoot rat is native to the Indian subcontinent, Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon), and Myanmar (Burma), and has been introduced to Penang Island off the Malay Peninsula's western coast, northern Sumatra, eastern Java, Saudi Arabia, and Kenya's Patta Island. The Savile's bandicoot rodent, on the other hand, is found only on the Southeast Asian mainland. These three terrestrial species are nocturnal, or active at dusk, and build burrows where they nest and raise their litters, which range in size from two to eighteen. They eat seeds, fruits, and invertebrates, and they wreak havoc on cultivated crops. Let us have a look at the lesser bandicoot rat and the greater bandicoot rat in more detail.

Lesser Bandicoot Rat 

The lesser bandicoot rat (Bandicota bengalensis), also known as the Sindh rice rat or Indian mole-rat, is a giant rat native to southern Asia. It is not related to true bandicoots, which are marsupials. Lesser bandicoot rat sizes 40 cm in length (including the tail), are a pest in Indian and Sri Lankan cereal crops and gardens, and strike with piglike grunts. The name bandicoot comes from the Telugu word pandikokku, which roughly translates to "pig-rat." Bandicoot rats belong to the Muridae tribe, much like the more well-known Rattus rats. Their fur is dark or (rarely) pale brown on the dorsal side, blackish on the ventral side, and medium to dark grey on the ventral side. The uniformly dark tail is shorter than the head-body length, and the head-body length is about 250 mm.

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The lesser bandicoot, along with two other animals, is nocturnal, meaning it is most active at night. To nest and raise their young, they dig burrows. Bandicoot babies can number anywhere from two to eighteen. Grain, fruit, and invertebrates are the mainstays of their diet. They have a proclivity for damaging field crops. The lesser bandicoot is the most destructive burrower of the three species and has been known to dig tunnels in concrete cellars. In Nepali, these are some of the animals known as chuchundra. The bandicoot rat is known in Sri Lanka as heen uru-meeya in Sinhala, which directly translates to "lesser pig-rat."

Scientific Classification of Lesser Bandicoot Rat

Binomial name of lesser bandicoot rat - Bandicota bengalensis

Habitat

These rats are also known to live in village homes and can be very violent when provoked. Mechanical (mouse traps, etc.) and biological (rodenticides) controls are used (by introducing rodent diseases etc.)

Reproduction 

A female may have up to ten litters in her lifetime. Blind babies (10-12 per litter) are born. Around 60 days after birth, children achieve sexual maturity. Adults have an average lifespan of 8–9 months.

Ecology 

It is most commonly found in cultivated plains and gardens, and it is one of the most damaging pests to crops and agriculture. It excavates burrows with a distinct pile of the earth around the entrance, hence its name. The burrow system is vast and complex, with several chambers (sleeping, storing, etc. ), galleries, and escapes or 'bolt-holes,' which are filled with loose soil and allow for a quick escape in an emergency. Large amounts of grain are stored in the storage chambers, particularly during harvest season. Except when a mother is young, one mole-rat is usually located in a single burrow. When disturbed, it will erect its long guard hairs scattered across the back and emit harsh grunts.

Greater Bandicoot Rat 

The greater bandicoot rat (Bandicota indica) is a rodent from Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. Greater bandicoot rat sizes range from 27–29 cm without the tail, which can reach a length of 28 cm. These are not to be confused with marsupial bandicoots, which are found in Australia and New Guinea and are big rats named after bandicota rats.

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The upper parts of the greater bandicoot rat are dark grey-brown with a profusion of long, black hairs. Grey with a few long, black hairs on the sides. The ventral surfaces have short, light grey fur. It has a scaly tail that is black and bare, as well as dark feet with light-coloured claws. The colour of the young is much lighter. The bandicoot rat is known in Sri Lanka as maha uru-meeya in Sinhala, which directly translates to "pig-rat." In Nepali, these are only a few of the animals known as chuchundra.

Scientific Classification of Greater Bandicoot Rat

Binomial big rat name of greater Bandicoot rat - Bandicota indica

Reproduction 

During her lifetime, a female would have between 8 and 10 litters. The young (8–14 rat pups per litter) are blind and naked when they are born. Around 50 to 60 days after birth, children attain sexual maturity. Adults have a one-year life expectancy.

Behaviour 

When disturbed, large, aggressive bandicoot rats erect their guard hairs on their backs and grunt. If held in a cage with other bandicoots, it would almost certainly fight to the death within a few hours. They usually live on the outskirts of human settlements, such as gardens and compounds, and are often found near garbage bins. Since they can tunnel through brick and masonry, their burrowing habits cause significant damage to grounds and flooring. Their presence is obvious due to their deep burrows. They are not picky eaters, preferring household trash, grain, and vegetables, and are major pests on poultry farms. They can also spread a variety of diseases.

Greater Bandicoot Rat Borne Diseases

• Leptospirosis

• Hantavirus

• Babesiosis

• Bovine schistosomiasis

How to Get Rid of Bandicoot Rats?

Some of the methods have been discussed below:

• Remove their Food Source: To complement their diet, bandicoots consume insects, earthworms, insect larvae, and spiders, as well as plant tubers, roots, and truffle-like fungi. When the food supply is exhausted, they will leave.

• Floodlight the Area: Bandicoots dislike light and will avoid well-lit areas.

• Add Chicken Manure or Dynamic Lifter to the Lawn: Bandicoots don't like strong ammonia smells.

• Build Bandicoot-proof Fencing: Use fine galvanised wire mesh or any other material with no holes wider than 20 mm. The mesh's foot should be buried at least 150 mm deep, and the fence should rise at least 500 mm above the ground.

Five Facts about the Bandicoot 

1. They're omnivorous, eating everything from spiders and slaters to mushrooms and vegetables, according to reports. The Pink Groundberry is one of their favourites (Acrotriche fasciculiflora).

2. They build nests! These are made of soil and leaf litter and often have a hollow nesting chamber. They do, however, sometimes seek refuge in rabbit burrows.

3. Bung and Marti are two Indigenous names for them (by the local Kaurna indigenous people). Prior to 1993, the Southern Brown Bandicoot was thought to have existed in the Ngarrindjeri, Kaurna, and Peramangk Nations.

4. These cuties are considered to be violent amongst themselves, and as a result, their tails and behinds are often shortened or scarred – who knows?

5. We used to have seven species of bandicoots in South Australia, but now we just have the Southern Brown Bandicoot. Bandicoots are threatened by a variety of predators, including foxes and cats. Check out our details on responsible cat ownership if you want to make sure you're doing whatever you can to protect your local wildlife (and your cat at the same time).

Conclusion 

Bandicoot rat is a rodent species closely associated with the human population, in this article we have come across three types of bandicoot rats - lesser bandicoot rat, greater bandicoot rat and Savile’s bandicoot rat. We have studied in brief about them individually like Habitat, Behaviour, reproduction, scientific classification and classification.