The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

Rodents

Ship rat feeding on fruit of the native vine kiekie (Freycinetia banksii). Photo: David Mudge (Courtesy of Nga Manu Images)

Some of the most damaging animal pests in New Zealand are the three species of introduced rat:

• Ship rat (Rattus rattus)
• Norway or brown rat (Rattus norvegicus)
• Kiore or Pacific rat (Rattus exulans)

The ship rat is a good climber. It eats small animals, eggs, young birds and a wide range of native fruits, and other plant material. Norway rats do not climb trees but frequent water courses where they feed on ground-nesting birds and their young, and on other ground-dwelling animals such as lizards. Kiore eat a wide range of foods, including seeds, fruits, lizards, insects, eggs and chicks.

For more information see*:

• Rodents (Wikipedia)
• Rodentia (University of California Museum of Palaentology 
• Guide to the identification and collection of New Zealand rodents by Duncan Cunningham and P.J. Moors

*The Network is not responsible for the content of external internet sites

This page last updated on 8 Nov 2012