Gray-bellied Rice Rat vs Polynesian rat

Nephelomys moerex compared with Rattus exulans

Key Differences

• Gray-bellied Rice Rat is Extinct while Polynesian rat is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Gray-bellied Rice Rat	Polynesian rat
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class same	Mammalia (Mammals)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order same	Rodentia (Rodents)	Rodentia (Rodents)
Family	Cricetidae	Muridae (Mice & Rats)
Genus	Nephelomys	Rattus
Species	Nephelomys moerex	Rattus exulans

Evolutionary Relationship

Gray-bellied Rice Rat and Polynesian rat share a common ancestor at the Order level: Rodentia. (Rodents)

Conservation Status

Gray-bellied Rice Rat

EX — Extinct

Polynesian rat

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Gray-bellied Rice Rat	Polynesian rat
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Gray-bellied Rice Rat

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Found in Ecuador.

Polynesian rat

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, and tropical and subtropical coniferous forests, among 4 distinct biome types spanning the Australasia and Indomalayan realms. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Widely distributed across Asia (6 countries), Europe (United Kingdom), North America (United States), Oceania and the Pacific (11 countries), and South America (Chile).