large blue vs Polynesian rat

Maculinea arion compared with Rattus exulans

Key Differences

• large blue is Near Threatened while Polynesian rat is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	large blue	Polynesian rat
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Arthropoda (Arthropods)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Insecta (Insects)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)	Rodentia (Rodents)
Family	Lycaenidae	Muridae (Mice & Rats)
Genus	Maculinea	Rattus
Species	Maculinea arion	Rattus exulans

Evolutionary Relationship

large blue and Polynesian rat share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (Animals)

Conservation Status

large blue

NT — Near Threatened

Polynesian rat

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	large blue	Polynesian rat
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

large blue

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Found in Sweden. Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

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).