Lesser Golden-bellied Rice Rat vs Lesser Short-tailed Rat

Nephelomys nimbosus compared with Brachyuromys betsileoensis

Key Differences

• Lesser Golden-bellied Rice Rat is Vulnerable while Lesser Short-tailed Rat is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Lesser Golden-bellied Rice Rat	Lesser Short-tailed 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	Nesomyidae
Genus	Nephelomys	Brachyuromys
Species	Nephelomys nimbosus	Brachyuromys betsileoensis

Evolutionary Relationship

Lesser Golden-bellied Rice Rat and Lesser Short-tailed Rat share a common ancestor at the Order level: Rodentia. (Rodents)

Conservation Status

Lesser Golden-bellied Rice Rat

VU — Vulnerable

Lesser Short-tailed Rat

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Lesser Golden-bellied Rice Rat	Lesser Short-tailed Rat
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Lesser Golden-bellied Rice Rat

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Distributed across Colombia and Ecuador. Currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Lesser Short-tailed Rat

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.