Polynesian rat vs Small Black Ant

Rattus exulans compared with Lasius niger

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Polynesian rat	Small Black Ant
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Insecta (Insects)
Order	Rodentia (Rodents)	Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees & Wasps)
Family	Muridae (Mice & Rats)	Formicidae
Genus	Rattus	Lasius
Species	Rattus exulans	Lasius niger

Evolutionary Relationship

Polynesian rat and Small Black Ant share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (Animals)

Conservation Status

Polynesian rat

LC — Least Concern

Small Black Ant

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Polynesian rat	Small Black Ant
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

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).

Small Black Ant

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Found across Asia (Japan, Taiwan) and Europe (6 countries).

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 2 countries:

🇯🇵 Japan 🇹🇼 Taiwan