Polynesian rat vs

Rattus exulans compared with Trechispora microspora

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Polynesian rat
Kingdom	Animalia (Animals)	Fungi (Fungi)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Basidiomycota (Club Fungi)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Agaricomycetes (Mushrooms)
Order	Rodentia (Rodents)	Trechisporales (Trechisporales)
Family	Muridae (Mice & Rats)	Sistotremataceae
Genus	Rattus	Trechispora
Species	Rattus exulans	Trechispora microspora

Conservation Status

Polynesian rat

LC — Least Concern

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Polynesian rat
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).

Habitat

Typically found in forest floors, decomposing wood, and soil ecosystems.

Range

Found across Europe (5 countries) and South America (Brazil).

Trechispora microspora is a corticioid fungus producing very small spores, as its name indicates. It grows as a thin, white to cream-colored crust on the underside of decaying hardwood and conifer logs in temperate and boreal forests. This saprotrophic fungus decomposes dead woody material, contributing to nutrient cycling in forest ecosystems.