Polynesian rat vs wild boar

Rattus exulans compared with Sus scrofa

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Polynesian rat	wild boar
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class same	Mammalia (Mammals)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Rodentia (Rodents)	Artiodactyla (Even-toed Ungulates)
Family	Muridae (Mice & Rats)	Suidae (Pigs)
Genus	Rattus	Sus (Pigs)
Species	Rattus exulans	Sus scrofa

Evolutionary Relationship

Polynesian rat and wild boar share a common ancestor at the Class level: Mammalia. (Mammals)

Conservation Status

Polynesian rat

LC — Least Concern

wild boar

LC — Least Concern

Trend: Stable →

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Polynesian rat	wild boar
Diet	—	Omnivore
Average Lifespan	—	15 years
Average Length	—	1.5 m
Average Weight	—	80.0 kg

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).

wild boar

Habitat

Inhabits tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests within the Neotropic biogeographic realm.

Range

Widely distributed across Africa (5 countries), Asia (5 countries), Europe (12 countries), North America (14 countries), Oceania and the Pacific (14 countries), and South America (8 countries).

wild boar

The ancestor of domestic pigs, wild boars are robust, omnivorous ungulates weighing up to 200 kg, found from Western Europe through Asia and North Africa in diverse habitats including forests, wetlands, and grasslands. Highly adaptable and prolific breeders, they have become invasive in many regions including North America and Australia. Their rooting behavior disturbs soil and vegetation, influencing forest structure and seed germination significantly.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 15 countries:

🇦🇺 Australia 🇨🇱 Chile 🇫🇯 Fiji 🇯🇵 Japan 🇰🇮 Kiribati 🇲🇭 Marshall Islands 🇫🇲 Micronesia 🇳🇷 Nauru 🇳🇿 New Zealand 🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea 🇹🇴 Tonga 🇹🇻 Tuvalu 🇬🇧 United Kingdom 🇺🇸 United States 🇻🇺 Vanuatu