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Maxomys rajah (Thomas, 1894)
| Family Name: | Muridae |
| Taxonomic Group: | Vertebrates (Mammal) |
| Common Name: | Brown Spiny Rat, Rajah Spiny Rat |
Name
Description
| Description | Upperparts dull brown, sometimes tinged with red or orange. Underparts white, with a dark brown streak along the middle in adults. No chestnut collar at base of neck. Coat with numerous stiff spines. Tail naked and brown above; whitish below. Snout pointed. |
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Ecology, Habitat & Location
| Ecological Notes | Found in mature forest. Nocturnal and active mainly on the ground where it feeds on fallen fruits, shoots and insects. |
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| Habitats | Forest, Terrestrial |
| Distribution | In Singapore, known from the Central Nature Reserves. Distributed in the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra and Borneo. |
| Nature Reserves | Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Central Catchment Nature Reserve |
Conservation
| Trends & Threats | Habitat loss. |
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| Scientific Interest & Potential Value | This species was not known to occur in Singapore until 1995. It is of great interest to note that its close relative, the Red Spiny Rat (Maxomys surifer), was last recorded in Singapore in 1968. |
| Conservation Notes | Protection of its natural habitat. |
Status
| Species Status | Native |
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| Conservation Status | Rare |
| Singapore Red Data Book Status | Endangered (EN) [2008] |
Photos
References
| References | Baker, N. & Lim, K. 2008. Wild animals of Singapore. Singapore: Draco Publishing and Distribution Pte Ltd. 180pp Davison, G.W.H., Ng, P.K.L. & Ho, H.C (Eds.). 2008. The Singapore Red Data Book (2nd Edition). Singapore: Nature Society (Singapore). 285pp |
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