New Zealand Mammals

11002-18314 Ship rat (Rattus rattus) black male with NZ passion fruit (Passiflora tetrandra) 'cache'. The 'black' rat is one of the three colour forms of ship rat, with a bluish-black back merging to a slate-grey belly. Ship rats are the commonest rat in New Zealand, they reach their greatest abundance in lowland forests, and are found in all forest types. They are also found in parks, hedgerows, farmland, and buildings. Their climbing ability means that their habitat is three dimensional incorporating everything from the ground to the treetops. Okuti Valley, Banks Peninsula *

130 / 303

11002-18314 Ship rat (Rattus rattus) black male with NZ passion fruit (Passiflora tetrandra) 'cache'. The 'black' rat is one of the three colour forms of ship rat, with a bluish-black back merging to a slate-grey belly. Ship rats are the commonest rat in New Zealand, they reach their greatest abundance in lowland forests, and are found in all forest types. They are also found in parks, hedgerows, farmland, and buildings. Their climbing ability means that their habitat is three dimensional incorporating everything from the ground to the treetops. Okuti Valley, Banks Peninsula *

18314 ship rat New Zealand mammals NZ passion fruit Passiflora tetrandra cache rodent black roof house rattus pest vermin bush european feral introduced mammalian predator Okuti Valley Banks Peninsula