New Zealand Mammals

DSC_7445 Ship rat (Rattus rattus) black male with koru (Lobelia physaloides) fruit '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. Trounson Kauri Forest, Northland *

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DSC_7445 Ship rat (Rattus rattus) black male with koru (Lobelia physaloides) fruit '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. Trounson Kauri Forest, Northland *

DSC 7445 Black rat New Zealand koru Lobelia physaloides fruit mammals rodent ship rattus roof house european pest vermin feral introduced mammalian predator Trounson Kauri Forest Northland