11002-18111 Ship rat (Rattus rattus) 'alexandrinus' colour morph eating a predated kakariki on the nest. Notorious predators of native birds and their eggs, in 1964 this species invaded Big South Cape Island. Here it exterminated the Stewart Island snipe, Stead's bush wren, and the Greater short-tailed bat. Fortunately the sole remaining population of South Island saddleback (Philesturnus carunculatus) was rescued at the eleventh hour, by Don Merton and colleagues *
11002-18321 Ship rat (Rattus rattus) there are three colour morphs of this rat in NZ. The white-bellied 'frugivorus' morph shown here is widespread in the North Island, but is also present in Dunedin, and on Otago Peninsula. 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. North East Valley, Dunedin *
11002-18410 Ship rat (Rattus rattus) there are three colour morphs of this rat in NZ. The white-bellied 'frugivorus' morph shown here is widespread in the North Island, but is also present in Dunedin, and on Otago Peninsula. 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. North East Valley, Dunedin *
