| Nonsense rat | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Muridae |
| Genus: | Rattus |
| Species: | R. burrus |
| Binomial name | |
| Rattus burrus (Miller, 1902) | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Thenonsense rat,Nicobar Archipelago rat orMiller's Nicobar rat (Rattus burrus) is endemic to theNicobar Islands inIndia. It lives onGreat Nicobar,Little Nicobar, and Trinket islands. OnCar Nicobar Island,Rattus palmarum andRattus anadamanensis live instead.[1]
The species was first described in 1902 by Miller, who placed it in the genusMus.[2] Today it is classified in the genusRattus.[1] The origin of the name "nonsense rat" is uncertain, as Miller did not provide a common name in his original description.[2] More recent sources, such as the IUCN, include it.[1]
The nonsense rat is endemic to the Nicobar Islands, where it is confined to isolated populations on the islands of Great Nicobar, Little Nicobar and Trinket. It inhabits tropical evergreen and semi-evergreen forests.[1]
The nonsense rat is classified asendangered by theIUCN.[1]
