Rice Rats Flashcards
What rice rat is most commonly studied?
Oryzomys palustris
How did the rice/marsh rice rat get their name?
Fondness for cultivated rice and found in habitats such as swamps and salt marshes.
What is unique about the Oryzomys genome?
Multiple chromosomal polymoprhisms within single, natural populations, more than previously reported in a mammal. Not the result of hybridization, human disturbance, or nonspecific mutagenic agents.
Describe rice rats. What differentiates them from cotton rats?
Mouse-like, with coarse, but not bristly or spiny pelage. Long tail with annulations showing through sparse hairs. Cotton rats have longer, grizzled fur and a shorter, stouter tail.
What is the habitat of rice rats?
North America. Semiaquatic. Wetlands such as swamps and salt marshes. Found mostly along the eastern and southern US
What is the primary use of the rice rat?
Spontaneously develops periodontal disease. Placing on high-sucrose diet accelerates periodontitis.
What type of shelter is recommended for rice rats in captivity?
Hollow brick.
What parasite has been found on wild rice rats?
Polypax spinulosa, the domestic rat sucking louse
The rice rat is the predominant reservoir for what agent?
Bayou virus, a cause of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome
