The Rice-field Rat, Rattus argentiventer, or dagang bukid, is a species of rat found throughout the Philippines and Southeast Asia.  The Rice-field Rat is a medium-sized rat with a grizzed yellow-brown and black pelage. Its belly is gray in the midline with whiter flanks. The tail is uniformly medium brown. They have chisel-like incisors. The Rice-field Rat is between 304-400mm long with a tail length of 140-200mm and a skull length of 37-41 mm. The average weight of Rattus argentiventer is around 97 to 219 grams. Females have 12 mammae. The young have orange-colored tufts in front of each ear.

 

Behavior

The rice-field rat lives in large groups which consist of a dominant male and high ranking female. When attacked or disturbed, they will make squeals and whistling sounds. Rattus argentiventer's main diet includes termites, insects, grasshopper, snails, seeds, nuts, rice, vegetables and fruits. They feed at night and are actively moving at dusk and dawn. During daytime, they can be seen among vegetation, weeds or maturing fields. Pregnant rice-field rats undergo 3 week gestation, giving birth to about 5 to 10 young per litter.

 

Habitat

Rice-field rats primarily reside in cultivated areas such as rice paddies and grasslands. It is largely dependent on human rice fields and plantations. Rice field rats shelter in burrows in soil, under rocks, and in logs.

 

Distribution

The rice-field rat can be found throughout Southeast Asia, consisting of the Philippines, the Indo-China region, Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Indonesia, and New Guinea as a major rodent pest in rice field areas.