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FOR AGES 3 YEARS TO 18 YEARS
At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
The short-tailed bandicoot rat is a rodent species native to North Africa and Asia. It is part of the family Muridae in the order Rodentia. There are many different names given to this species of rats such as the Indian bandicoot, bandicoot-rat, flat-tooth rat, short-tailed mole-rat, and short-tailed nesokia. This pest rat, according to the external, cranial, genetic, and dental morphology, is found to be closely related to the greater bandicoot rat (Bandicota indica).
These rats are mostly seen in river valleys and irrigation fields across their range of habitats. These mammals are found abundant in these areas, which is sometimes a headache for humans. These rats are known to damage cultivated crops and lands extensively. The tunneling by the N. indica also damages irrigation walls. The identification of this species can be done by the brown coat on the body. The rodent also has a white patch on the throat in some cases. The fur changes as it has dense, long, and soft hair in the colder winter months. In summer, however, the changes to short, sparse, and stubbly hair. The tail and the feet are scantily haired, and the tail is short. N. indica is a nocturnal species and this rodent can be observed in burrows. These burrows have many tunnels and chambers.
The species should not be considered similar to the Bunn's short-tailed bandicoot rat (Nesokia bunnii). The Nesokia bunnii is found only in the marshes of southeastern Iraq and not seen in the same habitat as the N. indica.
For more relatable content, check out these gopher facts and nutria facts.
The short-tailed bandicoot rat is a rodent of the family Muridae. People usually consider these rodents with bandicoots, but in reality, bandicoots are not rodents but marsupials.
Nesokia indica, short-tailed bandicoot rat, is the only member of the genus Nesokia of the family Muridae in the order Rodentia. These brown rats are part of the phylum Chordata in the kingdom of Animalia.
The population of this species is not known. However, the Indian bandicoot has a very wide distribution and is presumed to have a large population. The species can also tolerate extensive habitat modification. It is unlikely that the population of short-tailed bandicoot rats will be declining anytime soon.
The short-tailed bandicoot rat (Nesokia indica), discovered by Gray in 1830, is native to Asia and North Africa. The range extends from Xinjiang in China on the eastern side towards Egypt in the west. The distribution is also found in Uzbekistan in the north, and in Bangladesh in the south. These rats are also seen in Sinkiang and northern India.
The N. bunnii, on the other hand, is seen only in the marshes of southeastern Iraq.
The short-tailed bandicoot rat habitat includes moist areas along canals and streams. The habitat also consists of deserts, cultivated areas, and forests. The main areas of habitation are soft soil and good vegetation coverage. If the soil becomes too dry, these rats migrate to softer soil. They mostly are found in agricultural fields.
This rat spends most of its time in a burrow. The burrow may be up to 3.5 in (8.89 cm) long with depths up to 23.6 in (60 cm). A chamber in the burrow is lined with vegetation that helps the species nest.
This is a nocturnal species and a single rat occupies one burrow. All burrows have chambers and tunnels.
The life span of the rat with the scientific name Nesokia indica is not known.
The reproduction method and breeding season of the Nesokia indica, short-tailed bandicoot rat, is not known. However, it has been found that these rats breed throughout the year in captivity. Temperature plays an important part in breeding and these rats only breed all round the year in places where the winters are warm.
The short-tailed bandicoot rat female gives birth to two to seven babies and there are three generations every year. The gestation period is around 17 days. The average litter size is however three to five in every generation.
The conservation status of the short-tailed bandicoot rat is categorized as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List. The distribution of this species is large all over the world and due to the rat's ability to survive in any modified habitat, the population is unthreatened at the moment.
Nesokia indica, short-tailed bandicoot rat, has a rounded short head. It is brown on the upper parts and the color gets lighter on the underside of the body. There can be a white patch on the throat of the species. The winter coat has soft, dense, and long hair while the summer coat has short, stubbly, and sparse hair. A scantily-haired tail and broad feet are seen. The muzzle is short and broad, and the ears are also rounded. The foot has five toes and the hand has four functional fingers. Strong, nearly straight claws are seen on the fingers. As the name suggests, the tail is considerably short.
* Please note that this is an image of a lesser bandicoot rat, one of the other species of bandicoot rats found in the world. If you have an image of a short-tailed bandicoot rat, please let us know at [email protected].
Rats are usually not considered cute. However, many enthusiasts keep rats as pets and they consider rats to be the hardiest animals available. In the native regions of Asia and North Africa, some people might consider these mammals as pests because they destroy agricultural farmland.
Rats communicate by tactile or chemical methods.
The length of the short-tailed bandicoot rat is 6.5-8.58 in (16.5-21.7 cm). The length of the greater bandicoot rat is around 10.6-11.4 in (27–29 cm), but this doesn't include the tail which is almost as long as the body.
Comparing these rodents with rice rats, rice rats have a range of length between 9-12 in (22.8-30.4 cm). The weight of this species is around 0.09-0.19 lb (40.8-86 g).
The speed is not known.
The weight of this species is between 0.4-0.85 lb (181.4-385.5 g). The kangaroo rat found in areas of North America has a weight of 0.083-0.28 lb (37.6-127 g).
The short-tailed bandicoot rat male and female are not given different names.
A short-tailed bandicoot rat baby is called a pup.
The short-tailed bandicoot rat diet consists of leaves and roots of grass in fields. The diet also includes crops and fruit of barley, potato, groundnut, wheat, sugar cane, brinjal, mustard, and watermelon.
The predators of the short-tailed bandicoot rat (Nesokia indica) may include weasels, jackals, foxes, polecats, jungle cats, snakes, and domestic cats and dogs.
They are not considered dangerous. However, they are known to damage vegetable, fruit, and grain crops and also their burrows damage the irrigation walls of fields.
They are usually not considered pets. In Asia and North Africa, these bandicoot rats are considered pests because they destroy crops and farmland.
Bandicoots are actually marsupials and not rodents.
The short-tailed bandicoot rat is not that big in size. There are other rodent species that are bigger such as rice rats.
These rats avoid well-lit areas, so lighting fields and lawns can help deter these creatures. Also, the smell of ammonia can push these animals away. If all these methods fail, there's always an option to fence the area.
They are nocturnal, keeping them cool most of the time. They have strong claws which they use to help dig burrows.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these gerbil facts and black rat facts for kids pages.
You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable mammals coloring pages.
<p>A skilled content writer, Ritwik holds a Bachelor's degree in English from Delhi University. He has refined his writing abilities through his past experience at PenVelope and his current role at Kidadl. In addition to his proficiency in writing, Ritwik has pursued his passion for flying by achieving CPL training and becoming a licensed commercial pilot. This diverse skill set highlights his commitment to exploring multiple fields. Ritwik's experience in the aviation industry has provided him with a unique perspective and attention to detail, which he brings to his writing.</p>
Read The Disclaimer
At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
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