Wildlifeof Bhutan
Lesser Bandicoot Rat
Rats, Mice, Voles & Porcupines
Photo: (c) Ronith Urs, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY (May be cropped or resized)
Bandicota bengalensis
Basic stats
Diet
Grains, fruit and invertebrates
Habitat
Cereal fields and gardens; extensive burrows
Litter size
Often 10–12 young; recorded 2–18
Size
Head and body about 25cm; up to 40cm including tail
The lesser bandicoot rat is a giant rat of southern Asia, not related to the true bandicoots, which are marsupials. The fur is dark or rarely pale brown above, occasionally blackish, and light to dark grey below. Head and body are about 25cm, with a uniformly dark tail shorter than the body (Wikipedia, general species account).
It digs elaborate burrows with a characteristic pile of earth at the entrance, including chambers and bolt-holes, and has been reported tunnelling through concrete cellars. It is nocturnal or most active at twilight and is considered a pest of cereal crops and gardens. The Mammal Diversity Database does not list Bhutan for it, so its place in the guide is flagged for checking.
Quick answers
- What does the Lesser Bandicoot Rat eat?
- Grains, fruit and invertebrates
- What habitat does the Lesser Bandicoot Rat live in?
- Cereal fields and gardens; extensive burrows
- What is the litter size of the Lesser Bandicoot Rat?
- Often 10–12 young; recorded 2–18
- How big is the Lesser Bandicoot Rat?
- Head and body about 25cm; up to 40cm including tail