Mammal
Bulldog Rat
Rattus nativitatisBulldog rats navigated the dense primary rainforests of Christmas Island, digging extensive underground burrows beneath tree roots and weathered limestone rubble. They were stocky, nocturnal rodents with short tails, broad muscular heads, and dense reddish-brown coats adapted for tunneling. Accidental introduction of invasive black rats and their lethal pathogens wiped out the entire island population within just a few years of European contact.
NocturnalBurrowing
—observations
—countries
—peak records
ExtinctConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXExtinctRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyWild figs, Fern roots, Palm seeds
Predators
- Christmas Island Hawk-Owl
- Christmas Island Goshawk
ThreatsIntroduced pathogens (Trypanosoma) and invasive black rats
HabitatsDense rainforest floor and karst plateau
Life spanEstimated 2–4 years
Classification
- OrderRodentia
- FamilyMuridae
- GenusRattus
- SpeciesRattus nativitatis
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe; this species is extinct.
Responsible observation
- Museum specimens: View preserved study skins and skeletons in national natural history archives.
- Biosecurity lessons: Study its rapid decline to understand the danger of exotic shipborne pathogens.
Competitor Davidvraju / CC0 · cc0
Predator ian_mcallan / CC BY 4.0 · cc-by
Close Relative Joseph Smit / Public domain · cc0
Close Relative (c) Martin Cooper, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Keep collecting in Fauna
Found in Collections
Species set
Urban Dwellers
Bulldog Rat is found in this collection. Identify it in Fauna to fill this slot and continue your progress.
—/7
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?
Checking your Fauna account…Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.