Sri lanka Gerbil Or Antelope Rat (Tatara Indica Ceylonica)

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Sinhalese: Wer-miya

Tamil: Vel-elli

Description: Length 403 mm on average, of which tail occupies 221 mm. Has relatively long hind legs and bounds or jumps along, rather than runs, in the manner of a kangaroo, popular name-Kangaroo Rat. Sexes are alike but adult males usually larger than females.

Distribution: Well distributed throughout the lowlands and in to the hills up to 3,000 ft elevation.

Habits: A nocturnal animal, living burrows or ant-hills during the day. The burrow is dug in soft sandy soil, normally in the open away from cover. Burrows are shallow, not deeper than 12-18 inches below ground level, the male having one entrance, the female two. Both sexes have a side gallery dug to within an inch or two of the surface by which an escape can be made by bursting through the thin crust and bounding away. Omnivorous in its diet, eats grain, seeds, grubs and young birds etc. it is courageous and carnivorous but not blood-thirsty.

Breeding: up to four young are born in a dry chamber of the female’s burrow, which is lined with dead leaves.

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