Common Sri Lanka House Rat (Ratus Ratus Kandianus)

-



Sinhalese: Miya, Gas-miya, Gee-miya

Tamil: Yelli, Lie’elli, Veedth-elli (Jaffna)

Description: The house rat has an average overall length of 360 mm, and the tapered tail is slightly longer than the body. The color is variable. Those in lowlands being more roofs and less dark than highland individuals who are darker. Albinism is not uncommon. Sexes alike, males may be slightly larger.

Distribution: A sub-specific peculiar to sri lanka and indigenous in low country, and lower hills. Has extended into highest hills with help of man. There are five rat species(one with 5 sub-species) resident two of the species are peculiar to the island.

Habits: Are omnivorous in diet, prefers grain and vegetable matter, but will eat anything including soap and candles. Is generally rapacious and destructive especially when nest building. The species in general is amongst man’s greatest enemies soiling food and carrying disease. It will take up residence in the roof of any house, also inhabits open jungle living in holes. Nocturnal and seldom seen in daylight unless disturbed from a hiding place. Worst enemies are snakes, dogs, cats and man.

Breeding: A prolific breeder. As soon as one family raised by the female can fend for themselves, she starts another. The nest is ball-shaped, 3-4 are born at a time and the gestation period is from 15-20 days.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Sri Lanka Python (Python Molurus Pimbura)

-
Image
Sinhalese: Dhara Pimbura, Ran Pimbura, Pimbura Tamil: Periya Pambu, Malai Pambu, Kaloodai Viriyan. Description: A huge snake which can grow to 8 meters, but usually average about 5.5 meters. Pythons have teeth, a very sensitive tongue, and jaws which can separate to enable them to swallow large prey. Distribution: Found in the jungles of the low country; occasionally in the lower hills hills and often near water. Habits: The python is diurnal, nocturnal and solitary. They swim well, can climb trees and are not venomous. Their food consists of small to medium sized animals which they catch using their teeth, kill by constriction and swallow whole once once the prey is dead. If the meal is substantial the python does not need to feed again for 4 or more months. They have good sight over short distances, are deaf, but can feel vibrations through the ground. Their extremely sensitive tongues can sense loud noises and convey smells to the scent organ in the roof of t
Read more

Sri Lanka Small Civet-Cat (Viverricula Indica Mayori)

-
Image
Sinhalese:  Urulava Tamil: Poolu poona, Veeregu Description: The civet-cat is easily identified by its black and white ringed tail and dark spotted grey body. The adult male, which is slightly larger than the female, has an overall length of about 84 cms. Distribution: found in jungles and scrub throughout the island except in the highest hills. Habits: The civet-cat is mainly nocturnal but not entirely so, usually spending the day living up in some patch of undergrowth. Its food consists of birds, small animals, insects, frogs etc, and also some roots and fruits. Breeding: The birth takes place in a cavity at the end of a short tunnel which is often dug in a bank, or under some large rocks or tree. 3 to 5 young are born.
Read more

Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper – Black gram Syn. Phaseolus mungo L.

-
Image
Taxonomic classification           Kingdom: Plantae             Division: Magnoliophyta             Class: Magnoliopsida             Subclass: Asteridae             Order: Solanales             Family: Leguminosae             Genus: Vigna             Species: V.mungo V.mungo is one of the most highly-priced pulses of India, especially in the vegetarian diet. It is a diffusely branched, herbaceous annual with reddish brown hairs.     Various cultivars are recognized 1. Early-maturing cultivars, which have larger, black seeds 2. Late-maturing cultivars, which have smaller, olive-green seeds   Morphological characters     Stem: This is a diffusely branched, erect or sub-erect plant. The height ranges from 20-80cm. Leaves: The leaf is trifoliate with a long petiole. The stipules are ovate.   Flowers: The inflorescence is borne axillary and may have 2-3 branches. Five to six flowers are clustered at the top of the short hairy peduncle. The
Read more