Identify a beastie!

[iborg]

Hi All

My better half's father has a few chickens, and we have spotted this little beastie making a meal of their food.

Anyone know what it is?

The body is about 10cm (4") long, and it seems to hop a bit, rather than run or walk when it goes to or from the bushes it is hiding in.

Spotted in the the Doncaster area.

Apologies the quality of the photos.

Philip

[astroron]

Native or Bush Rat,
https://australian.museum/learn/animals/mammals/bush-rat/
Cheers:thumbsup:

[iborg]

Hi Ron

That is one of the animals we considered. However, the bush rat normally has a short tail, and the tail on our beastie is at least as long as the body, probably longer.

Philip

[Hans Tucker]

Bettong?

[iborg]

Hi Hans

Bettongs are around rabbit size, much bigger than this little beastie. And our beastie didn't seem to have large rear feet.

Philip

[drylander]

rattus rattus :eyepop:
Pete

[iborg]

Pete gets the banana!


Museum Victoria Public Information and Research identified it from the photos. As a youngster mind you. I hope that is why I didn't match it to the descriptions.


Philip

[Hans Tucker]

Jeez ... I haven't been this disappointed since the release of Star Wars episode 1. It's a simple John Holmes rat?

[Sunfish]

Ah yes. Where you have chickens , you have rats. Hopefully you can get rid of it before there are more.

[drylander]

yay. A banana is good but probably over ripe if sent by Aussie Post. FWI I checked it against native rats as well as some English shots of their river rats but always came back to pics of the common disease ridden rattus at various sizes.
Pete

[toc]

Our cat used to bring these to the backdoor when she was young and energetic :)

[Kal]

I'd guess based on size and description it is a small marsupial called Antechinus



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antechinus

[iborg]

Hi All


Thanks for the responses, I also hoped it would be something more interesting than a plain old rat.


Oh well!


Philip