Introducing
Your new presentation assistant.
Refine, enhance, and tailor your content, source relevant images, and edit visuals quicker than ever before.
Trending searches
What is a rice rat?
A marsh rice rat, otherwise known as the Oryzomys palustrisis, according to its scientific name, is a nocturnal animal that tends to be found in marshy or damp areas. Rice rats are native to The Americas and can be found in much of the eastern and southern United States. (http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/imperiled/profiles/mammals/sanibel-island-rice-rat/)
The rice rat is a mammal. It follows the
typical body plan of a mammal - two eyes, two
ears, four chambered heart, a nose to breathe through and a mouth with teeth. However, the front feet of rice rats have four digits and their hind feet have five. It's circulatory and digestive systems are also typical of a mammal. However, rice rats lack a gall bladder. The rats have a closed circulatory system. Rice rats also have a brain and spinal cord.
(http://fwcg.myfwc.com/docs/Rice_Rats.pdf)
Marsh rice rats are found in many different habitats ranging from mountain streams to coastal salt marshes. They are semi aquatic and spend a lot of time in the water and prefer wetland habitats. They are found in areas with tall grass, which protects them from predators. (http://myfwc.com/media/2273382/Sanibel-Island-Rice-Rat-BSR.pdf)
The diet of a rice rat is varied. A rice rat's meal can
consist of snails, insects and crabs. However, the
rice rat can also eat plants, including various species of marsh grasses. (http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/imperiled/profiles/mammals/sanibel-island-rice-rat)
Unfortunately, rice rats are on the endangered species list for Florida. They are endangered because they live in a salt marsh habitat, hence the name, marsh rice rat. Their habitats are being destroyed to make way for residential and commercial development in the Florida Keys. (http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/imperiled/profiles/mammals/sanibel-island-rice-rat/).
A population analysis carried out on the Sanibel Island rice rat found that the probability of extinction in the next 100 years was 84%. (http://myfwc.com/media/2273382/Sanibel-Island-Rice-Rat-BSR.pdf)
Fortunately, the National Key Deer Refuge has habitats for the rats to reside in, so they are protected there for now. (http://www.enature.com/fieldguides/detail.asp?recNum=MA0089)
To help solve the problem of endangered rice rats, I would recommend calling any wildlife center that I could reach and there could be a plan to create a captive breeding program to help repopulate the environment of rice rats.
Bibliography:
http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/imperiled/profiles/mammals/sanibel-island-rice-rat/
http://fwcg.myfwc.com/docs/Rice_Rats.pdf
http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/espb/documents/recovery%20docs/status%20review%20criteria%20for%20marsh%20rice%20rat%20021910.pdf
http://www.science.smith.edu/msi/pdf/i0076-3519-176-01-0001.pdf
http://www.enature.com/fieldguides/detail.asp?recNum=MA0089
http://myfwc.com/media/2273382/Sanibel-Island-Rice-Rat-BSR.pdf
Daniel Engler
Mrs. Sherman
Biology - Period 1
April 16, 2014