New Zealand Journal of Zoology abstracts
A new location record for kiore (Rattus exulans) on New Zealand’s
South Island
Wendy A. Ruscoe
Landcare Research
P.O. Box 69
Lincoln 8152
New Zealand
email: RuscoeW@LandcareResearch.co.nz
Abstract Thirteen kiore (Rattus exulans), also
known as the Pacific or Polynesian rat, were trapped in Waitutu Forest, Southland,
New Zealand in November 2002 and February 2003. This is a new mainland location
for kiore, approximately 75 km south of the closest recorded extant population
in the Borland Valley. Kiore remained undetected at Waitutu Forest during
the first 18 months of trapping, until the population responded to tree seeding.
Morphological characters of the trapped animals are compared with those of
previously reported kiore and ship rats (R. rattus), to aid in the
correct identification of future captures. Kiore may be more widespread in
mainland New Zealand than presently known for reasons of misidentification
or trapping when numbers are very low.
Keywords Rattus exulans; kiore; Polynesian rat;
misidentification; seeding; Waitutu Forest
Z03012; Online publication date 4 March 2004; Received 25 March 2003;
accepted 1 August 2003
New Zealand Journal of Zoology, 2004, Vol. 31: 1-5
0301-4223/04/3101-0001 © The Royal Society of New Zealand 2004
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