Polynesian rat

The Polynesian rat (Rattus exulans) is a small rodent native to Southeast Asia and dispersed widely across the Pacific by people. It is one of the smallest rat species.

Rattus: A genus of rodents that includes the brown rat, black rat, and Polynesian rat. The Polynesian rat belongs to this genus of Old World rats.
Commensalism: A biological interaction in which one species benefits while the other is neither helped nor harmed. Settlements and stored food let rats live alongside people during voyages and after arrival.
Island ecology: The study of ecological processes and species interactions on islands. Rat introductions have reshaped ecological communities on islands with vulnerable native species.
Hawaii: An island chain in the central Pacific that is a U.S. state. Polynesian rats arrived with people and affected native Hawaiian ecosystems.
Southeast Asia: A region of Asia comprising mainland countries and the Malay Archipelago. Genetic and archaeological evidence places the species’ native range in this region.
Island biogeography: The study of how island area, isolation, and colonization shape species richness and extinction. Its island populations show how isolation and limited resources shape introduced species.
Seabird conservation: The protection and recovery of seabird populations and their breeding habitats. Rat control can protect seabirds whose eggs and chicks are vulnerable to predation.
New Zealand: An island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, comprising the North and South Islands and smaller islands. Its archaeological record has made the rat central to debates about early settlement.
Lapita culture: An archaeological culture of Pacific communities known for distinctive pottery and long-distance settlement. Lapita-era voyaging helped carry the rat into remote Pacific islands.
Invasive species: A non-native organism that spreads and causes ecological, economic, or health harms. On many islands, the rat is an introduced animal with damaging ecological effects.

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