Xeromys myoides, the False Water-rat, is a species of rodent native to waterways of Australia and Papua New Guinea.

Description

False water rats have markedly long, flattened heads with small eyes and short, rounded ears. These rats possess just two molars on each side of the upper and lower jaw. Their upper incisors are yellow or orange and the lower incisors are white.^[1][2] The head and body length is approximately 100 mm characterised by a hunched body shape.^[2] The tail length is 85–100 mm and the hind-foot length is 23–26 mm.^[1][2] The body fur is water-resistant and dark gray, which gradually blends into the white underside.^[1][2] The hands and feet are covered with fine, white hairs.^[2] Their feet are not webbed like other water rats (Hydromys chrysogaster), which gives it their common name "false" water rat.^[3] The tail is sparsely haired and lacks the white-tip found in the more common water rat.^[2] In addition, the tails of these rats, are scaled.^[1][2] The average weight is 42 grams.^[3]

Habitat

The false water rat (Xeromys myoides) lives in Australia and Papua New Guinea.^[1] Though originally believed to be restricted to Southeast Queensland and the Northern Territory, the false water rat has subsequently been found in the central and southern parts of Queensland, North Stradbroke Island off the coast of Southeast Queensland, Melville Island,^[1] and southwest Western Province, Papua New Guinea.^[2] False water rats primarily live in mangrove communities and shallow areas surrounding lagoons, swamps, and lakes.^[3] Their nests are made at the base of mangrove trees. Their nests are very similar to termite mounds. They are made of leaves, mud, and may be as high as 60 centimetres.^[4] There is usually one opening and on the inside it is a complex system of tunnels which connects to multiple chambers. Since the tunnels are very complex sometimes the homes can overlap.^[3] This behaviour shows that they are social and very friendly. Because of their lack of webbed feet and their inability to swim, their nests are generally built near shallow water.^[4] This allows them to wade in water instead of swimming and diving in search of their food.

Diet

False water rats appear to depend on mangrove and intertidal salt marsh habitats for food.^[2] Their diet consists of invertebrates such as crabs, small mud lobsters, marine shellfish, snails and worms. They generally eat during the night and rest during the day.^[1] Their estimated home range used for foraging is 0.8 ha for males and 0.6 ha for females, however they can forage up to 2.9 km distances at night.^[1][2]

Life Cycle and Reproduction

Little is known about the life cycle and breeding patterns of this species.^[1] Since their food and nutrients are generally found amongst the mangroves, the lifespan of the false water rat is highly dependent upon the preservation of the mangrove forest.^[4][5] It is believed that they breed throughout the year with only two young per litter.^[1][2] Up to eight individuals of various ages (young and old) and either sex live in a nest, with usually only one sexually active adult male present and several females.^[1][2]

Predators and Threats

There are several predators to the false water rat including foxes, cats, carpet pythons, rough-scaled snakes, tawny frog mouths, and pigs.^[3] However, the biggest threat to the false water rat is man. Due to man, their habitat is severely fragmented and less than 2,000 km.^[6] The quality of their habitat and area of occupancy continue to decline primarily due to the development of mangrove areas. Increasing development creates oil pollution, wastewater and acid sulphate contamination, alteration of natural hydrology, and increasing infections from chemicals and waste.^[3] Overall, the habitat is being destroyed because of water quality changes due to agriculture, livestock grazing, urbanisation, and swamp drainage.^[6] Because of all of these circumstances, they are classified as vulnerable.^[3]

Protection

False water rats do not appear to negatively affect man or our economy and they have no known positive economic importance for man other than playing a role in maintaining the ecological stability of the marine population it feeds on, indirectly affecting local marine-related industries and the land.^[6] Through the years, man has been careless with the release of pollutants and other waste products thereby causing a decrease in the habitat for these animals. Paying particular attention, creating, promoting and maintaining environmental safe processes surrounding excavation and construction, garbage and waste products elimination, chemicals and extracts usage, as well natural and unnatural predators will increase the survival chances of the false water rat. In addition, conservation of the wetlands and mangroves will not only prevent extinction of the false water rat and other animals but it will protect our shores from wave action, reduce the impacts of floods and absorb natural pollutants and provide habitat for animals and plants.^[4]

Common names

The common name of this species has long been False Water-rat. During the 1990s there was a push for such descriptive English common names to be replaced with indigenous names. In 1995 the Australian Nature Conservation Agency released a document in which were recorded two indigenous names for H. chrysogaster, the Murrinh-Patha name Manngay and the Mayali and Gunwinjgu name Yirrku. They recommended that the latter name be adopted as the common name, but with the orthography Yirrkoo.^[7] However, this recommendation was not prescriptive, and it remains to be seen to what extent it will be adopted.

References