Millardia meltada (Gray 1837)

The soft-furred rat (Millardia meltada), or soft-furred metad, is a species of rodent in the family Muridae native to South Asia.

Description

Head and body length is 13–16 cm. Tail ss 12–14 cm. Yellowish to brownish gray dorsally and whitish in the underparts. Tail naked, blackish above, paler beneath. Fine dense fur shorter ventrally. Many shortish whiskers. Males are larger.

Distribution and habitat

The species occurs in India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, at altitudes from sea level to 2,670 m asl. It inhabits tropical and sub-tropical forests and grasslands, also making use of irrigated croplands and other cultivated areas.^[1]

References

• Musser, G.G.; Carleton, M.D. (2005). "Superfamily Muroidea". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 1386. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.