Name that rat

Molecular and morphological identification of Pacific rodent remains

Bibliographic Data

ID7809736
AuthorsElizabeth Matisoo-Smith (0000-0002-3500-8307, University of Auckland, corresponding author), Elizabeth Matisoo‐smith, John S Allen (0000-0002-7539-7415, University of Auckland)
Year2001
Volume11
Issue1-2
Pages34-42
Publication date2001-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Osteoarchaeology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1047-482X • E-ISSN: 1099-1212
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/oa.544
OpenAlexW2135569613
LanguageEN
Citations received8
References cited10

Generally, species identification of rodent remains from archaeological sites in the Pacific is made based on the overall size and robusticity of those bones most commonly recovered—mandibles and femora. Molecular identifications of Pacific rat remains suggest that the current method of morphological identification may not be appropriate for species identification. It appears that there is a high degree of size variation in Rattus exulans throughout the Pacific, and an overlap in size between R. exulans and other rat species present in the region. Our results suggest not only a need to re‐examine our current methods for identification of rodent skeletal remains, but also, perhaps, our views on the distribution of various rodent species throughout the Pacific, and the implications of such for the human prehistory of the region. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

Biology · Evolutionary biology · Prehistory · Rodent · Species identification · Zoology · Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies · Pacific and Southeast Asian Studies · Yersinia bacterium, plague, ectoparasites research · Ecology · Paleontology