This document describes various rodent species found in India. It discusses the taxonomy, physical characteristics, habitat, and damage caused by several rodent species including the lesser bandicoot rat, greater bandicoot rat, soft-furred rat, Indian gerbil, house rat, field rat, house mouse, and field mouse. It also lists signs of rodent infestation and different management methods for rodents, including cultural, mechanical, biological and chemical methods using rodenticides.

2. • Kingdom : Animalia
• Phylum : Chordata
• Class : Mammalia
• Order : Rodentia
• Family : Muridae

4. LESSER BANDICOOT/INDIAN MOLE RAT
• Bandicota bengalensis
• Mass: 230 g (Adult)
• Giant rat of Southern Asia
• They construct burrows to nest and bear their litters
• The head-body length is around 250 mm,
• uniformly dark tail is shorter
than the head-body length.

5. Greater bandicoot rat
• Bandicota indica
• It can grow to about 27–29 cm without
including the tail which tail can grow to
28 cm.
• Mass: 580 g to 1 kg (Adult)
• Spindle shape droppings

6. soft-furred rat
• Millardia meltada
• Head and body length is 13–16 cm.
• Tail ss 12–14 cm. Yellowish to brownish gray
dorsally and whitish in the underparts.
• It inhabits tropical and sub-tropical forests and
grasslands

7. Indian gerbil
• Tatera indica
• Antelope rat
• Head and body length is 17–20 cm. Tail is 20–
21 cm
• Reddish brown colour
• White belly

8. House rat/black rat/ roof rat/ship rat
• Rattus rattus
• They are serious pests to farmers because
they eat a wide range of agricultural crops
• hey are black to light brown in color with a
lighter underside.

9. field rat
• Rattus argentiventer
• Length: 19 cm (Adult)
• Mass: 170 g (Adult)
• Its belly is gray in the midline with whiter
flanks.
• chisel-like incisor

10. house mouse
• Mus musculus
• The house mouse has been domesticated as
the pet or fancy mouse
• Spindle shape droppings

11. Field mouse
• Mus booduga
• Head and body length is 7 cm
• Upper parts a glossy light brown fading to
grayish white or white on the ventral surface
• Upper incisors curve backwards.

12. Damage caused by rodents
• Damage to material and equipment
• Feeding on stored produce

13. Signs of rodent infestation
• Live animals
• Droppings
• Runs and tracks
• Footprints and tail
marks
• Burrows and nests
• Urine

14. MANAGEMENT
cultural methods
Dig burrow and kill rodents
Keep narrow bund
Plough deeply
Flood the field

15. Mechanical method

16. Biological control

17. Chemical method
Rodenticides
• Warfarin
• Chlorophacinone
• Zinc phosphide
• Bromadiolone
• Diphacinone

20. Byeee
uthayanithi.k