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

Soft-furred rat
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Muridae
Genus: Millardia
Species:
M. meltada
Binomial name
Millardia meltada
(Gray, 1837)
Synonyms
  • Golunda meltada Gray, 1837
  • Mus comberi Wroughton, 1907
  • Mus lanuginosus Elliot, 1839
  • Mus listoni Wroughton, 1907
  • Rattus meltada ssp. meltada(Gray, 1837)
  • Rattus meltada ssp. pallidor(Ryley, 1914)

Description

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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.[citation needed]

Distribution and habitat

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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

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  1. ^ a b Molur, S. & Nameer, P.O. (2016). "Millardia meltada". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016. IUCN: e.T13525A115115706. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T13525A22461465.en. Retrieved 13 December 2017.