CR

Niken's Rat

Rattus nikenii

Declining

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

Rattus nikenii faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to agricultural expansion and urban development on its limited island range. The species' extremely restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to introduced predators and competitors, especially other rat species that can outcompete it for resources. Climate change poses additional risks through altered precipitation patterns affecting the forest ecosystems this endemic rodent depends upon.

Threat summary

Habitat

This endemic rodent inhabits primary and secondary tropical forests on its restricted island range. It appears to prefer dense forest understory with adequate ground cover and fallen logs that provide shelter and foraging opportunities.

Conservation measures underway

Species recovery

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Margaretamys christinae

Unknown
EN

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Speckle-faced Bent-toed Gecko

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Acropora hemprichiiEN

Acropora hemprichii

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Bacan Myzomela

Myzomela batjanensis

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VU

Hopea coriacea

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Niken's Rat classified as Critically Endangered?
Niken's Rat is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Rattus nikenii faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to agricultural expansion and urban development on its limited island range. The species' extremely restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to introduced predators and competitors, especially other rat species that can outcompete it for resources. Climate change poses additional risks through altered precipitation patterns affecting the forest ecosystems this endemic rodent depends upon.
Where does Niken's Rat live?
Niken's Rat occurs in Indonesia. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Niken's Rat?
The main threats to Niken's Rat are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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