Indian Bush Rat- Golunda ellioti Gray, 1837 Type locality: India, Dharwar; Distribution: SE of Iran (Misonne, 1990), Pakistan (Roberts, 1977), Nepal (Ellerman, 1966), N and NE India south through Indian peninsula to Sri Lanka (Agrawal, 2000). A rat-like rodent similar to Rattus rattus but considerably smaller in size; Tail slightly shorter than the head and body length and much better covered with short hairs than in Rattus species; Head vole-like in its appearance; Eyes bigger than Rattus species; Ear more flattened, circular and well covered with hairs; Stout well- developed feet with four digits on the fore feet and a very short vestigial thumb, bearing a claw; Soles of the hind feet blackish unlike other murids; Adapted for climbing trees and low bushes with their naked soles. Teeth: Incisors reddish and deeply grooved; Well adapted to feeding on hard seeds due to their strongly cuspidate molars (Roberts, 1977).

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