Fossil and Archeological Records of the Ryukyu Long-Furred Rat Diplothrix legata (Rodentia, Muridae)

Fossil and archeological evidence reveals that the Ryukyu long-furred rat (Diplothrix legata), now endangered and confined to three islands (Amami-Oshima, Tokunoshima, and northern Okinawa Island), historically inhabited a broader range across the central Ryukyu Archipelago. Records indicate its presence on additional islands, including Okinoerabujima, Kumejima, and Miyagijima, with the latter likely due to human introduction. A notable decline in the species' southern Okinawa population during the Gusuku Period (11th–15th centuries CE) suggests significant human impact on its distribution. This study compiles these records to reconstruct the species' distributional history, providing insights into its ecological and anthropogenic drivers of decline.

Nakamura, Y. (2018). Fossil and Archeological Records of the Ryukyu Long-Furred Rat Diplothrix legata (Rodentia, Muridae). Mammal Study, 43(2), 109–116. https://doi.org/10.3106/ms2017-0044