Presencia de la rata invasora Rattus rattus (Rodentia: Muridae) en el Parque Nacional Sangay, Ecuador

A rare record of the invasive black rat, Rattus rattus, was documented in Sangay National Park (SNP), Ecuadorduring a small mammal survey. The discovery, made in April 2012 at Sardinayacu within SNP, marks the first confirmed presence of this highly destructive species in Ecuador's pristine rainforests. Sampling involved six expeditions across four sites, deploying 1,800 traps over nine nights per season (rainy and dry) to capture terrestrial mammals. The study suggests that R. rattus, typically associated with human-disturbed environments, may be encroaching into undisturbed ecosystems via tourist and ranger trails originating from nearby communities. This intrusion poses potential threats to native fauna, highlighting the need for monitoring in protected areas.

Brito, J., & Ojala-Barbour, R. (2014). Presencia de la rata invasora Rattus rattus (Rodentia: Muridae) en el Parque Nacional Sangay, Ecuador. Therya, 5(1), 323–329. https://doi.org/10.12933/therya-14-190