Pale Field-rat, Rattus tunneyi

The distribution of the Pale Field-rat once covered almost all of mainland Australia but it is now found only in tall grassland in northern Australia. Last South Australian record: uncertain; no confirmed sightings this century.

Strictly vegetarian, the Pale Field-rat eats mainly grass stems, seeds and roots. It feeds at night and spends the day in a shallow burrow dug in loose, crumbly soil. Compaction of the soil by cattle adversely affected the habitat for the Pale Field-rat, which also was affected by degradation of grasslands by rabbits and livestock.