Studies on the rats and mice captured in the Yawata Iron and Steel Works, Kita-kyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture

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  • 北九州市八幡製鉄所内より捕獲された鼠に関する研究
  • キタキュウシュウシ ヤハタ セイテツジョ ナイ ヨリ ホカク サレタ ネズミ ニ カンスル ケンキュウ

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The authors had an opportunity of examining rats and mice captured in the Yawata Iron and Steel Works during the period from September to October 1963 and in March 1964. The operations were carried out with cage traps and rodenticide "Kumaran" (coumarin derivative). The rats and mice were separately gathered at each site of the capture and preserved in 10% formalin. In the present paper, they reported on the species of rats and mice, the micro-habitats, the reproductive status and the measurements of external charactors of adult Rattus rattus. The results are summarized as follows : 1. The total number of rats and mice captured in autumn 1963 was 214 individuals, out of them R. rattus being 198 (92.2%), Rattus norvegicus 15 (7.0%) and Mus molossinus 1 (0.5%). In spring 1964, the total number of captured rats and mice was 101 individuals, R. rattus being 75 (74.1%), R. norvegicus 10 (10.0%) and M. molossinus 16 (15.9%). It is noticeable that the number of M. molossinus caught in spring is more than that in autumn. 2. In autumn numerous individuals of rats and mice were caught at resting room and the number captured decreased in order of office room and kitchen. In spring, however, R. rattus and M. molossinus were numerously captured at guardroom, resting room and dressing room. R. norvegicus was mostly caught at dumping place. 3. The bulk of female rats and mice captured in autumn and spring was oestrous, pregnant and lactating, and in the bulk of males the testes descended into the scrota. Therefore, the both females and males of R. rattus, R. norvegicus and M. molossinus were fecund in autumn and spring. 4. In R. rattus (♀53, ♂49), the average head and body length of adult females was 147.26±15.17mm; and that of males 149.45±10.08mm. The average tail length of females was 167.31±17.27mm; and that of males 163.45±15.46mm. The average hind foot length of females was 29.89±1.59mm; and that of males 30.59±2.02mm. The average ear length of females was 19.98±1.68mm; and that of males 20.18±1.37mm.

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