Polynesian rat

The Pacific rat is a small, adaptable rodent that hitched rides with humans to spread across Polynesia, from New Zealand to Hawaii. Though it started in Southeast Asia, this clever rat now thrives in many environments, often living close to people where food is easy to find. It’s one of the world’s most widespread rats, just behind its bigger cousins, the brown and black rats.

• It’s the third most common rat species globally.
• Often lives near humans for easy meals.
• Found from grasslands to dense forests.