Distribution, Present and Past, of Rattus praetor in the Pacific and Its Implications

Abstract

We outline the current distribution of Rattus praetor in Near Oceania and present new evidence for its association with prehistoric human settlement on some islands in Remote Oceania. We discuss the problems of determining intentionality in the human transport of this animal, with reference to other examples of animal translocation in the Pacific. Current and prehistoric disjunct distributions of all domestic and nearly all wild mammals in both Near and Remote Oceania point to a common pattern of human behavior and in particular the deliberate translocation of R. praetor into Remote Oceania.