Dinagat Hairy-tailed Rat

Dinagat hairy-tailed rat Batomys russatus art web

Somewhere in the forests of Dinagat Island lives the Dinagat hairy-tailed rat, or Batomys russatus. It is on the smaller side for “hairy-tailed rats” or rats in its genus, Batomys. And its fur is a standout feature: glossy and bright brownish-red (G Musser 1998), covering its head and body. Most of its relatives have duller brown coats. One other interesting aspect to the Dinagat hairy-tailed rat is in its head!

An “ancient temple” of Dinagat

The Dinagat hairy-tailed rat might also be an evolutionary time capsule, which is why we like to also call it an “ancient temple” of Dinagat. In its “temple” or head is something called a “primitive” cephalic arterial pattern (G Musser 1998). Basically, its blood circulation system in its head is thought to be an ancient, ancestral trait for mice and rats. While other rodents evolved more “modern” systems, our Dinagat friend kept it old-school! This could mean it is the most ancient species of Batomys out there, making it a living piece of history.

Its vanishing home

This cloud rat is only found on Dinagat Island, specifically in its lowland areas. Dinagat Island is like a biodiversity hotspot, home to many unique animals you won’t find anywhere else.

The biggest threat is human activities, including mining. Mining operations aren’t just digging up dirt; they’re destroying entire habitats, polluting the air and water, messing up the land, and creating noise pollution (JMT Lazarte 2025).

One local told interviewers, “We used to drink water from the spring before, but now it’s no longer drinkable… it causes diarrhea”. And another mentioned, “The cough and colds don’t go away because of the dust. This wasn’t the case before.” (JMT Lazarte 2025).

That’s how real the impact is. Forests on Dinagat have shrunk dramatically – from 58% cover in 1988 to just 34% by 2009. And much of the remaining forest is in the middle of active mining areas (Milada Řeháková-Petrů 2015).

What’s worse is that Dinagat Island barely has any protection. There’s only one local protected area, but none of the truly wild forests are officially protected by the national government (Milada Řeháková-Petrů 2015). This means these unique habitats are basically at the mercy of these “active mining claims”.

How you can help

The future of the Dinagat hairy-tailed rat is uncertain, and it is a race against time. This cloud rat is an irreplaceable part of the Philippines’ incredible biodiversity and represents a unique evolutionary story that we can’t let end.

  • Reach out to local DENR offices in Dinagat Island, and ask how you can volunteer or assist in existing programs, or even surveys of these areas.
  • Read studies and examples of successful conservation efforts that empower local communities. Use your resources to connect local organizations in Dinagat Islands with support, funding, training, and more to start or continue local conservation efforts.
  • If you are not from the Dinagat Islands or are too far to visit, research into national forest laws that you can support, like the Forest Resources Bill.
  • Donate or volunteer with environmental NGOs like the Haribon Foundation, the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines, the Mabuwaya Foundation, and more.
  • Continue educating yourself and others on the importance of local biodiversity and ecosystems for people, and the planet.
  • We need a smart, science-backed plan for the island that balances economic development with protecting nature. It’s about finding a way for people and wildlife to thrive together.
  • We need a serious look at all those mining claims and other threats. It’s crucial to set aside and protect the remaining native forests. Dinagat has minerals, sure, but its unique biodiversity? That’s found nowhere else.

This isn’t just about saving a cute rat, it is about preserving a piece of our planet’s natural heritage. Let’s make some noise for this quiet, enigmatic creature and ensure its story continues.

This artwork is dedicated to the late Danilo Balete

Danilo Balete was involved in the discovery of more than half of the known small mammals in the Philippines (J. Alvarez 2017). Originally from Bicol, Balete introduced conservation measures on Mt. Isarog with the Haribon Foundation, and later worked on the Philippines mammal project of The Field Museum in Chicago, Illinois in the United States (Gatumbato 2017).

Danilo Balete passed away in 2017.

“It is extraordinary that so many new species of mammals remain to be discovered in the Philippines… In the past 10 years we’ve published formal descriptions of 10 other species, and other biologists have described five more. And we are nowhere close to the end of our discoveries. The Philippines may have the greatest concentration of unique species of animals of any country in the world.”Danilo Balete, in an article in the ScienceDaily, “Seven new species of mammals discovered on Luzon, Philippines” (2011).

Cloud rats of the Philippines

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