---
title: "Eastern Nesomys"
description: "Nesomys rufus — Mammals. The island mouse or eastern red forest rat (Nesomys rufus) is a species of rodent in the family Nesomyidae."
canonical: https://animalchecklist.com/animal/eastern-nesomys
last_updated: 2026-09-20
---

# Eastern Nesomys

> Nesomys rufus — Mammals. The island mouse or eastern red forest rat (Nesomys rufus) is a species of rodent in the family Nesomyidae.

- Scientific name: *Nesomys rufus*
- Category: `mammals` (Mammals)
- Habitats: `forest` (Forest)
- iNaturalist observations: 51
- Wikidata: [Q1764898](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1764898)
- iNaturalist taxon: [45036](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/45036)

## Names

- en: Eastern Nesomys
- de: Rote Madagassische Inselratte
- nl: Gewone Madagaskarrat
- pl: Malgaszomysz rdzawa

## Countries with the most observations

MG (42)

## Summary

The island mouse or eastern red forest rat (Nesomys rufus) is a species of rodent in the family Nesomyidae.
It is endemic to Madagascar.

Text: Wikipedia (en), CC BY-SA 4.0 — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Island_mouse

## Photo

![Eastern Nesomys](https://animalchecklist.com/img/animals/eastern-nesomys/medium.jpg)

Photo: Philip Precey · CC0 · inaturalist — https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/251680859

## Machine access

`GET https://animalchecklist.com/api/v1/animals/eastern-nesomys?lang=en` — see [openapi.json](https://animalchecklist.com/openapi.json).