Name that rat: molecular and morphological identification of Pacific rodent remains

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Abstract
Generally, species identification of rodent remains from archaeological sites in the Pacific is made based on the overall size and robusticity of those bones most commonly recovered—mandibles and femora. Molecular identifications of Pacific rat remains suggest that the current method of morphological identification may not be appropriate for species identification. It appears that there is a high degree of size variation in Rattus exulans throughout the Pacific, and an overlap in size between R. exulans and other rat species present in the region. Our results suggest not only a need to re‐examine our current methods for identification of rodent skeletal remains, but also, perhaps, our views on the distribution of various rodent species throughout the Pacific, and the implications of such for the human prehistory of the region. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.