Question

Given below are two statements:
Statement I: Tatera indica has very small body, brown in colour with white belly, tail shorter than head & body, terminal tuft bicolored.
Statement II: Tatera indica has large body, sandy brown to reddish grey with whole underside, well haired, tufted with a stripe on each side. Terminal tuft black in colour.
In light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:

• A. Both Statement I and Statement II are correct
• B. Both Statement I and Statement II are incorrect
• C. Statement I is correct but Statement II is incorrect
• D. Statement I is incorrect but Statement II is correct

Hint:

Remember that the tail of the Indian gerbil (Tatera indica) is always longer than its head-and-body length and ends in a prominent black tuft, which distinguishes it from other common agricultural field rats.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The Indian gerbil, scientifically classified as Tatera indica, is a prominent rodent pest species in agricultural landscapes across South Asia.
Accurate morphological identification of this pest is crucial for designing targeted rodent pest management strategies.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Statement I describes a rodent with a very small body and a tail shorter than its head and body. This does not correspond to Tatera indica, which is a relatively large rodent with a tail that is longer than its head-and-body length.
Therefore, Statement I is incorrect.
Statement II correctly describes the physical features of Tatera indica. It has a large body, sandy brown to reddish-grey fur, a whitish underside, a well-haired tail with a dark stripe on each side, and a characteristic black terminal tuft at the tip of its tail.
Therefore, Statement II is correct.

Step 3: Final Answer:
Since Statement I is incorrect and Statement II is correct, option (D) is the correct choice.