2. (noun) Polynesian rat, Rattus exulans - originated in Southeast Asia but spread throughout Polynesia and Fiji. Eats seeds, fruit, leaves, bark, insects, earthworms, spiders, lizards, and avian eggs and hatchlings.
Ko ētahi o ngā ingoa Māori mō ēnei kiore ko te pou-o-Hawaiki, ko muritai (Te Ara 2011). / Some of the Māori names for these rats are pou-o-Hawaiki and muritai.
3. (noun) pilferer.
He muritai kai roto i tēnei karaehe (Ng 1993:339). / There is a pilferer in this class (Ng 1993:339).
