Flores giant rat

The Flores giant rat (Papagomys) is a rodent of the family Muridae that occurs on the island of Flores in Indonesia.[2] It has been recorded in Rutong Protection Forest. The species is found in primary, secondary and disturbed forest over a wide range of elevations.[1] Head and body length is 41–45 cm (16–17.5 in) and tail length is 33–70 cm (13–27.5 in). These dimensions are about twice as large as those of a typical brown rat (Rattus norvegicus), which suggests about eight times the body mass.

Papagomys armandvillei

Flores giant rat
Holotypes of the Flores giant rat (below) and Papagomys theodorverhoeveni (above), with four diagnostic characteristics marked.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Muridae
Genus: Papagomys
Species:
P. armandvillei
Binomial name
Papagomys armandvillei
(Jentink, 1892)
Flores Giant Rat front view

Papagomys armandvillei is the only extant species in the genus Papagomys. The specific epithet, armandvillei, honours the Dutch Jesuit missionary Kornelis J. F. le Cocq d'Armandville who was stationed in the Dutch East Indies, and later in New Guinea.[3]

Guy Musser describes the Flores giant rat as having small, round ears, a chunky body and a small tail, and as appearing to be adapted for life on the ground with refuge in burrows. It has dense dark hair (pelage). Analysis of the teeth suggests a diet of leaves, buds, fruit, and certain kinds of insect as inferred by large hypsodont teeth.[4]

Conservation

P. armandvillei is listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN Red List. Threats include subsistence hunting and predation by dogs and cats.[1] A related species, P. theodorverhoeveni, is known from subfossil remains from 3,000 – 4,000 years ago. This species is presumed to be extinct, but may still exist on the island.

See also

References
  1. Aplin, K.; Helgen, K.; Musser, G.; Lunde, D.; Amori, G.; Ruedas, L. (2008). "Papagomys armandvillei". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2008: e.T15975A5335512. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T15975A5335512.en.}
  2. Musser, G.G.; Carleton, M.D. (2005). "Superfamily Muroidea". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 1430. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
  3. Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2009). "Armandville". The Eponym Dictionary of Mammals. Baltimore, MD: The Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 18. ISBN 978-0-8018-9304-9.
  4. Musser, G. G. (1981-09-24). "The giant rat of Flores and its relatives east of Borneo and Bali". Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. 169: 67–176. hdl:2246/568.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.