Flores giant rat
The Flores giant rat (Papagomys armandvillei) 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] Its head and body length is 41–45 cm (16–17.5 in) and its 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.
| 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) | |
Papagomys armandvillei is the only extant species in the genus Papagomys. The specific epithet, armandvillei, honours the Dutch Jesuit missionary Cornelis J. F. le Cocq d'Armandville (1846-1896) 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 insects 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
- Gerrie, R.; Kennerley, R. (2017). "Papagomys armandvillei". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T15975A22399875. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T15975A22399875.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
External links
