Mallomys
Encyclopedia
Mallomys is a genus of rodent
in the family Muridae
. The name of the genus derives from the Greek
μαλλός, mallós, wool, and μῦς, mȳs, mouse/rat. These very large rats weigh between 0.95 and 2 kg (2.1 and 4.4 lb) and are native to highlands in New Guinea
. Little is known about their behavior, but they are believed to feed on leaves, grasses and other plant material.
It contains the following species:
Conservation International
(CI) and the Indonesia
Institute of Science (LIPI) discovered two possibly undescribed mammal
s upon visit of the Foja Mountains
in June 2007: a Cercartetus
pygmy possum
, one of the world's smallest marsupials, and a 1.4 kilograms (3.1 lb) Mallomys giant rat
(five times the size of a Brown Rat
) - found in Indonesia
's Papua
in 2005.
Rodent
Rodentia is an order of mammals also known as rodents, characterised by two continuously growing incisors in the upper and lower jaws which must be kept short by gnawing....
in the family Muridae
Muridae
Muridae is the largest family of mammals. It contains over 600 species found naturally throughout Eurasia, Africa, and Australia. They have been introduced worldwide. The group includes true mice and rats, gerbils, and relatives....
. The name of the genus derives from the Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
μαλλός, mallós, wool, and μῦς, mȳs, mouse/rat. These very large rats weigh between 0.95 and 2 kg (2.1 and 4.4 lb) and are native to highlands in New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
. Little is known about their behavior, but they are believed to feed on leaves, grasses and other plant material.
It contains the following species:
- De Vis's Woolly RatDe Vis's Woolly RatDe Vis's Woolly Rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.It is found only in Papua New Guinea.-References:* Baillie, J. 1996. . Downloaded on 19 July 2007....
(Mallomys aroaensis) - Alpine Woolly RatAlpine Woolly RatThe Alpine Woolly Rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.It is found only in West Papua, Indonesia. When specimens were brought to a museum the female rats were pregnant with only one baby, so it is assumed that the rat gives birth to only one rat at a time.-References:* Baillie, J....
(Mallomys gunung) - Subalpine Woolly RatSubalpine Woolly RatThe Subalpine Woolly Rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.It is found in West Papua, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.-References:* Baillie, J. 1996. . Downloaded on 19 July 2007....
(Mallomys istapantap) - Rothschild's Woolly RatRothschild's Woolly RatRothschild's Woolly Rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.It is found in West Papua, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.-References:* Baillie, J. 1996. . Downloaded on 19 July 2007....
(Mallomys rothschildi) - Bosavi Woolly RatBosavi Woolly RatThe Bosavi Woolly Rat is a species of rodent that was discovered deep in the jungle of Papua New Guinea in 2009. It is believed to belong to the genus Mallomys, within the family Muridae, according to initial investigation, although this has yet to be published...
(Mallomys sp. nov.) - Arfak Woolly Rat (Mallomys sp. nov.)
- Foja Woolly Rat (Mallomys sp. nov.)
Conservation International
Conservation International
Conservation International is a nonprofit organization headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, which seeks to ensure the health of humanity by protecting Earth's ecosystems and biodiversity. CI’s work focuses on six key initiatives that affect human well-being: climate, food security, freshwater...
(CI) and the Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
Institute of Science (LIPI) discovered two possibly undescribed mammal
Mammal
Mammals are members of a class of air-breathing vertebrate animals characterised by the possession of endothermy, hair, three middle ear bones, and mammary glands functional in mothers with young...
s upon visit of the Foja Mountains
Foja Mountains
The Foja Mountains are located just north of the Mamberamo river basin in Papua, Indonesia. The mountains rise to , and have 3,000 square kilometres of old growth tropical rainforest in the interior part of the range...
in June 2007: a Cercartetus
Cercartetus
The genus Cercartetus is a group of very small possums known as pygmy possums. Four species comprise this genus, which together with the genus Burramys make up the marsupial family Burramyidae....
pygmy possum
Pygmy possum
The pygmy possums are a family of small possums that together form the marsupial family Burramyidae. There are five extant species of pygmy possum, grouped into two genera. Four of the species are endemic to Australia, with one species also co-occurring in Papua New Guinea and Indonesia.Pygmy...
, one of the world's smallest marsupials, and a 1.4 kilograms (3.1 lb) Mallomys giant rat
Giant rat
The term giant rat has been applied to various species of large rodents. They tend to be native to tropical and sub-tropical locations. Some have flourished in other climates, including the Coypu and the Gambian pouched rat, which have both become invasive species...
(five times the size of a Brown Rat
Brown Rat
The brown rat, common rat, sewer rat, Hanover rat, Norway rat, Brown Norway rat, Norwegian rat, or wharf rat is one of the best known and most common rats....
) - found in Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
's Papua
Papua (Indonesian province)
Papua comprises most of the western half of the island of New Guinea and nearby islands. Its capital is Jayapura. It's the largest and easternmost province of Indonesia. The province originally covered the entire western half of New Guinea...
in 2005.