Rattus jobiensis Rümmler 1935

Rattus jobiensis Rümmler 1935, Z. Saugetierk., 10: 116.

Type Locality: New Guinea, Prov. of Papua (= Irian Jaya), Pulau Yapen in Teluk Cendrawasih (Geelvinck Bay).

Vernacular Names: Yapen Island Rat.

Synonyms: Rattus biakensis Troughton 1945; Rattus owiensis Troughton 1946 .

Distribution: New Guinea, Prov. of Papua (= Irian Jaya), recorded only from islands of Yapen, Owi, Supiori, and Biak in Geelvinck Bay (Flannery, 1995 b:154; Taylor et al., 1982:262).

Conservation: IUCN – Lower Risk (nt).

Discussion: Rattus leucopus species group. Originally described as a subspecies of R. leucopus, jobiensis is a distinctive, separate species that may be more closely related to Moluccan endemics than to native mainland New Guinea species (Taylor et al., 1982). Reviewed by Flannery (1995 b).