Melomys matambuai Flannery, Colgan, and Trimble 1994

Melomys matambuai Flannery, Colgan, and Trimble 1994, Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. W., 114: 39.

Type Locality: Papua New Guinea, Bismarck Arch., Admirality Isls, Manus Isl.

Vernacular Names: Manus Island Melomys.

Distribution: Known only by two specimens from Manus Isl.

Discussion: A member of the " Melomys rufescens Division" (Menzies, 1996) and "very distinct, both in its biochemistry and morphology, and... presumably a long-isolated species" (Flannery, 1995 b:140). Melomys matambuai is most closely related to M. paveli on Seram Isl., M. bougainville on Manus Isl, and the wide-ranging M. rufescens (Helgen, 2003 b; see account of M. paveli).