Xeromys myoides Thomas 1889

Xeromys myoides Thomas 1889, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1889: 248.

Type Locality: Australia, Queensland, Mackay.

Vernacular Names: False Water Rat.

Distribution: Australia: C and S Queensland (Dwyer et al., 1979), North Stradbroke Isl off the coast of SEQueensland (Van Dyck, 1996; Van Dyck et al., 1979), Northern Territory, and Melville Isl off the coast of Northern Territory; probably has a wider range (Van Dyck, 1995, 1996; Watts and Aslin, 1981; Woinarski et al., 2000). S Papua New Guinea: Western Province, Bensbach River in lowlands of the Trans-Fly (Hitchcock, 1998).

Conservation: CITES – Appendix I; U.S. ESA – Endangered; IUCN – Vulnerable.

Discussion: Closely associated with tidal mangrove swamps and known by few samples (some of them large, however), most collected since 1970 (Dwyer et al., 1979; Van Dyck, 1996; Watts and Aslin, 1981; Woinarski et al., 2000). Morphology of sperm head structure and male reproductive tract studied by Breed (1984, 1986) in context of comparisons of reproductive structures among Australian murines. Chromosomal complement similar to that of Hydromys chrysogaster (Baverstock et al., 1977 c), as is primitive pattern (for Murinae) of cephalic arterial configuration (Musser’s unpublished observations). Mahoney and Richardson (1988:190) cataloged references to taxonomy and natural history for Australian records. Reviewed by Van Dyck (1995, 1996) and Woinarski et al. (2000). Xeromys myoides is one of 17 species of Australian mammals that are also found only in the Trans-Fly region of S New Guinea (Norris and Musser, 2001).