Rattus giluwensis Hill 1960

Rattus giluwensis Hill 1960, J. Mammal., 41: 277.

Type Locality: NE New Guinea, Papua, Mt Giluwe, 11,000 -12,000 ft (3350-3660 m).

Vernacular Names: Mount Giluwe Rat.

Synonyms: Rattus melanurus Laurie and Hill 1954 .

Distribution: Recorded only from Mt Giluwe in Papua New Guinea and adjoining highlands, 2195-3660 m (Taylor et al., 1982).

Conservation: IUCN – Lower Risk (nt).

Discussion: Rattus leucopus species group. Originally described as R. ruber melanurus (Laurie and Hill, 1954:112), but the name is preoccupied by Rattus melanurus Shamel, 1940, which refers to a sample of Maxomys whiteheadi . A morphologically distinctive species whose phylogenetic affinities are equivocal (Taylor et al., 1982, 1983).