Rattus arfakiensis Rümmler 1935

Rattus arfakiensis Rümmler 1935, Z. Saugetierk., 10: 118.

Type Locality: New Guinea, NW Prov. of Papua (= Irian Jaya), Vogelkop Peninsula, Arfak Mtns, 2000 m.

Vernacular Names: Vogelkop Mountain Rat.

Distribution: Recorded only by the holotype from the Arfak Mtns.

Discussion: Rattus leucopus species group; member of the R. niobe complex. Usually associated with R. niobe as a subspecies (Laurie and Hill, 1954; Tate, 1951) or one of the synonyms of R. niobe arrogans (Taylor et al., 1982) . Its brown upperparts and long incisive foramina do not fit neatly into either R. niobe, R. pococki, or R. arrogans . We provisionally recognize arfakiensis as a species until a fresh assessment is made of individual and geographic variation among samples of the R. niobe complex. A larger series of arfakiensis is required for study to determine its relationship to populations of this complex in the Central Cordillera of Prov. of Papua (= Irian Jaya) and Papua New Guinea.