Rattus tawitawiensis Musser and Heaney, 1985 . Am. Mus. Novit., 2818:5.

TYPE LOCALITY: Philippines, Sulu Arch., Tawitawi Isl, Batu Batu .

DISTRIBUTION: Tawitawi Island in southern part of Sulu Arch.

COMMENTS: Known only by three specimens. Phylogenetic affinities unclear; in some traits resembles Sulawesian R. hoffmanni more closely than any other described species of Rattus from the Indo-Australian region (Musser and Heaney, 1985).