Rattus marmosurus Thomas, 1921 . Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., ser. 9, 7:246.

TYPE LOCALITY: Indonesia, NE Sulawesi, Minahassa, Gunung Masarang, 2000 ft .

DISTRIBUTION: NE Sulawesi only, from vicinity of Teluk Kuandang (0°50'N, 122°52'E) east to Gunung Klabat (1°28'N, 125°02'E).

SYNONYMS: tondanus .

COMMENTS: Although marmosurus has been listed as a subspecies of R. xanthurus (Ellerman, 1941; Laurie and Hill, 1954), most researchers besides Thomas have recognized its specific uniqueness (Misonne, 1969; Musser, 1971c, 1984; Musser and Holden, 1991; Sody, 1941; Tate, 1936). Furthermore, the two are sympatric in NE Sulawesi (Musser, 1971c). Sody (1941) questionably included marmosurus in Taeromys, but it is a member of the Rattus xanthurus group. Musser (1971e) explained why tondanus is a synonym.