Mammelomys rattoides (Thomas 1922)

Wilson, Don E. & Reeder, DeeAnn, 2005, Order Rodentia - Family Muridae, Mammal Species of the World: a Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3 rd Edition), Volume 2, Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, pp. 1189-1531 : 1358

Mammelomys rattoides (Thomas 1922)

[Melomys] rattoides Thomas 1922 , Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., ser. 9, 9: 263.

Type Locality: New Guinea, NW Prov. of Papua (= Irian Jaya), Mamberano River, Pionier-bivak (2°20'S, 138°0' E), 200 ft (61 m).

Vernacular Names: Lowland Mammelomys.

Distribution: New Guinea; N slopes and lowlands from the Mamberano River in Prov. of Papua (= Irian Jaya) through lower slopes north of Idenberg River to the Telefomin region in West Sepik Province of Papua New Guinea ( Flannery and Seri, 1990) and eastward to the Gogol River in Madang Province; between sea level and 1500 m ( Menzies, 1996); also on Yapen Isl in NE Prov. of Papua (= Irian Jaya) (Flannery, 1995 b; AMNH 160268 and 222193, BMNH 46.643); limits of range unknown on mainland.

Conservation: IUCN – Lower Risk (lc).

Discussion: Distribution based on specimens we studied in AMNH and BMNH, and Menzie’s (1996) account. Tate's (1951:290) record of M. rattoides from Cyclops Mtns is based on M. lanosus . Closest relative is M. lanosus , which occurs in montane forests at higher altitudes than M. rattoides (see account of M. lanosus ).