Microhydromys musseri Flannery 1989

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 : 1383

Microhydromys musseri Flannery 1989

Microhydromys musseri Flannery 1989 , Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. W., 111: 216.

Type Locality: Papua New Guinea, West Sepik Province, Torricelli Mtns, Mt Somoro, 1350 m (see Flannery, 1989, for details).

Vernacular Names: Torricelli Mountains Shrew Mouse.

Distribution: Recorded only from the type locality.

Conservation: IUCN – Lower Risk (lc).

Discussion: Represented only by the holotype. A very distinct species that is part of a highland fauna endemic to the N coastal ranges of Papua New Guinea (see account of Paraleptomys rufilatus ). Its cranial and dental morphology is most like M. richardsoni , but "both possess a number of independent specializations not seen in the other" suggesting that they "have been evolving separately for a considerable period of time" (Flannery, 1989:220). Flannery preferred to include musseri in Microhydromys rather than its own monotypic genus because doing so would highlight its apparent close morphological affinity with richardsoni , at least "until relationships within the group are clarified" (p. 220), but a new genus will likely have to be erected for the species.