Leptomys

The Guinea - water rats ( Leptomys ) are a rodent species from the group of Altweltmäuse ( Murinae ). The genus includes five species.

Guinea - water rats reach a body length 12-18 centimeters, the tail measures 13 to 16 inches and the weight is 60 to 120 grams. Their fur is reddish-brown on the back, shoulders and hips are bright red. The cheeks, the inner sides of the limbs and belly are whitish. The tail is provided with fine scales. In contrast to the closely related species, they have three molars per half of the jaw, but the rearmost molar is greatly reduced.

These rodents live in forests and bush country until 1800 meters above sea level. They feed on insects and other small animals.

There are five types:

• Leptomys elegans lives in eastern New Guinea.
• Leptomys ernstmayri is widespread in south-eastern New Guinea.
• Leptomys signatus inhabited the Fly River region in southern New Guinea.
• Leptomys arfakensis and
• Leptomys paul were not described until 2008.

The IUCN, which only uses the first three types, does not list them as endangered.

Systematically, the genus within the Altweltmäuse is classified in the Xeromys group.