Mallomys

The giant tree rats ( Mallomys ) are a rodent species from the group of Altweltmäuse ( Murinae ). These animals live in New Guinea.

Features

Giant tree rats reach a body length 29-47 inches, which must be added a 28 to 44 centimeters long tail comes. The weight varies from 0.9 to 2 kilograms. Their fur is extremely long and woolly. It is dark brown or gray on the top usually, the underside is white, sometimes white horizontal stripes on the fuselage are available. The paws are black, with the little hairy tail, the front half is brownish and the rear half colored white. The head is solidly built, the muzzle remarkably short.

Habitat and behavior

Giant tree rats are endemic to New Guinea, they live mainly in mountain forests. They keep mainly to trees on and build their nests in tree cavities, rarely on the ground. These animals feed on Pflanzenschößlingen and other plant material.

System

There are four species scientifically described:

• Mallomys aroaensis lives in eastern New Guinea.
• Mallomys gunung is known only from two sites in the guinea African central mountains. The species is IUCN " high risk " ( endangered ).
• Mallomys istapantap inhabited the central mountain range in central and eastern New Guinea.
• Mallomys Rothschildi occurs throughout New Guinea.

Another, hitherto undescribed species lives in the Arfak Mountains in western New Guinea. In 2007 was discovered by an expedition by Conservation International in 2005, a visible, possible further, hitherto undescribed species in the Foja Mountains in the east of the Indonesian part of New Guinea. 2009, a possible additional species was found in the crater of the extinct volcano Mount Bosavi.

Systematically is the genus of the Pogonomys group, a predominantly indigenous to New Guinea radiation of Altweltmäuse. With the authentics rats ( Rattus), however, they are only distantly related.

Giant tree rats and humans

Because of their large size, the animals are sometimes hunted and eaten, and their teeth used as tools. Nevertheless, three of the four species are still common and are not considered threatened.