Florida naked-tailed rat

Solomys salamonis is an extremely rare or already extinct rodent of the genus naked-tailed rats. The species is known only from the holotype, which was collected in 1881 by Alexander Morton at the Florida Islands in the Solomon Islands.

Features

The only known specimen is a male with a snout-vent length of 187 mm. The tail length is 194 mm, the Hinterfußlänge 39 mm and the ears length 27 mm. This Solomys salamonis is considered the smallest type of naked-tailed rats. From Solomys salebrosus and Solomys sapientis that have a reddish-brown coat color to Salomonys salamonis distinguished by its monochrome ash-gray fur.

Dissemination

In his scientific first description in 1883 Edward Pierson Ramsay was mistakenly Ugi Iceland ( Uki Ni Masi ) as the type locality. Later, the place of origin on Florida Islands ( Nggela Sule ) has been corrected.

Status

The IUCN classifies this species in the category of an insufficient data ( data deficient ). In interviews in 1987, the zoologist Gregory Mengden the Australian Museum found that the islanders are familiar with a strain of rats, could apply to the description of Solomys salamonis, but could not this kind are being rediscovered, despite intensive searches. Also Ian Aujure the Ministry of Environment of the Solomon Islands could prove no copy in 1991. Since the Florida Islands are already heavily deforested, the possibility is not excluded that Solomys salamonis is already extinct.