The big tree rat ( Chiruromys forbesi ) is a rodent from the genus Chiruromys that occurs in New Guinea . It is endemic in the hill forests of southwest New Guinea at altitudes up to 700 m and on the islands of Fergusson , Goodenough and Normanby at altitudes up to 1,300 m. The animals on these islands are slightly larger than those on the mainland, especially the Goodenough population. The tree rat is a medium-sized tree rat species. It has dark, overlapping tail scales and a prehensile tail. It is the largest species in the genus Chiruromys . The head-trunk length is 134 to 161 mm, the tail length 210 to 235 mm, the hind foot length 30 to 37 mm, the ear length 11.0 to 22.2 mm and the weight 100 to 122 grams.
Timothy Flannery: Mammals of New Guinea. Revised and updated edition. Reed Books Chatswood 1995, ISBN 0-7301-0411-7 .
Guy G. Musser , Michael D. Carleton : Superfamily Muroidea. In: Don E. Wilson , DeeAnn M. Reeder (Eds.): Mammal Species of the World. A taxonomic and geographic Reference. 2 volumes. 3. Edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 2005, ISBN 0-8018-8221-4 , pp. 894-1531.
Web link
Chiruromys forbesi inthe IUCN Red List of Endangered Species 2013.2. Posted by: Leary, T., Wright, D., Hamilton, S., Singadan, R., Menzies, J., Bonaccorso, F., Helgen, K., Seri, L., Allison, A. & Aplin, K., 2008. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
