King Giant Rat

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King Giant Rat
Systematics
Family : Long-tailed mice (Muridae)
Subfamily : Old World Mice (Murinae)
Tribe : Hydromyini
Uromys group
Genre : Mosaic Tail Giant Rats ( Uromys )
Type : King Giant Rat
Scientific name
Uromys rex
( Thomas , 1888)

The giant king rat ( Uromys rex ) (English common name : King Rat) is a very rare species of rodent from the genus of the mosaic-tailed giant rats ( Uromys ). It is endemic to the island of Guadalcanal , part of the Solomon Islands .

features

The king giant rat is a large rat with a silvery gray fur. It looks very similar to the extinct Imperial Giant Rat ( Uromys imperator ), but is smaller and the tail is covered with larger scales. The head-trunk length is 257 to 290 mm, the tail length 232 to 296 mm, the hind foot length 50 to 55 mm and the ear length 16 to 20 mm.

habitat

The king giant rat lives in primary tropical rainforests at altitudes between 20 and 600 m.

Way of life

Little is known about their way of life. Since, in contrast to the extinct species Uromys imperator and Uromys porculus, it mainly lives in trees, it was able to avoid being followed by feral cats.

status

So far, only 11 specimens of the king's giant rat have become known. In 1987 Tim Flannery caught a specimen in the Poha Valley. The last reliable evidence is from 1989 when two specimens were discovered at Gold Ridge. During an extensive search on Mount Makarakomburu in 1990, no more specimens could be found. In interviews with locals on Guadalcanal, the scientist Roger James received information that this species could occur elsewhere on the island. However, there is still no evidence of this. The main threat is the clearing of forests by the timber industry and the conversion of forest areas into agricultural areas. The IUCN classifies the species in the “endangered” category .

literature

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