Mammelomys lanosus

255.

Highland Mosaic-tailed Rat

Mammelomys lanosus

French: Petit Mammelomys / German: Hochland-Mosaikschwanzratte / Spanish: Rata de cola moteada de altiplano

Other common names: Highland Mammelomys, Large-scaled Melomys, Large-scaled Mosaic-tailed Rat

Taxonomy. Melomys lanosus Thomas, 1922,

Doormanpad-bivak (3°30°S, 138°30°E), 2400 m, Province of Papua, West Papua (= Irian Jaya), New Guinea.

Mammelomys is included in a clade with Mallomys and Abeomelomys, although it was originally placed within Melomys. Mono-typic.

Distribution. N, C & E New Guinea.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 132-4-171 mm, tail 105-146 mm, ear 18-H—

20-2 mm, hindfoot 33-4-38 mm; weight 100123 g. The Highland Mosaic-tailed Rat is a smaller-bodied species of mosaic-tailed rat in genus Mammelomys. Pelage is slightly glossy, soft and woolly, with dark-tipped guard hairs. Dorsal pelage ranges from sepia to yellow brown, with yellow underfur with black tips; cheeks are buffy, and there 1s a dark ring around eyes that extends up to ears and to top of rostrum. Ventral pelage is grayish white with gray-based hairs. Feet are pale and narrow. Ears are relatively rounded and grayish near edges; vibrissae are dark. Tail is short (c.76-86% of headbody length) and bicolored, being dark blackish above and white ventrally. Skull has a flat profile and narrow nasal. There is one pair of mammae inguinally. The flea Wilsonipsylla spinicoxa has been recorded from this species.

Habitat. Mid-montane primary and disturbed moss forest at elevations of 1000-3200 m.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. Ajuvenile has been collected in July in Telefomin, and onepregnant female and one lactating female were caught in April. Litter size probably small.

Activity patterns. No information.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Highland Mosaic-tailed Rat has a relatively wide distribution and there seem to be no major threats to this relatively common species, but further research is needed in order fully to understand its natural history and evolution, and any potential threats facing it.

Bibliography. Aplin (2016p), Flannery (1995b), Hastriter (2012), Menzies (1996), Musser & Carleton (2005), Steppan & Schenk (2017), Thomas (1922a).