| Ziegler's water rat | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Muridae |
| Genus: | Hydromys |
| Species: | H. ziegleri |
| Binomial name | |
| Hydromys ziegleri Helgen, 2005 | |
Ziegler's water rat (Hydromys ziegleri), described in the mid-2000s, is a semiaquatic species of rodent native to the mountains Papua New Guinea of which little is known.[1]
Research and history
It was described in 2005 by K. Helgen,[2] and later was assessed by Helgen, and A. Allison in 2008.[1] The water rat was named in honor of the deceased Dr. Alan C. Ziegler from the Bishop Museum.[2] It has been rated as data deficient for the purposes of the IUCN redlist because insufficient is known about the creature's population range, threats, and numbers.[1] Only two specimens have ever been recorded by scientists.[1] The water rat may be threatened by logging of its forest habitat but more research is needed to codify this theory.[1] It is also believed it may inhabit the northern slopes of its mountain home but study is needed to determine this as fact.[1]
Habitat
This species inhabits both terrestrial and freshwater systems. This includes forests, subtropical and tropical moist lowland forests, inland wetlands, permanent watercourses, and artificial terrestrial areas.[1] The animal has only been recorded in Bainyik, located on the south slopes of the Prince Alexander Mountains at an elevation of 200 meters (650 feet).[1] The rat has been found to live in creeks and rivers in low lying tropical rain forests but it may also live in higher elevations.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Helgen, K. & Allison, A. (2008). "Hydromys ziegleri". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2008. Retrieved 6 November 2011.
- 1 2 Dictionary of Australian and New Guinean mammals, Ronald Strahan, Pamela Conder, 2007, access date 06-11-2011.