Ziegler's water rat

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Ziegler's water rat
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
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]

Contents

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 Red List 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]

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References

  1. 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.
  2. 1 2 Dictionary of Australian and New Guinean mammals, Ronald Strahan, Pamela Conder, 2007, access date 06-11-2011.