268.

Dollman’s Mosaic-tailed Rat

Melomys dollmani

French: Mélomys de Dollman / German: Dollman-Mosaikschwanzratte / Spanish: Rata de cola moteada de Dollman

Other common names: Dollman’s Melomys

Taxonomy. Melomys rufescens dollmani Rummler, 1935,

Kratke Mounatins, 1200— 1500 m, Eastern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea .

Melomys dollmani was previously treated as a highland form of M. rufescens, but bio-chemical and morphological study by T. F. Flannery and colleagues in 1994 suggested that it differed genetically from the two other highland forms ( gracilis and hagen) of latter species; in 1995, Flannery recognized dollmani as a separate species on genetic and ecological grounds,as it apparently existed sympatrically in New Guinea highlands with much longer-tailed gracilis . J. 1. Menzies, in a 1996 morphometric analysis based on more than 60 highlandexamples, found no constant differences between them and recognized only M. gracilis . No subsequent analyses have been carried out. M. dollmani is recognized here provisionally, pending further studies. Monotypic.

Distribution. Central Cordillera of Papua New Guinea; may be present also in SE of the country.

Descriptive notes. No specific measurements available. Dollman’s Mosaic-tailed Rat appears to be very similar to highland subspecies gracilis of the Black-tailed Mosaictailed Rat ( M. rufescens), but is shorter-tailed than that taxon.

Habitat. Montane tropical moist forest. Dollman’s Mosaic-tailed Rat occurs in secondary and degraded forest between ¢.1200 m and 1525 m.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. Dollman’s Mosaic-tailed Rat is a terrestrial and arboreal species.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List owing toits extensive range, lack of threats, and tolerance of disturbance.

Bibliography. Flannery (1995b), Flannery et al. (1994), Menzies (1996).