241.

Western White-eared Giant Rat

Hyomys dammermani

French: Hyomys de Dammerman / German: \ Westliche WeiRohrRiesenratte / Spanish: Rata gigante de orejas blancas occidental

Other common names: Western Hyomys

Taxonomy. Hyomys meeki dammermani Stein, 1933,

Kunupi Mountains, Weyland

Range, Papua Province, New Guinea.

G. H. H. Tate in 1951 considered H. dammermani a distinct subspecies of H. goliath,

and provided measurements and diagnoses of the two taxa. The genus has not yet been properly revised, but in 2005 G. G. Musser and M. D. Carleton, following: examination of museum specimens, concluded that H. dammermani is a valid species. The isolated record of H. dammermani from the Arfak Mountains may potentially represent a distinct species, although no research has been done to determine its status. Monotypic.

Distribution. New Guinea, including Arfak Mts and the Central Cordillera from Weyland Range E to Mt Hagen.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 295-325 mm, tail 245-318 mm, ear 25-28 mm, hindfoot 53-57 mm; weight 800-985 g. The Western White-eared Giant Rat is a very large species of robust rat, although it is smaller than the Eastern White-eared Giant Rat ( H. goliath). Dorsal pelage is brown and has gray guard hairs with white subterminal bands interspersed throughout. Ventral pelage is dull white and not sharply demarcated from the dorsal pelage. There is a band of bare skin around the eyes. Ears are short, rounded, and distinctively white. Unlike its congener,it has only traces of white wisps around the ears rather than prominent white tufts. Feet are long and broad with very long, opaque claws. Tail is a little shorter or equal (87-100%) to head—body length, with large scales with three short hairs emerging from each and a dark brown basal half and dirty white ventral half. They apparently have a very distinctive odour. Females bear two pairs of mammae.

Habitat. Tropical moist mountain forest, forest-edge habitats, and old gardens, at elevations between 1400 m and 2800 m.

Food and Feeding. Western White-eared Giant Rats are probably herbivorous, being known to feed on shoots of sword-grass and may also occasionally raid gardens to feed on sweet potatoes.

Breeding. The Western White-eared Giant Rat is considered to be a slow breeder. A a female has been captured with a single offspring weighing 148 g.

Activity patterns. Western White-eared Giant Rats are nocturnal and terrestrial, being known to spend the day in nests in burrows among roots.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Data Deficient on The IUCN Red List. The Western White-eared Giant Rat is hunted using dogs throughoutits distribution, as it is a favored food source by the natives. It is found in Lorentz National Park, as well as multiple other protected regions. Further research into the species taxonomy, ecology, threats, and population distribution are needed.

Bibliography. Flannery (1995b), Musser & Carleton (2005), Tate (1951).