Microperoryctes aplin, Helgen & Flannery, 2004

Russell A. Mittermeier & Don E. Wilson, 2015, Peramelidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 5 Monotremes and Marsupials, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 362-398 : 397-398

16.

Arfak Pygmy Bandicoot

Microperoryctes aplin

French: Bandicoot dAplin / German: Arfak-Mausnasenbeutler / Spanish: Bandicut de las Arfak

Taxonomy. Microperoryctes aplini Helgen & Flannery, 2004 ,

Kampong Sururai , Lake Anggi Giji (01°23’S, 133°58’E), 6200 ft (= 1890 m), Arfak Mountains , eastern Vogelkop Peninsula, western New Guinea (Papua Province, Indonesia).

Has been considered conspecific with M. murina , primarily on the basis of its similarity in size. Monotypic.

Distribution. Arfak Mts, in E Bird’s Head (= Vogelkop) Peninsula, NW New Guinea.

This species is monotypic.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 14.2-16 cm,tail 11-512 cm; weight unknown, probably less than 100 g. Probably the smallest member of Peramelidae , at least as diminutive as the Mouse Bandicoot (M. murina ). Fur is soft brown on dorsal surface, with a pronounced dark stripe that runs from crown to rump, while ventral fur is gray-brown with a creamy-white stripe. Relatively long tail is brown above and creamy white below, with a white tip that extends for about a sixth of tail length.

Habitat. Has been collected in forest at altitudes of 1890-2200 m.

Food and Feeding. There is no specific information available for this species. Like the Mouse Bandicoot, however,it has been suggested as being “subfossorial;” if correct, this species may obtain its food at or just below ground surface.

Breeding. There is no information available for this species.

Activity patterns. There is no information available for this species.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. There is no information available for this species.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Data Deficient on The IUCN Red List. The population trend is unknown. This tiny bandicoot is represented by four specimens collected in 1928, 1963, and 1986 from Arfak Mountains, in eastern Bird’s Head Peninsula. Its status is similar to that of the Mouse Bandicoot in that it has not been seen for many years, is known from a small area, and has been subject to little or no dedicated survey work to discoverits true status. Although it is not beset by any known threats and has been recorded from a formal nature reserve, there is a growing human population in lower Arfak Mountains and the species could be potentially at risk from increased hunting pressure or disturbance to its habitat. Surveys are needed in order to define the size of the species’ population, where it occurs, and what threats it may face, so that more informed decisions can be made about its future conservation and management.

Bibliography. Flannery (1995a), Groves (2005c), Helgen & Flannery (2004a), Menzies (2011), Tate (1948b), Ziegler (1977).

Figures

9. Clara’s Echymipera (Echymupera clara), 10. David’s Echymipera (Echymipera davidi), 11. Menzies’s Echymipera (Echymipera echinista), 12. Common Echymipera (Echymipera kalubu), 13. Long-nosed Echymipera (Echymipera rufescens), 14. Striped Bandicoot (Microperoryctes longicauda), 15. Mouse Bandicoot (Microperoryctes murina), 16. Arfak Pygmy Bandicoot (Microperoryctes aplin), 17. Papuan Bandicoot (Microperoryctes papuensis), 18. Seram Bandicoot (Rhynchomeles prattorum)

Distribution. Arfak Mts, in E Bird’s Head (= Vogelkop) Peninsula, NW New Guinea. This species is monotypic.