Rossel Island Melomys

discussion

Discussion: Originally described as a species of Uromys, treated as a subspecies of M. leucogaster by Rümmler (1938), Musser and Carleton (1993), and Flannery (1995 b), but retained as a species by Laurie and Hill (1954) and Menzies (1996). Melomys arcium is closely related to M. leucogaster (Menzies, 1996, and our study of the holotype and AMNH 159597 - 159600), and Flannery (1995 b: 135) wrote that although closely related to M. leucogaster, it may represent " a distinct species. " Flannery (1995 b: 135) noted that most islands off the E coast of Papua New Guinea in Milne Bay have been heavily surveyed and neither M. leucogaster nor M. arcium has been found, " Therefore it seems likely that it is found only on Rossel among the Milne Bay Islands. This is very unusual, because Rossel is the most distant of the Louisiade Group from New Guinea. Presumably, it did exist previously on other islands of the group, but has become extinct on all except Rossel. ".

Order Rodentia - Family Muridae

materials_examined

Type Locality: Papua New Guinea, Louisiade Arch., Rossel Isl.

Order Rodentia - Family Muridae

materials_examined

TYPE LOCALITY: Papua New Guinea, Milne Bay Prov., Rossel Isl.

Order Rodentia (Part 5)

biology_ecology

Habitat. Specimens were collected at elevations ranging between 50 m and 700 m. There is no information on its habitat.

Muridae