Alpine Woolly Rat (Mallomys gunung)

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The Alpine Woolly Rat

The Alpine Woolly Rat (Mallomys gunung) is currently listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Even though portions of its habitat are protected, the Woolly Rat is still in danger from mining and tourism.

The Alpine Woolly Rat is only found in the high alpine and sub-alpine grasslands in New Guinea. They are actually only one of four species of mammals that live in the area, the other three being the lesser antechinus, the western shrew mouse, and the glacier rat. There is not much known about this animal, but it is in the same family as the giant tree rats. Some giant rats make their nests in trees, far up off of the ground, in the hollows of trees. Other giant rats, however, dig burrows and live on the ground.

The Alpine Woolly Rat is an extremely large rodent. The head and body measures a staggering 11-18 inches (28-45 cm) with a tail about the same length. The tail is relatively hairless and scaly, and the skin is partially brown and partially white. The fur is very long, thick, and somewhat woolly. It varies in color from brown to gray with a white underbelly and black whiskers, hands, and feet. They have very distinctive molars with a unique pattern not seen in other rodents.

The Alpine Woolly Rat, if like other giant rats, is primarily herbivorous, eating mostly shoots, grasses, and tubers. Most of the giant rats are also nocturnal, resting during the day and leaving their burrows at night to find food.

When the Alpine Woolly Rat was discovered, specimens were brought back to a museum and studied. Several of the female rats were pregnant with only signs of one baby, so it is assumed that, like some other giant rats, the Alpine Woolly Rat only gives birth to one baby rat at a time. This is in contrast to smaller rats that can have litters of up to 24 baby rats.

Since the Alpine Woolly Rat was just discovered and listed in 1989, there is still not much that is known about them. Perhaps in the future there will be some more study done, but, until then, the Alpine Woolly Rat is still somewhat of a mystery.

Further Information on the Alpine Woolly Rat:

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Bibliography:
Rats. Encarta Encyclopedia, © 2000.
Rodentia; Muridae; Mallomys. Accessed on August 16, 2004 at http://www.press.jhu.edu/books/walkers_mammals_of_the_world/rodentia/rodentia.muridae.mallomys.html
ADW: Muridae: Information.http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Muridae.html