Ziegler's water rat

Ziegler's water rat
Conservation status
Data Deficient  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Rodentia
Family:	Muridae
Genus:	Hydromys
Species:	H. ziegleri
Binomial name
Hydromys ziegleri Helgen, 2005

Ziegler's water rat (Hydromys ziegleri), described in the mid-2000s, is a semiaquatic species of rodent native to the mountains Papua New Guinea of which little is known.[1]

Research and history

It was described in 2005 by K. Helgen,[2] and later was assessed by Helgen, and A. Allison in 2008.[1] The water rat was named in honor of the deceased Dr. Alan C. Ziegler from the Bishop Museum.[2] It has been rated as data deficient for the purposes of the IUCN Red List because insufficient is known about the creature's population range, threats, and numbers.[1] Only two specimens have ever been recorded by scientists.[1] The water rat may be threatened by logging of its forest habitat but more research is needed to codify this theory.[1] It is also believed it may inhabit the northern slopes of its mountain home but study is needed to determine this as fact.[1]

Habitat

This species inhabits both terrestrial and freshwater systems. This includes forests, subtropical and tropical moist lowland forests, inland wetlands, permanent watercourses, and artificial terrestrial areas.[1] The animal has only been recorded in Bainyik, located on the south slopes of the Prince Alexander Mountains at an elevation of 200 meters (650 feet).[1] The rat has been found to live in creeks and rivers in low lying tropical rain forests but it may also live in higher elevations.[1]

References

1. Helgen, K. & Allison, A. (2008). "Hydromys ziegleri". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2008. Retrieved 6 November 2011.{{cite iucn}}: old-form url (help)
2. Dictionary of Australian and New Guinean mammals, Ronald Strahan, Pamela Conder, 2007, access date 06-11-2011.

External links

• Profile on IUCN Red List