Gag Island rat
The Gag Island rat or Niken's rat (Rattus nikenii) is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is endemic to Gag Island in West Papua, Indonesia.[2]
| Gag Island rat | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Muridae |
| Genus: | Rattus |
| Species: | R. nikenii |
| Binomial name | |
| Rattus nikenii Maryanto, Sinaga, Achmadi, & Maharadatunkamsi, 2010 | |
It was described in 2010 after studies found it to be distinct in anatomy and coloration from other Papuan Rattus species. Although it is only known from Gag Island, it could potentially also be found on other islands in the Raja Ampat chain.[3]
Although its habitat is protected to an extent, it is threatened by nickel mining on Gag Island; due to this, it is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.[4]
References
- Engelbrektsson, P.; Kennerley, R. (2016). "Rattus nikenii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T45958849A45973121. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T45958849A45973121.en. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
- "Explore the Database". www.mammaldiversity.org. Retrieved 2021-11-30.
- Maryanto, Ibnu; Sinaga, Martua H.; Achmadi, Anang S.; Maharadatunkamsi, Maharadatunkamsi (2010-12-31). "MORPHOMETRIC VARIATION OF RATTUS PRAETOR (THOMAS, 1888) COMPLEX FROM PAPUA, WITH THE DESCRIPTION OF NEW SPECIES OF RATTUS FROM GAG ISLAND". Treubia. 37: 25–48. doi:10.14203/treubia.v37i0.97 (inactive 1 August 2023). ISSN 2337-876X.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of August 2023 (link) - Group (intern)), Paige Engelbrektsson (IUCN SSC Small Mammal Specialist; Trust), Rosalind Kennerley (Durrell Wildlife Conservation (2013-06-30). "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Rattus nikenii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
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