Edented Sulawesi rat

Edented Sulawesi rat
On an Indonesian stamp
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Muridae
Tribe: Rattini
Genus: Paucidentomys
Esselstyn, Achmadi & Rowe, 2012
Species:
P. vermidax
Binomial name
Paucidentomys vermidax
Esselstyn, Achmadi & Rowe, 2012
Specimen collections from Sulawesi, Indonesia

Paucidentomys is a genus of rodents of a type commonly known as shrew-rats which was discovered in 2012 in a remote rainforest on the Indonesian island, Sulawesi. The genus is monotypic, consisting of the species Paucidentomys vermidax, or the edented Sulawesi rat. The Latin name may also be translated to its other common name "few-toothed worm-eating rat", referring to the fact that they have only two teeth and may live exclusively on a diet of earthworms.[2][3][4]

  1. ^ Engelbrektsson, P. (2016). "Paucidentomys vermidax". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T46205590A46207038. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T46205590A46207038.en. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  2. ^ Esselstyn, J.A., Achmadi, A.S. Rowe, K.C. (2012). "Evolutionary novelty in a rat with no molars". Biology Letters. 8 (6): 990–993. doi:10.1098/rsbl.2012.0574. PMC 3497122. PMID 22915626.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ Gnaw way! New species of long-nosed rat discovered that cannot chew. mirror.co.uk. 22 August 2012
  4. ^ "Explore the Database". www.mammaldiversity.org. Retrieved 2021-12-11.