Paulamys

Paulamys
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Muridae
Tribe: Rattini
Genus: Paulamys
Musser, 1986
Species:
P. naso
Binomial name
Paulamys naso
(Musser, 1981)

Paulamys is a genus of rat. Its only known member is Paulamys naso a species endemic to Flores Island, Indonesia.[1] Paulamys naso was first described from subfossil fragments collected in the 1950s by Theodor Verhoeven and was named Floresomys naso by Guy Musser in 1981.[2] Since Floresomys was preoccupied, Musser changed the name to Paulamys, after Verhoeven's life partner Paula Hamerlinck.[3] A living specimen was reported from the montane forest of western Flores in 1989.[2] It is recorded as common between 1,000 and 2,000 m above sea level on the volcanic mountain Gunung Ranakah, but is believed to be threatened by habitat destruction.[1] It is thought to prefer closed habitats.[4]

The genera Papagomys, Komodomys and Paulamys are closer related to each other than to other murids, suggesting an adaptive radiation.[5] It is a relatively small-sized species, with a body mass of around 100–200 grams (0.22–0.44 lb) It is suggested to be an omnivore, consuming fungus and invertebrates, and to engage in burrowing.[4]

  1. ^ a b c Helgen, K. & Aplin, K. (2016). "Paulamys naso". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016.
  2. ^ a b Alexandra van der Geer, George Lyras, John de Vos, Michael Dermitzakis, Evolution of Island Mammals: Adaptation and Extinction of Placental Mammals on Islands, John Wiley & Sons, Feb 14, 2011
  3. ^ Paula in Bo Beolens, Michael Watkins & Michael Grayson The Eponym Dictionary of Mammals, JHU Press, 2009. Page 311.
  4. ^ a b Veatch, E. Grace; Tocheri, Matthew W.; Sutikna, Thomas; McGrath, Kate; Wahyu Saptomo, E.; Jatmiko; Helgen, Kristofer M. (May 2019). "Temporal shifts in the distribution of murine rodent body size classes at Liang Bua (Flores, Indonesia) reveal new insights into the paleoecology of Homo floresiensis and associated fauna". Journal of Human Evolution. 130: 45–60. doi:10.1016/j.jhevol.2019.02.002. hdl:2440/121139.
  5. ^ Musser, G. G.; Carleton, M. D. (2005). "Superfamily Muroidea". In Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 894–1531. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.