Rattus timorensis

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

Bibliography

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	MAMMALIA	RODENTIA	MURIDAE

Scientific Name:

Rattus timorensis

Species Authority:

Kitchener, Aplin & Boeadi, 1991

Common Name/s:

English

–

Timor Forest Rat, Timor Rat

Taxonomic Notes:

Some of the large series of subfossil fragments collected in east Timor by Glover (1986) may be this species. Phylogenetic affinities unclear (Kitchener et al. 1991). Albumin immunological analysis suggests a close phyletic affinity with Bunomys chrysocomus from Sulawesi and Komodomys rintjanus from Nusa Tenggara (Watts and Baverstock 1994); the close alliance between rintjanus and timorensis, and their great phylogenetic distance from Rattus, is supported by a recent unpublished allozyme electrophoresis study (K. Aplin in litt.. 2004). Recently K. Helgen (in litt.. 2003) collected an extant specimen from a forest fragment on Timor that is not R. timorensis, but an undescribed species that is also represented by large series in Glover’s subfossil collections.

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Data Deficient ver 3.1

Year Published:

2008

Assessor/s:

Aplin, K. & Helgen, K.

Reviewer/s:

Amori, G. (Small Nonvolant Mammal Red List Authority) & Schipper, J. (Global Mammal Assessment Team)

Justification:
Listed as Data Deficient it is currently known only from the holotype collected from a single locality. It is possible that it may occur more widely, but there is very little suitable habitat remaining on Timor.

History:

1996

–

Data Deficient

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species is known only as a living animal collected in 1990 from near the summit of Gunung Mutis, west Timor, in Indonesia, at 1,900 m (Kitchener et al. 1991). From the sub-fossil record, this species seems to have been formerly abundant, at least down to about 500 m (K. Aplin pers. comm.).
Countries:	Native: Indonesia
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	There is no information on current population status, and it is known only from the holotype. This species was not recorded during several weeks of survey work conducted at slightly lower elevations (about 1,500 m), suggesting it is extremely rare.
Population Trend:	Unknown

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	The site from which the species was recorded is montane rainforest rather than mixed-eucalypt forest, which characterizes much of the island (though this is not the original native vegetation). The habitat at the type locality is believed to still be intact, and has so far not been subjected to burning. The original specimen was taken from tunnels in a steep erosion gully.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	The major threat has been extensive habitat loss initially due to extensive forest clearance from the use of metal tools coupled with burning. Burning takes place to clear land for grazing horses; in the absence of fire, the area rapidly converts into eucalyptus forest. Since burning is often uncontrolled, fires frequently move into the dried out eucalypt forest from which they can then move into higher elevations.

Major Threat(s):

The major threat has been extensive habitat loss initially due to extensive forest clearance from the use of metal tools coupled with burning. Burning takes place to clear land for grazing horses; in the absence of fire, the area rapidly converts into eucalyptus forest. Since burning is often uncontrolled, fires frequently move into the dried out eucalypt forest from which they can then move into higher elevations.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	The type locality is not formally protected, and is in urgent need of effective protection since it is one of the few remaining tracts of intact forest on Timor. There is a need to conduct survey work to determine if this species survives in the wild.

Conservation Actions:

The type locality is not formally protected, and is in urgent need of effective protection since it is one of the few remaining tracts of intact forest on Timor. There is a need to conduct survey work to determine if this species survives in the wild.

Bibliography [top]

	Glover, I. 1986. Archaeology in eastern Timor, 1966-67. Terra Australis 11: 1-241. Kitchener, D. J., Aplin, K. P. and Boeadi. 1991. A new species of Rattus from Gunung Mutis, South West Timor Island, Indonesia. Records of the Western Australian Museum 15: 445-461. Watts, C. H. S. and Baverstock, P. R. 1994. Evolution in some South-east Asian Murinae (Rodentia), as assessed by microcomplement fixation of albumin, and their relationship to Australian murines. Australian Journal of Zoology 42: 711-722.

Glover, I. 1986. Archaeology in eastern Timor, 1966-67. Terra Australis 11: 1-241.

Kitchener, D. J., Aplin, K. P. and Boeadi. 1991. A new species of Rattus from Gunung Mutis, South West Timor Island, Indonesia. Records of the Western Australian Museum 15: 445-461.

Watts, C. H. S. and Baverstock, P. R. 1994. Evolution in some South-east Asian Murinae (Rodentia), as assessed by microcomplement fixation of albumin, and their relationship to Australian murines. Australian Journal of Zoology 42: 711-722.

Citation:	Aplin, K. & Helgen, K. 2008. Rattus timorensis. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 24 May 2012.
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