Papagomys

Papagomys is a genus of very large rats in the tribe Rattini of the subfamily Murinae, with body masses of 600-2500 g. It contains two species, which are known only from the Indonesian island of Flores:

A possible unnamed third species is also known from subfossil remains.
 * Flores giant rat Papagomys armandvillei
 * Verhoeven's giant rat Papagomys theodorverhoeveni (possibly extinct, only known from subfossil remains)

Both species have records extending to the early Late Pleistocene. The species are thought to be terrestrial, preferring closed habitats, with P. armandvillei known to engage in burrowing. They are thought to be omnivores, consuming leaves, fruit and invertebrates.

It is interesting that in 2009 in Papua New Guinea, a huge species of rat was discovered in an isolated volcanic crater (Bosavi woolly rat).

Literature cited

 * Aplin, K.P. and Helgen, K.M. 2010. Quaternary murid rodents of Timor. Part I: New material of Coryphomys buehleri Schaub, 1937, and description of a second species of the genus. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 341:1–80.
 * Zijlstra, J.S., Hoek Ostende, L.W. van den and Due, R.A. 2008. Verhoeven's giant rat of Flores (Papagomys theodorverhoeveni, Muridae) extinct after all? Contributions to Zoology 77(1):25–31.
 * Zijlstra, J.S., Hoek Ostende, L.W. van den and Due, R.A. 2008. Verhoeven's giant rat of Flores (Papagomys theodorverhoeveni, Muridae) extinct after all? Contributions to Zoology 77(1):25–31.