Rata del Archipiélago de Siberut

discussion

Discussion: Rattus rattus species group. Chasen (1940) listed lugens and mentawai each as a subspecies of R. rattus, but the Mentawai endemic is a morphologically distinctive species most closely related to R. adustus from Enggano Isl and R. simalurensis from the adjacent Simalur Arch., and both those two species along with R. lugens appear to be morphologically related to the R. tiomanicus complex (Musser, 1986; Musser and Califia, 1982; Musser and Heaney, 1985; Musser, ms.). Member of the murine fauna endemic to Mentawai Arch. (see account of Leopoldamys siporanus).

Order Rodentia - Family Muridae

distribution

Distribution: Islands of Siberut, Sipora, Pagai Utara, and Pagai Selattan in the Mentawai Arch. off coast of SW Sumatra; these islands lie on a slender extension of the continental shelf.

Order Rodentia - Family Muridae

materials_examined

Type Locality: Indonesia, Kepulauan Mentawai, Pulau Utara Pagai (North Pagai Isl).

Order Rodentia - Family Muridae

discussion

COMMENTS: Chasen (1940) listed lugens and mentawai each as a subspecies of R. rattus, but the Mentawai endemic is a morphologically distinctive species closely related to R. adustus from Enggano Isl, and to the R. tiomanicus complex (Musser, 1986; Musser and Califia, 1982; Musser and Heaney, 1985). Part of the rodent fauna endemic to Mentawi Archipelago (see account of Leopoldamys siporanus).

Order Rodentia - Family Muridae