The D'Entrecasteaux Archipelago pogonomys (''Pogonomys fergussoniensis''), also known as the D'Entrecasteaux Archipelago tree mouse, is a species of prehensile-tailed rat from the family

Muridae The Muridae, or murids, are the largest family of rodents and of mammals, containing approximately 1,383 species, including many species of mice, rats, and gerbils found naturally throughout Eurasia, Africa, and Australia. The name Muridae come ...

that is endemic to

Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (abbreviated PNG; , ; tpi, Papua Niugini; ho, Papua Niu Gini), officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea ( tpi, Independen Stet bilong Papua Niugini; ho, Independen Stet bilong Papua Niu Gini), is a country i ...

. It was once considered to be a subspecies of the

Large Tree Mouse The large tree mouse (''Pogonomys loriae'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found on the island of New Guinea (Indonesia and Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (abbreviated PNG; , ; tpi, Papua Niugini; ho, Papua Niu ...

Deforestation Deforestation or forest clearance is the removal of a forest or stand of trees from land that is then converted to non-forest use. Deforestation can involve conversion of forest land to farms, ranches, or urban use. The most concentrated d ...

is posing a threat to the species, but it has been suspected that the species has some degree of tolerance towards disturbance of its habitat.

Taxonomy

The D'Entrecasteaux Archipelago pogonomys is often confused to be a subspecies of the

large tree mouse The large tree mouse (''Pogonomys loriae'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found on the island of New Guinea (Indonesia and Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (abbreviated PNG; , ; tpi, Papua Niugini; ho, Papua Niu ...

(''P. lorie''), of which it shares a genus. the D'Entrecasteaux Archipelago pogonomys was referred to as a separate species of pogonomys in Laurie and Hill's (1954) checklist, but was referred to as a subspecies of the Large Tree Mouse by Dennis and Menzies (1979), Flannery (1990b), Flannery (1995a), and Musser and Carleton (1993). Flannery (1995b) noted that "''fergussoniensis'' is very distinctive, being very large and having a reddish rather than gray dorsum. I suspect that further studies will reveal it to represent a distinct species." The D'Entrecasteaux Archipelago pogonomys has a larger body and skull size, as well as brownish red upperparts, buffy gray underparts, and sleek fur. The Large Tree Mouse has a dark brownish gray dorsal coat, white underparts, and woolly fur. The taxonomic relationship between the D'Entrecasteaux Archipelago pognomys and the greater tree mouse (''Chiruromys forbesi'') has yet to be resolved.

Range and population

The D'Entrecasteaux Archipelago pogonomys is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...

, specifically the

D'Entrecasteaux Archipelago D'Entrecasteaux Islands () are situated near the eastern tip of New Guinea in the Solomon Sea in Milne Bay Province of Papua New Guinea. The group spans a distance of , has a total land area of approximately and is separated from the Papua New G ...

. The species has been recorded on

Fergusson Island Fergusson Island is the largest island of the D'Entrecasteaux Islands, in Papua New Guinea. It has an area of , and mostly consists of mountainous regions, covered by rain forests. There are three large volcanoes on the island. Fergusson Island ...

Goodenough Island Goodenough Island in the Solomon Sea, also known as Nidula Island, is the westernmost of the three large islands of the D'Entrecasteaux Islands in Milne Bay Province of Papua New Guinea. It lies to the east of mainland New Guinea and southwest ...

, and Normanby Island. This species of pogonomys is terrestrial, with specimens collected at the "oak-rainforest transition" and climbing in vegetation close to a village. The population has been rarely collected, and there are few known specimens of the species; the population is believed, however, to be decreasing.

Conservation status

The

International Union for Conservation of Nature The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN; officially International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) is an international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natu ...

(IUCN) currently lists the D'Entrecasteaux Archipelago pogonomys as an

endangered species An endangered species is a species that is very likely to become extinct in the near future, either worldwide or in a particular political jurisdiction. Endangered species may be at risk due to factors such as habitat loss, poaching and inv ...

due to the extent of occurrence being less than five thousand square kilometers, the presence of individuals in fewer than six locations, continuing deforestation in its habitat, and the decreasing population of mature individuals. It has been suspected, but not confirmed, that the species is tolerant of some disturbance to its habitat. Because the islands are being converted to grassland for subsistence farming, deforestation is a major threat to the population of the species. It is unknown if the D'Entrecasteaux Archipelago pogonomys is present in any protected areas, and further studies need to be conducted in distribution, abundance, natural history, habitat status, and threats.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2013748 Pogonomys Rodents of New Guinea Endemic fauna of Papua New Guinea Rodents of Papua New Guinea D'Entrecasteaux Islands Endangered fauna of Oceania Taxa named by Eleanor Mary Ord Laurie

Taxonomy

Range and population

Conservation status

See also

References