Moncton's mosaic-tailed rat (''Paramelomys moncktoni'', previously known as ''Melomys moncktoni'') is a species of

rodent Rodents (from Latin , 'to gnaw') are mammals of the order Rodentia (), which are characterized by a single pair of continuously growing incisors in each of the upper and lower jaws. About 40% of all mammal species are rodents. They are na ...

in 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 ...

. It is found only in

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 ...

. The species lives in lowlands in the north-east and south-east portion of the country. It lives in tropical moist forests. It is found as high as 700 m. While much of the habitat where it lives is being damaged, it survives well in disturbed areas, and as a result is considered at low risk of extinction.

References

* Paramelomys Rodents of New Guinea Endemic fauna of Papua New Guinea Rodents of Papua New Guinea Least concern biota of Oceania Mammals described in 1904 Taxa named by Oldfield Thomas Taxonomy articles created by Polbot {{Murinae-stub