A curator of mammals from LSU Museum of Natural Science discovered a new species of rat on an island.
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The remote region of Sulawesi is very popular for researchers who want to make a new discovery of rodent species that is unique to the area.
Dr Kevin Rowe of the Museum Victoria, with a specimen of the newly discovered mammal species, the hog-nosed rat, found in Indonesia.
Researchers from Australia, Indonesia and the United States have to endure six long weeks to reach the remote forest where they discovered the rat.
“We had never seen anything like this”. It’s nose looks more like a pig’s snout, thus its name. It might look slightly like a Guinea pig, but it’s not.
Hyorhinomys stuempkei, or the hog-nosed rat, was found in Indonesia. Upon seeing the rat stuck in the trap, he reportedly noticed immediately that the hog-nosed rat was “charismatically different” from other rats. “We came back to camp and were both surprised that the other one had it as well”, he reports, noting too, “I don’t know of any other rodents that have lost the coronoid process completely”.
“Obviously its nostrils which resemble a hog’s, are very unique”. The hog-nosed rat also has long pubic hair, a trait not noted on most rats, but is common among other mammals in Australia.
Dr Rowe said the rat’s closest relative was a group of shrew rats found on Sulawesi but that they were not closely related. Its facial structure is elongated.
The big ears are nothing short of adorable, with long limbs that suggest this particular type of rat would hop around the humid forests of Sulawesi.
In 2012, scientists had already discovered a similar speices-the few-toothed shrew rat-which they believe was successful at evolution because it had developed incisors for gnawing and molars for grinding (much like human and other higher animal teeth).
At the same time, the long lower incisors are sticking out, while the mouth can’t really open.
What is truly the second focus point of this exciting new specie, is its vampire-like, long front teeth.
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Scientists are yet to observe a live hog-nosed rat as the five specimens found were caught in overnight traps.
