Paulamys
Species of rodent
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Paulamys is a genus of rat. Its only known member is Paulamys naso, a species endemic to Flores Island, Indonesia.[1] Paulamys naso was first described from subfossil fragments collected in the 1950s by Theodor Verhoeven and was named Floresomys naso by Guy Musser in 1981.[2] Since Floresomys was preoccupied, Musser changed the name to Paulamys, after Verhoeven's life partner Paula Hamerlinck.[3] A living specimen was reported from the montane forest of western Flores in 1989.[2] It is recorded as common between 1,000 and 2,000 m (3,280 and 6,560 ft) above sea level on the volcanic mountain Gunung Ranakah, but is believed to be threatened by habitat destruction.[1] It is thought to prefer closed habitats.[4]
The Flores murid genera Papagomys, Komodomys and Paulamys are more closely related to each other than to other murids, suggesting an adaptive radiation.[5] It is a relatively small-sized species, with a body mass of around 100–200 grams (0.22–0.44 lb) It is suggested to be an omnivore, consuming fungus and invertebrates, and to engage in burrowing.[4]
