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Ziegler's water rat
Conservation status
Data Deficient  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Rodentia
Family:	Muridae
Genus:	Hydromys
Species:	H. ziegleri
Binomial name
Hydromys ziegleri Helgen, 2005

Ziegler's water rat (Hydromys ziegleri), described in the mid-2000s, is a semiaquatic species of rodent native to the mountains Papua New Guinea of which little is known.

Research and history

It was described in 2005 by K. Helgen, and later was assessed by Helgen, and A. Allison in 2008. The water rat was named in honor of the deceased Dr. Alan C. Ziegler from the Bishop Museum. It has been rated as data deficient for the purposes of the IUCN Red List because insufficient is known about the creature's population range, threats, and numbers. Only two specimens have ever been recorded by scientists. The water rat may be threatened by logging of its forest habitat but more research is needed to codify this theory. It is also believed it may inhabit the northern slopes of its mountain home but study is needed to determine this as fact.

Habitat

This species inhabits both terrestrial and freshwater systems. This includes forests, subtropical and tropical moist lowland forests, inland wetlands, permanent watercourses, and artificial terrestrial areas. The animal has only been recorded in Bainyik, located on the south slopes of the Prince Alexander Mountains at an elevation of 200 meters (650 feet). The rat has been found to live in creeks and rivers in low lying tropical rain forests but it may also live in higher elevations.

References

1. ^ Helgen, K. & Allison, A. (2008). "Hydromys ziegleri". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2008. Retrieved 6 November 2011.{{cite iucn}}: old-form url (help)
2. ^ Dictionary of Australian and New Guinean mammals, Ronald Strahan, Pamela Conder, 2007, access date 06-11-2011.

External links

• Profile on IUCN Red List

• IUCN Red List data deficient species
• Hydromys
• Mammals described in 2005
• Endemic fauna of New Guinea
• Rodents of Papua New Guinea