Latest news with #FrantisekVejmelka
Daily Mail
22-05-2025
- Science
- Daily Mail
Scientist reveals world-first footage of subalpine wooly rat, a rodent species as big as a domestic cat
A scientist has discovered a species of rat that measures more than 2.5ft-long in Papua New Guinea. The species, called the subalpine woolly rat, has sharp incisors, thick fur, and clawed paws measuring three inches. It is three times the size of a brown rat and new footage has revealed one of them scampering across a tree branch at night, likely in search for food. Frantisek Vejmelka works for the Biology Center of the Czech Academy Of Sciences and the University of South Bohemia, Czech Republic. He said: 'It's astonishing that such a large and striking animal has remained so poorly studied.' 'How much more is there to discover about the biodiversity of tropical mountains?' The species only lives in the steep highlands of Mount Wilhelm, Papua New Guinea. Until now, the subalpine woolly rat (Mallomys istapantap) has been known to science only from a handful of museum specimens. First described in 1989 based on historical museum material, it was last recorded 30 years ago and had never before been photographed. But the Czech researcher's new photos and video footage show the animal in its natural habitat for the first time. During his six-month expedition, he worked with local tribes to survey Mount Wilhelm, the highest peak in Papua New Guinea which reaches 14,793ft above sea level. According to expert's measurements, the subalpine woolly rat is a length of 2.7ft, including the tail and weighs nearly 4.4lb. This compares to an average length of about 2.3ft of 8lb to 10lb for the domestic cat. Meanwhile, the average brown rat today has a body length of about 11 inches and usually weighs 0.44-0.66lb. Vejmelka also gathered data on the rat's diet, parasites, activity patterns, movement, and other aspects of its lifestyle. According to the expert, the nocturnal species leads a hidden life in remote, hard-to-reach areas, which explains why it's so understudied. It climbs trees at night, hides in underground burrows or tree canopies during the day, and feeds exclusively on plant matter. Vejmelka's work, published in the journal Mammalia, contributes to a deeper understanding of the biodiversity of New Guinea's underexplored tropical mountains. He said: 'These are the first specimen records in 30 years for this spectacular mammal poorly known to science. 'Camera trap images and video, as well as photographs of the habitat and hunting with indigenous people, deepen our understanding of the activity patterns, locomotion, diet, intrageneric elevational partitioning, and behavioral ecology of the woolly rats.' New Guinean woolly rats, together with the giant cloud rats of the Philippines, are the largest rodents belonging to the murine family. They are found only in the steep highlands of New Guinea covered in pristine rainforest. However, the subalpine woolly rat is not the largest rat in the world. The world's biggest rat in terms of length is the Gambian pouched rat (Cricetomys gambianus), which reaches 3ft-long, including the tail, which makes up half of its total length. Another big rat species is the Malagasy giant rat (Hypogeomys antimena) found in Madagascar, which can grow to about 2ft. But the largest rodents to ever have walked the Earth – including Josephoartigasia monesi and Phoberomys pattersoni – are now extinct. Unusually large animals from history known as 'megafauna' typically died out due to climate and environmental shifts, plus human hunting.
Irish Daily Mirror
22-05-2025
- Science
- Irish Daily Mirror
Giant rat nearly three feet long discovered by stunned scientist
A gigantic rat species, stretching over 2.5 feet in length, has been found residing in the lofty mountains of Papua New Guinea. Called the subalpine woolly rat, this enormous creature has razor-sharp teeth, dense fur and claws measuring a whopping three inches – and it's been snapped for the first time ever, according to MailOnline. Incredible footage captures the woolly rat darting along a tree limb under the cover of darkness, presumably on the prowl for its next meal, reports The Mirror. But fear not, those of you dreading bedtime – this mammoth rodent won't be found anywhere near Ireland - it calls the steep, craggy peaks of Mount Wilhelm in Papua New Guinea home. The find is credited to Frantisek Vejmelka, a scientist from the Biology Center of the Czech Academy of Sciences and the University of South Bohemia in the Czech Republic. "It's astonishing that such a large and striking animal has remained so poorly studied. How much more is there to discover about the biodiversity of tropical mountains?" he said. Up until this point, the giant rodent – known scientifically as Mallomys istapantap – was only recognised from a handful of museum exhibits, initially described back in 1989, and had evaded wild sightings for 30 years. However, during an extensive six-month field trip, Mr Vejmelka, collaborating with indigenous tribes, managed to secure both photographic and video evidence of this secretive creature in its natural surroundings. Researchers placed camera traps approximately 12,000ft up Mount Wilhelm, which has a summit of 14,793ft. The cameras captured the rat's movements through misty forests and grasslands. Measuring 2.7 feet in length, including its tail, and weighing nearly 2kg, the subalpine woolly rat is significantly larger than its brown rat cousin, which grows to 11 inches and weighs 200-300g. The woolly rat is comparable in length to a domestic cat, which typically weighs between 3.6 to 4.5kg and measures around 2.3 feet in length. The study gathered crucial data on the rat's diet, parasites, activity patterns, and movement, providing valuable insights into a species that has remained hidden for so long. The nocturnal creature leads a secretive life, climbing trees at night, hiding in burrows or treetops by day, and feeding exclusively on plants. The findings, published in the journal Mammalia, mark a significant advancement in understanding the mysterious mammals of New Guinea's remote mountains. "These are the first specimen records in 30 years for this spectacular mammal poorly known to science," said Mr Vejmelka, crediting the local tribes for their assistance in the discovery. "Camera trap images and video, as well as photographs of the habitat and hunting with indigenous people, deepen our understanding of the activity patterns, locomotion, diet, intrageneric elevational partitioning, and behavioural ecology of the woolly rats." These New Guinean woolly rats, along with the giant cloud rats of the Philippines, are the largest rodents in the murine family and have evolved over five million years on rainforest-covered mountain slopes - untouched by competing mammals. However, despite its impressive size, the subalpine woolly rat isn't the biggest rat out there. The title of the largest rat goes to the Gambian pouched rat (Cricetomys gambianus), which can grow up to 3ft long - with its tail making up half of that length. Also in contention is the Malagasy giant rat (Hypogeomys antimena) from Madagascar, which reaches around 2ft. Yet, none of today's rodents quite match up to prehistoric giants like Josephoartigasia monesi or Phoberomys pattersoni - now extinct - which once roamed the Earth as part of the planet's long-lost megafauna. These larger-than-life beasts likely became extinct due to climate changes, environmental shifts, and human hunting. But the recent discovery of the subalpine woolly rat proves that the world still harbours plenty of hidden giants - and not all of them are confined to legend.
