The Guadalcanal rat ( Uromys porculus) is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.
It was found only in the Solomon Islands. Since this species was collected between 1886 and 1888 it has not been seen again.
Description
The only known skull of the Guadalcanal rat is clearly elongate and narrow, but has the molars so worn that few details of the crown remain.
The details in the skull are described as similar to other members of the genus
Uromys, specifically
Uromys rex and
Emperor rat. The species also had a very short tail, indicating it was possibly terrestrial.
History
The only known specimen of Guadacanal rat was described in 1904 by
Oldfield Thomas, although it was most likely collected at or around the same time as similar species
Uromys rex and
Emperor rat in the late 1880s. The species was registered in 1889 and was collected by Charles Morris Woodford at Aola village in the
Solomon Islands.
The species has not been seen since this collection and there is no local knowledge of the species, indicating it is most likely extinct.
Genus Name
When it was first named in 1904 by
Oldfield Thomas, the Guadacanal rat was described as a species of
Uromys. Later, it was transferred to
Melomys,
before being placed once again in
Uromys,
once more in
Melomys,
until it was returned to
Uromys where it is currently placed.
