Mallomys

Mallomys is a genus of rodent in the family Muridae.^[1] The name of the genus is formed from the Greek μαλλός, mallos, wool, and μῦς, mus, mouse/rat. These very large rats weigh between 0.95 and 2 kilograms (2.1 and 4.4 lb) and are native to highlands in New Guinea.^[2] Little is known about their behavior, but they are believed to feed on leaves, grasses and other plant material.^[2]

Mallomys Temporal range: Pleistocene to Recent
Mallomys gunung
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Rodentia
Family:	Muridae
Tribe:	Hydromyini
Genus:	Mallomys Thomas, 1898
Type species
Mallomys rothschildi
Species
Mallomys aroaensis Mallomys gunung Mallomys istapantap Mallomys rothschildi

It contains the following species:

• De Vis's woolly rat (Mallomys aroaensis)
• Alpine woolly rat (Mallomys gunung)
• Subalpine woolly rat (Mallomys istapantap)
• Rothschild's woolly rat (Mallomys rothschildi)

Apparently undescribed species of Mallomys have been reported from the Foja Mountains in Northern West Papua,^[3] as well as within the crater of Mount Bosavi in the Southern Highlands of Papua New Guinea.^[4]