Seram bandicoot

The Seram bandicoot (Rhynchomeles prattorum), also known as the Seram Island long-nosed bandicoot, is a member of the order Peramelemorphia that is endemic to the island of Seram in Indonesia. It is the only species in the genus Rhynchomeles.

Seram bandicoot[1]
Conservation status
Endangered  (IUCN 3.1)[2]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Infraclass:	Marsupialia
Order:	Peramelemorphia
Family:	Peramelidae
Subfamily:	Echymiperinae
Genus:	Rhynchomeles Thomas, 1920
Species:	R. prattorum
Binomial name
Rhynchomeles prattorum Thomas, 1920
Seram bandicoot range

Description

It was named by Oldfield Thomas for Charles, Felix and Joseph Pratt, the three brothers who collected the specimens. The species was described from a collection of seven specimens, made in 1920 on the Indonesian island of Seram, the only record of its existence. It is classified as an endangered species on the Red List of the IUCN, due to its narrow distribution range and noted as data deficient. Conservation of the species, if extant, is threatened by clearing of lower altitude forests near its type locality. The introduction of pigs, dogs, and other feral animals could cause a decline in population. The collection of the type specimens was made in tropical upper montane forest, in Manusela National Park, with one specimen obtained at an altitude of 1,800 metres (5,900 ft) above sea level. The surrounding region has not been surveyed for this species, although an occurrence in Buru has been suggested.^[2]

Vernacular names

Vernacular names for R. prattorum:^[3]

• Manusela language: mabaya
• Nuaulu language: imanona