Journal of Mammalogy, 97(3):861–878, 2016 DOI:10.1093/jmammal/gyw034 Published online April 12, 2016 Version of Record, first published online April 12, 2016, with fixed content and layout in compliance with Art. 8.1.3.2 ICZN. A new species of Rattus (Rodentia: Muridae) from Manus Island, Papua New Guinea ROBERT M. TIMM,* VALTER WEIJOLA, KEN P. APLIN, STEPHEN C. DONNELLAN, TIM F. FLANNERY, VICKI THOMSON, AND RONALD H. PINE Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology & Biodiversity Institute, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA (RMT) Zoological Museum, University of Turku, Turku 20014, Finland (VW) Division of Mammals, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20013, USA (KPA) Wildlife Conservation Society, Goroka, Papua New Guinea (KPA) South Australian Museum and Australian Centre for Evolutionary Biology and Biodiversity, University of Adelaide, Adelaide 5005, Australia (SCD) Climate Council of Australia, P.O. Box 1267, Potts Point, New South Wales 2011, Australia (TFF) School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide 5005, Australia (VT) Biodiversity Institute, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA (RHP) * Correspondent:
[email protected] We describe a new species of Rattus, from 3 modern specimens collected on Manus Island in the Admiralty Group, Papua New Guinea, between 2002 and 2012. Subfossil specimens of early to late Holocene age from the Pamwak archaeological site on Manus Island are referred to the new species on morphological criteria; these confirm the species as a long-term resident of Manus Island. The new species is distinguished by its combination of large size; short tail; dorsal pelage that is coarse, spiny, and dark, with prominent black guard hairs; and sharply contrasting cream ventral pelage.