Paulina's Limestone Rat

About this species

Habitat

Forested, rocky limestone habitat

Range

Central Laos and Vietnam (Quang Binh)

Paulina's limestone rat is a species of murid rodent native to central Laos and Vietnam, placed in its own genus, Saxatilomys. It was first discovered in the Khammouan Limestone National Biodiversity Conservation Area in Laos and has also been found in Quang Binh Province, Vietnam. The genus name comes from the Latin saxatilis, 'among the rocks', and the Greek mys, mouse or rat (Wikipedia, general species account).

It resembles, and is likely closely related to, Niviventer and Chiromyscus, but is distinguished by semispinous dark grey upperparts, dark frosted grey underparts, large, extremely bulbous footpads, and a combination of derived and primitive skull and tooth traits. It is thought to live among rocks and has been observed only in forested, rocky limestone habitats.

Description: Wildlife of Vietnam guide, Wildlife of Everywhere (wildlifeofeverywhere.com); general species information paraphrased from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)