The Kimberley rock rat (Zyzomys woodwardi) is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found only in Australia, specifically in the northern tropical part of the Northern Territory and adjacent Kimberley region of Western Australia, in high-altitude closed forest.
| Kimberley rock rat | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Muridae |
| Genus: | Zyzomys |
| Species: | Z. woodwardi
|
| Binomial name | |
| Zyzomys woodwardi (Thomas, 1909)
| |
| |
| Distribution of the Kimberley rock rat | |
Biologists have proposed that Zyzomys woodwardi speciated from Zyzomys argurus around 8,000 years ago due to a large flood that increased the wetness of the environment. In response to the wetter environment Zyzomys woodwardi had a better Darwinian fitness and out-competed Zyzomys argurus due to new selective pressures and over time the two species were separated by large vine thickets and sandstone barriers.
The species is present in the Charnley River–Artesian Range Wildlife Sanctuary in the Kimberley region of WA.[2]
References
edit- ^ Burbidge, A.A. (2016). "Zyzomys woodwardi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T23328A22457333. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T23328A22457333.en.
- ^ "Charnley River – Artesian Range: ACE". Australian Wildlife Conservancy. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
- Musser, G. G.; Carleton, M. D. (2005). "Superfamily Muroidea". In Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 1522. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
- Begg, RJ (1981). "The Small Mammals of Little Nourlangie Rock, N. T IV.* Ecology of Zyzomys woodwardi, the Large Rock-rat, and Z.argurus, the Common Rock-rat, (Rodentia : Muridae)". Wildlife Research. 8 (2): 307. doi:10.1071/WR9810307.
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