New species of Melomys 
47 
to posterior one-quarter of nasal; nasal short 12.2 
(11.4-13.1), sharply constricted proximally and 
flared to a breadth of 4.4 (4.0-4.8) distally; anterior 
edge of premaxilla flange projected dorsally above 
incisor, almost vertical, or slightly convex leading 
edge - nasal projects to a point approximately 
above or slightly anterior to this leading edge; 
zygomatic arch moderately thickened with the 
ventral part of malar process broadest; zygomatic 
plate broad 4.8 (4.3-5.2), anterior leading edge 
almost vertical; infraorbital fissure moderately 
wide; lachrymal bones moderate, project only 
slightly outside the anterointemal curve of the orbit 
edge; post-squamosal hook moderately well 
developed (the holotype has a noticeable proximal 
dorsal projection), forms a slight vertical ridge with 
lateral occipital and mastoid, this ridge does not 
progress to interparietal posterior margin; 
postglenoid foramen small, semioval; temporal 
ridges slight, from frontal/parietal suture a fainter 
beading traverses dorsolateral margin of parietal 
to interparietal; rostrum narrow with posterolateral 
swelling only slightly inflated; anterior palatal 
foramen vary in length (4.7-6.2) but terminate 
posteriorly well anterior of M 1 anterior alveolus, 
broadly bowed but slightly wider posteriorly; 
palate narrow with upper tooth rows diverging 
posteriorly; mesopterygoid and parapterygoid 
fossae narrow; foramen oval ventral fossa small; 
bulla long 5.2 (5.1-5.5), moderately inflated, with 
long and robust eustachian process; internal 
pterygoid process diverge posteriorly, terminate 
anterior to eustachian process. 
Dentition (Figure 1) 
Molars large, M' larger than all other species of 
Melomys (cf Menzies 1991: Fig 3), particularly 
anterolingual cusp; M 1 anterior and intermediate 
lamellae with well developed lingual cusps; 
posterior lamella without lingual cusp but with 
lingual and buccal posterior extensions which 
enclose a distinct, centrally-placed fossa (on 
moderately worn teeth, this is evident as an 
isolated enamel ring entirely within tire posterior 
lamella); M 2 with large anterolingual cusp only 
remaining of anterior lamella, intermediate and 
posterior lamellae well developed. The latter with 
posterior fossa as on M 1 . M 3 with anterolingual 
cusp well developed, separate from posterior 
lamella; molar rows diverge posteriorly from each 
other; upper incisors opisthodont, anterior face 
orange. First and second lower molars each with 
well-developed posterior cingulum; M, with small 
but distinct anterior moiety, soon merging with 
intermediate lamella as result of wear. 
Externals (Figures 2 and 3) 
Moderate body size with snout to vent length 
132 (118-140) 6 and weight 76.5 (64.5-96.5) g. Tail 
long 153 (140-170) 6 and averaging 116% of body 
length; ears long 17.8 (16.3-19.7) 6; pes moderately 
long 26.5 (24.8-28.1) 6, narrower than M. leucogaster 
latipcs. Scales on tail not raised to form a ridge or 
hump (Figure 2). Plantar pads of pes and manus 
typical of M. 1. leucogaster, M. 1. latipes and M. 
nifescens from Aru Islands. There are two pairs of 
inguinal teats. 
Pelage 
Dominant colour of dorsal surface pelage 
Cinnamon Brown resulting from Cinnamon Brown 
and/or Black tipping to the Medium Neutral Gray 
colour of basal three-quarters of hairs. Head 
contrastingly coloured. Black tipping more 
prominent on rostrum and forehead evenly 
grading into Cinnamon Brown of temporal region, 
but contrasting with White of cheeks - dark rings 
around eyes further highlights this contrast. Hairs 
in mid dorsum with length of 9 while those of mid 
forehead 7; flanks Cinnamon tipping to the 
Medium Neutral Gray of basal two-thirds of hairs. 
Lips, cheek to just beneath eye, throat, chest, 
abdomen to anus, inside of thigh, manus and pes 
upper surface White; interface between White of 
abdomen and Cinnamon of flanks Medium Neutral 
Gray as Cinnamon tipping of hairs becomes more 
sparse. Abdomen hairs 5-6 long; outer leg surface 
Cinnamon. Proximal two-thirds of ear pinna skin 
Cinnamon, distal one-third Dark Neutral Gray; 
pinna lightly furred inside and outside with short 
Cinnamon Brown hairs. Tail skin Gray Lavender 
dorsally and a paler Pale Neutral Gray ventrally. 
Tail scales with one hair per scale; tail hairs 
moderately long, three-quarters scale breadth. 
Habitat 
Six of the specimens, including the holotype, 
were captured in breakback traps set on the 
ground in open (15-30% canopy cover), tall (to 30 
m), disturbed vine forest (Figure 4) with the 
following genera of trees prominent: Ficus, 
Erythrina, Podocarpus, Albizia as well as 'Kenan' 
trees. The understorey was mostly Lantana. There 
were numerous vines and creepers (Figure 4). The 
western edge of the trapping site had a small 
stream with the freshwater mangrove Barringtonia 
(fide R.E. Johnstone). 
One specimen (M43746, adult male) was trapped 
in a breakback trap in a pure association of Alang 
Alang grass (Imperata cylindrica) that adjoined the 
above described vine forest. 
Reproduction 
The two adult females collected on 18 April 1993 
were pregnant. Both had two foetuses in the right 
uterine horn and none in the left horn. The crown 
