Records of the Western Australian Museum 18: 113-119 (1996). 
A new species of Melomys (Rodentia: Muridae) from Riama Island, 
Tanimbar Group, Maluku Tenggara, Indonesia 
D.J. Kitchener 1 and A. Suyanto 2 
' Western Australian Museum, Francis Street, Perth, Western Australia 6000, Australia 
2 Balitbang Zoologi, LIPI, Jalan Ir. H. Juanda No. 9, Bogor 16122, Indonesia 
Abstract - Three specimens of Melomys recently collected from Riama Island, 
Tanimbar group, Maluku Tenggara, are herein described as a new species. 
INTRODUCTION 
Prior to October 1992, members of the essentially 
Australo-papuan murid rodent genus Melomys 
Thomas, 1912 were unreported from the islands of 
the southern Maluku Administrative Province of 
Indonesia. Since that date, terrestrial vertebrate 
surveys of this region by staff from the Western 
Australian Museum and the Museum Zoologicum 
Bogoriense have collected Melomys rufescens 
(Alston, 1877) and M cf. levipes (Thomas, 1897) 
from Aru Island; M. bannisteri Kitchener and 
Maryanto, 1993 from Kai Besar Island and M. 
cooperae Kitchener, 1995 from Yamdena Island 
(Tanimbar Group). 
A recent visit to Riama Island (Pulau Riama), a 
small islet approximately 6 km from the west coast 
of Salaru Island in the Tanimbar group of islands 
(Figure 1), resulted in the collection of three 
specimens of Melomys. This paper describes these 
specimens as a new species. 
METHODS 
Two of the Riama Island specimens were 
collected by D.J. Kitchener by hand. A third 
specimen was purchased from fishermen on that 
island. This latter specimen was infested with 
maggots; its skull was removed and cleaned at 
Saumlaki, Yamdena Island, but its carcase was 
disposed of by accident by hotel staff after its sex 
was determined. 
The two freshly collected specimens were 
weighed in the field prior to their fixation with 
formalin. External measurements were recorded 
from these two specimens following their fixation. 
All measurement (in mm) were taken with digital 
callipers: externals to 0.1 mm; skull and dental to 
0.01 mm. Measurement points follow Tate (1951). 
Pelage and colour descriptions were determined 
from the colour charts of Smithe (1975). Scale 
number per cm was averaged from six 
measurements recorded from the mid part of the 
tail. 
Adult condition was judged from reproductive 
status because as noted in Kitchener and Maryanto 
(1995) basicranial sutures were clearly visible in 
specimens of Melomys cooperae from Yamdena 
Island that were reproductively mature and had 
very worn teeth. This was also the situation with 
the two female Melomys from Riama Island. 
TAXONOMY 
Melomys hoiui Kitchener sp. nov. 
Figures 1-3, Table 1 
Holotype 
Museum Zoologicum Bogoriense specimen 
number 15912 (field number WAM M44753); adult 
(pregnant) female; weight 73 gm; carcase fixed in 
10% formalin and preserved in 70% ethanol; skull 
separate; collected by hand on 11 November 1994 
by D.J. Kitchener. 
Paratypes 
Western Australian Museum number WAM 
M44754, adult (recently parturient) female, weight 
61 gm; carcase fixed in 10% formalin and 
preserved in 70% ethanol; skull separate. Collected 
by hand on 11 November 1994 by D.J. Kitchener. 
WAM M44755, old adult male with very worn 
teeth; skull only. Purchased on 12 November 1994. 
From same locality as holotype. 
Type Locality 
Riama Island (Pulau Riama); Tanimbar Group; 
Maluka Tenggara, Indonesia (8°09'S, 130°53'E); at 
sea level; on white sand 30 metres from coast in an 
open moderately high (to 2 metre) shrubland. 
Diagnosis 
Melomys hozui differs from all other species of 
Melomys by having the following combination of 
characters: small body and skull size; white 
abdominal fur; three hairs per tail scale; tail scales 
flat and not sculptured; 11-13 scales per cm in mid 
section of tail; bicoloured tail; broad feet; narrow 
