Kimberley rock rat
The Kimberley rock rat (Zyzomys woodwardi) is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found only in Australia. It is specifically found in northern tropical part of the northern territory and adjacent Kimberley division of west Australia in high altitude closed forest. Biologist predicted that Zyzomys Woodwardi speciated from Zyzomys Arugurus around 8000 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 outcompeted Zyzomys Arugurus due to new selective pressures and over time the two species were separated by large vine thickets and sandstone barriers.
| Kimberley rock rat | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| 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 | |
References
- Burbidge, A. (2008). "Zyzomys woodwardi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2008. Retrieved 7 November 2011.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- 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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