Creatures in Crisis
Photograph of Vangunu giant rat (Uromys vika), recorded as Critically Endangered
Vangunu giant rat (Uromys vika). Image via Wikimedia Commons.

Critically Endangered

Vangunu giant rat

Uromys vika

Vangunu giant rat is a rodent in the family Muridae (order Rodentia) — Uromys vika, recorded as Critically Endangered.

Status
Critically Endangered
Scientific name
Uromys vika
Taxonomy
Mammalia · Rodentia · Muridae · Uromys

Appearance

The single individual initially collected from a felled tree (Dillenia salomonensis) measured 46 cm (18 in) long, weighed between 0.5 and 1.0 kg (1.1 and 2.2 lb) and had orange-brown fur. Its diet is believed to include thick-shelled nuts like ngali nuts and coconuts, and probably fruits.

The rat was discovered in the island of Vangunu in the Solomon Islands in 2015, after years of searching based on local stories, and described in 2017.

Range and habitat

The species is likely to be designated critically endangered, due to the small amount of forest habitat (about 80 km2 (31 sq mi)) remaining on the island and ongoing logging. In 2021, the species was observed in the wild for the first time, with at least four individuals being observed via camera trap in Vangunu's last remaining lowland primary forest.

Pins are Wikidata “endemic to” fields. Orange dots, when present, are GBIF occurrence tiles — survey bias included.

In crisis

Vangunu giant rat is Critically Endangered on this catalog because that is the IUCN category stored on Wikidata. Confirm the official criteria and any later count on iucnredlist.org.

Sources

Written for this catalog from the English Wikipedia article on Vangunu giant rat, Wikidata item Q41133407. Family and order context is original field-guide writing about the group, not a copied assessment of this one species. Wikipedia text is CC BY-SA. Not an IUCN assessment. Counts, when quoted, can change — confirm them on the recovery programme and on iucnredlist.org.

Photograph via Wikimedia Commons. Wikipedia · Wikidata · IUCN Red List.

Also in this catalog

Photograph of Vaquita (Phocoena sinus), recorded as Critically EndangeredCR

Vaquita

Phocoena sinus
Photograph of Javan rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus), recorded as Critically EndangeredCR

Javan rhinoceros

Rhinoceros sondaicus
Photograph of Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii), recorded as Critically EndangeredCR

Sumatran orangutan

Pongo abelii
Photograph of Axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum), recorded as Critically EndangeredCR

Axolotl

Ambystoma mexicanum

Quick answers

What is Vangunu giant rat?
Vangunu giant rat is a rodent in the family Muridae (order Rodentia) — Uromys vika.
What is the conservation status of Vangunu giant rat?
Critically Endangered, as the IUCN category stored on Wikidata for Uromys vika. Confirm the official assessment on iucnredlist.org.
Where does Vangunu giant rat live?
The species is likely to be designated critically endangered, due to the small amount of forest habitat (about 80 km2 (31 sq mi)) remaining on the island and ongoing logging.
Why is Vangunu giant rat in crisis?
The species is likely to be designated critically endangered, due to the small amount of forest habitat (about 80 km2 (31 sq mi)) remaining on the island and ongoing logging.
Is this the IUCN Red List page for Uromys vika?
No. This is a researched catalog account. The Red List is the assessment.
Is Vangunu giant rat a pet?
An animal on this catalog is in crisis in the wild. Keeping one is usually the wrong question.