The Sulawesian shrew rat (''Melasmothrix naso'') is a species of

rodent Rodents (from Latin , 'to gnaw') are mammals of the Order (biology), order Rodentia ( ), which are characterized by a single pair of continuously growing incisors in each of the upper and Mandible, lower jaws. About 40% of all mammal specie ...

in the family

Muridae The Muridae, or murids, are either the largest or second-largest family of rodents and of mammals, containing approximately 870 species, including many species of mice, rats, and gerbils found naturally throughout Eurasia, Africa, and Australia. ...

. It is the only species in the

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

''Melasmothrix''. It is found only in central

Sulawesi Sulawesi ( ), also known as Celebes ( ), is an island in Indonesia. One of the four Greater Sunda Islands, and the List of islands by area, world's 11th-largest island, it is situated east of Borneo, west of the Maluku Islands, and south of Min ...

, Indonesia, and is known from the localities of Rano Rano and Mount Nokilalaki. These small-bodied rodents live at high altitudes, reaching up to 7500 feet, specifically in places that maintain wet, cool conditions like moss forests.

References

* Rats of Asia Endemic fauna of Indonesia Rodents of Sulawesi Endangered fauna of Asia Taxa named by Ned Hollister Taxa named by Gerrit Smith Miller Jr. Mammals described in 1921 Taxonomy articles created by Polbot Old World rats and mice {{Murinae-stub