Overview

• The subalpine woolly rat (Mallomys istapantap) was documented in its natural habitat for the first time, 30 years after its last recorded sighting.
• František Vejmělka, a Czech researcher, led a six-month expedition on Mount Wilhelm, Papua New Guinea, to capture photos, video, and ecological data of the species.
• The nocturnal rat, measuring 2.7 feet in length and weighing nearly 2 kilograms, lives at elevations of around 12,000 feet and feeds exclusively on plant matter.
• Indigenous hunters played a crucial role in locating the elusive species, highlighting the importance of local collaboration in biodiversity research.
• The findings, published in the journal Mammalia, underscore the need for conservation and further exploration of New Guinea’s underexplored montane ecosystems.