Verhoeven’s Giant Rat (Papagomys theodorverhoeveni)  

The genus Papagomys contains two species, the Flores Giant Rat (Papagomys armandvillei (Jentink)), which is threatened with extinction, and Verhoeven’s Giant Rat, which is probably already extinct.  

Both species are endemic to the island of Flores, Indonesia.  

The Flores Giant Rat reaches a length of about 80 cm, its fur is mainly grey and it has proportionally small eyes and ears.  

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The other species, Verhoeven’s Giant Rat, was described in 1981 based on subfossil remains, it was slightly smaller than its congener.  

The remains could be dated to about 2000 to 1000 BC..  

Verhoeven’s Giant Rat is considered extinct, however, there is a slight possibility that it may survive undetected.  

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edited: 20.03.2018