It is rare, almost unheard of in todays world, to discover a new mammal. Indonesian and British scientists discovered two in the Foja Mountains of western New Guinea in the summer of 2007.

One is what scientists are touting as possibly the worlds smallest marsupial, a possum. The other is what appears to be the largest rat in the world weighing in at a stunning 3.4 pounds!

I was fortunate to be able to procure some photographs of each new animal, but first I wanted to tell you a little bit about them.

The location

The location these animals were found is special. The last time scientists made an expidition there they discovered many previously uncataloged plants and butterflies. This time they’ve found two unknown mammals. Something else makes that area of the world special. It is the last remaining virgin forest in the world. Virgin meaning it hasn’t suffered the intrusion of mankind to any great degree and no roads have been built through it for logging purposes. Indonesian rainforests are the most heavily logged forests in all the world and unlike America (where thanks to reforestation projects we have more trees than ever before) these forests are not replanted. Except this forest in the Mamberamo Basin which is the largest unroaded rainforest on the planet. In the satellite image above the red triangle represents the overall general location of the Mamberamo Basin.

The possum

Kangaroos have “pouches”. Possums have pouches. They are cousins in the marsupial family. Kangroos are big, possums are not. In America you’re more likely to hear them called opossums while in Australia and points surrounding they’re often called just possum. I also understand that only American opossums play dead. I don’t know if that’s true I’ve had no chance to verify. The possum discovered in New Guinea technically named by science as the Cercartetus pygmy possum. It looks a lot like every other possum I’ve ever seen except for the fact that it is tiny. It’s great they found it, but it’s not exactly something exciting like a new species of giant cat or anything like that. Maybe I’m just too cynical for my own good.

The rat

The rat is said to be the largest in the world and is known as a Mallomys giant rat. From the videos and pictures I have to admit it is large, but nowhere near the size of the rats you find wandering aimlessly around Washington DC. As you can see off to the left someone has managed to snap a picture of the immense politicus lyingus rat for your enjoyment and amazement.

Normally the politicus lyingus rat is prone to fits of rage and bitter unprovoked attacks, but it seems he was sedated or otherwise soothed for this picture.

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Tags: politics, possum, rainforest, rats, science