Rattus Detentus New Rat Species Discovered in Papua New Guinea (PHOTO)

The Rattus Detentus, a new rat species has been discovered on Manus Island in Papua New Guinea.

The species name, detentus, reflects Manus Island’s isolation and its present use to hold Australia asylum-seekers, scientists said. The name is “in reference to the isolation of this Melanesian Rattus lineage on Manus Island and to the recent use of the island to detain people seeking political and/or economic asylum in Australia”.

Details about the rat were published in the Journal of Mammalogy.