• Zyzomys Thomas, O. 1909. On the N. Australian rats referred to the genus Mesembriomys. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 8 3: 372-374 [372].

  Type species:

   Mus argurus Thomas, 1889 by original designation.
• Laomys Thomas, O. 1909. On the N. Australian rats referred to the genus Mesembriomys. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 8 3: 372-374 [373].

  Type species:

   Laomys woodwardi Thomas, 1909 by original designation.

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Ellerman, J.R. 1949. The Families and Genera of Living Rodents. With a list of named forms (1758–1936) by R.W. Hayman and G.W.C. Holt. London : British Museum Vol. 3(1) vi 210 pp. [25-26]
• Mahoney, J.A. in Walton, D.W. (ed.) 1988. Zoological Catalogue of Australia Volume 5. Mammalia. Canberra : Australian Government Publishing Service x 274 pp. [Date published 13/Apr/1988] [190]

Distribution

States

Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia

IBRA

NT, Qld, WA: Arnhem Coast (ARC), Arnhem Plateau (ARP), Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Central Arnhem (CA), Carnarvon (CAR), Central Kimberley (CK), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Daly Basin (DAB), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Desert Uplands (DEU), Dampierland (DL), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Gascoyne (GAS), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Geraldton Sandplains (GS), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Little Sandy Desert (LSD), Mitchell Grass Downs (MGD), Mount Isa Inlier (MII), Murchison (MUR), Northern Kimberley (NK), NSW North Coast (NNC), Ord Victoria Plain (OVP), Pine Creek (PCK), Pilbara (PIL), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Tiwi Cobourg (TIW), Victoria Bonaparte (VB), Wet Tropics (WT), Yalgoo (YAL) ; NT, WA: Burt Plain (BRT), Central Ranges (CR), Davenport Murchison Ranges (DMR), Great Sandy Desert (GSD), Tanami (TAN)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• Australia
  • Northern Territory: N Gulf, N coastal, W plateau
  • Queensland: N Gulf, NE coastal
  • Western Australia: N coastal, NW coastal, SW coastal

History of changes

• Mus argurus Thomas, O. 1889. Description of a new species of Mus from South Australia. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 6 3: 433-435 [433] [the Northern Territory was brought under the jurisdiction of South Australia on 6 July 1863 and remained under its control until 1 Jan. 1911, when it was surrended to the Commonwealth; contemporary maps showing the territorial divisions of Australia in 1863–1910 commonly have the South Australian boundary drawn to include the Nothern Territory].

  Type data:

   Holotype BMNH 86.8.26.6 ♂ skin (wet) & skull, probably NT (as South Australia).
• Mesembriomys argurus indutus Thomas, O. 1909. Some mammals from N.E. Kimberley, Northern Australia. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 8 3: 149-152 [151].

  Type data:

   Holotype BMNH 9.4.23.3 ♂ skin & skull, Parry Creek, WA, 20 ft (altitude from skin label).

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Mahoney, J.A. in Walton, D.W. (ed.) 1988. Zoological Catalogue of Australia Volume 5. Mammalia. Canberra : Australian Government Publishing Service x 274 pp. [Date published 13/Apr/1988] [191]

Generic Combinations

• Zyzomys argurus (Thomas, 1889).

Distribution

States

Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia

IBRA

NT, Qld, WA: Arnhem Coast (ARC), Arnhem Plateau (ARP), Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Central Arnhem (CA), Carnarvon (CAR), Central Kimberley (CK), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Daly Basin (DAB), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Desert Uplands (DEU), Dampierland (DL), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Gascoyne (GAS), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Geraldton Sandplains (GS), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Little Sandy Desert (LSD), Mitchell Grass Downs (MGD), Mount Isa Inlier (MII), Murchison (MUR), Northern Kimberley (NK), NSW North Coast (NNC), Ord Victoria Plain (OVP), Pine Creek (PCK), Pilbara (PIL), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Tiwi Cobourg (TIW), Victoria Bonaparte (VB), Wet Tropics (WT), Yalgoo (YAL)

Distribution References

Ecological Descriptors

Folivore, granivore, open forest, subtropical, terrestrial, woodland.

Extra Ecological Information

Always found associated with rocky outcrops.

General References

Baverstock, P.R., Watts, C.H.S., Adams, M. & Cole, S.R. 1981. Genetical relationships among Australian rodents (Muridae). Australian Journal of Zoology 29: 289-303

Baverstock, P.R., Watts, C.H.S. & Hogarth, J.T. 1977. Chromosome evolution in Australian rodents I. The Pseudomyinae, the Hydromyinae and the Uromys/Melomys Group. Chromosoma (Berlin) 61: 95-125

Begg, R.J. 1981. The small mammals of Little Nourlangie Rock, N.T. IV. Ecology of Zyzomys woodwardi, the Large Rock-rat, and Z. argurus, the Common Rock-rat, (Rodentia: Muridae). Australian Wildlife Research 8: 307-320

Begg, R.J. & Dunlop, C.H. 1985. The diets of the large rock-rat, Zyzomys woodwardi, and the common rock-rat, Z. argurus (Rodentia: Muridae). Australian Wildlife Research 12: 19-24

Bradley, A.J., Kemper, C.M., Kitchener, D.J., Humphreys, W.F., How, R.A. & Schmitt, L.H. 1988. Population ecology and physiology of the common rock rat, Zyzomys argurus (Rodentia, Muridae) in tropical northwestern Australia. Journal of Mammalogy 69: 749-764

Breed, W.J. & Sarafis, V. 1979. On the phylogenetic significance of spermatozoal morphology and male reproductive tract anatomy in Australian rodents. Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia 103: 127-135

Calaby, J.H. & Taylor, J.M. 1983. Breeding in wild populations of the Australian rock rats, Zyzomys argurus and Z. woodwardi. Journal of Mammalogy 64: 610-616

Calver, M.C., King, D.R., Gardner, J.L. & Martin, G.R. 1991. Total food consumption of some native Australian small mammals in the laboratory. Australian Mammalogy 14: 139-141

Claridge, A.W. & May, T.W. 1994. Mycophagy among Australian mammals. Australian Journal of Ecology 19: 251-275

Eddie, C. 2002. Southerly range extension for common rock-rat Zyzomys argurus (Rodentia: Muridae). Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 48: 154

Fleming, M.R. 1995. Common Rock-rat Zyzomys argurus. pp. 620-621 in Strahan, R. (ed.). The Mammals of Australia: The National Photographic Index of Australian Wildlife. Sydney : Reed New Holland 756 pp.

Kitchener, D.J. 1989. Taxonomic appraisal of Zyzomys (Rodentia, Muridae) with descriptions of two new species from the Northern Territory, Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum 14: 331-373

Kitchener, D.J., Keller, L.E., Chapman, A., McKenzie, N.L., Start, A.N. & Kenneally, K.F. 1981. Observations on Mammals of the Mitchell Plateau area, Kimberley, Western Australia. pp. 123–169 in, Biological Survey of Mitchell Plateau and Admiralty Gulf, Kimberley, Western Australia. Papers resulting from a joint field expedition to Mitchell Plateau, Kimberley, by the Western Australia Museum, Perth, and the Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, U.S.A., 1976–1977. 274 pp.

Morrissey, B.L. & Breed, W.G. 1982. Variation in external morphology of the glans penis of Australian native rodents. Australian Journal of Zoology 30: 495-502

Watts, C.H.S. 1982. Australian hydromyine rodents: maintenance of captive colonies. pp. 180-184 in Evans, D.D. (ed.). The Management of Australian Mammals in Captivity. Proceedings of the Scientific Meeting of the Australian Mammal Society, Healesville, Victoria, February 1979. Melbourne : Zoological Board of Victoria 194 pp.

Watts, C.H.S. & Aslin, H.J. 1981. The Rodents of Australia. Sydney : Angus & Robertson xii 321 pp. 16 pls.

Weaver, H.J. & Smales, L.R. 2009. The parasite assemblages of Zyzomys argurus (Thomas, 1889) (Muridae : Murinae) from northern Australia. Australian Journal of Zoology 57: 429-432

Common Name References

ABRS 2001. Census of Australian Vertebrates. Australian Biological Resources Study. (Common Rock-rat)

History of changes

• Zyzomys maini Kitchener, D.J. 1989. Taxonomic appraisal of Zyzomys (Rodentia, Muridae) with descriptions of two new species from the Northern Territory, Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum 14: 331-373.

Distribution

States

Northern Territory

IBRA

NT: Arnhem Coast (ARC), Arnhem Plateau (ARP), Daly Basin (DAB), Pine Creek (PCK)

Ecological Descriptors

Closed forest, granivore.

General References

Fleming, M.R. 1995. Arnhem Land Rock-rat Zyzomys maini. pp. 621-622 in Strahan, R. (ed.). The Mammals of Australia: The National Photographic Index of Australian Wildlife. Sydney : Reed New Holland 756 pp.

Woinarski, J.C.Z. 2004. Threatened Plants and Animals in Kakadu National Park: A Review and Recommendations for Management. Darwin : NT Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Environment.

Common Name References

ABRS 2001. Census of Australian Vertebrates. Australian Biological Resources Study. (Arnhem Land Rock-rat)

History of changes

• Zyzomys palatalis Kitchener, D.J. 1989. Taxonomic appraisal of Zyzomys (Rodentia, Muridae) with descriptions of two new species from the Northern Territory, Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum 14: 331-373.

Distribution

States

Northern Territory

IBRA

NT: Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU)

Ecological Descriptors

Granivore.

General References

Brook, B.W., Griffiths, A.D. & Puckey, H.L. 2002. Modelling strategies for the management of the critically endangered Carpentarian rock-rat (Zyzomys palatalis) of northern Australia. Journal of Environmental Management 65: 355-368

Churchill, S. 1996. Distribution, habitat and status of the Carpentarian rock-rat, Zyzomys palatalis. Wildlife Research 23: 77-91

Fleming, M.R. 1995. Arnhem Land Rock-rat Zyzomys maini. pp. 621-622 in Strahan, R. (ed.). The Mammals of Australia: The National Photographic Index of Australian Wildlife. Sydney : Reed New Holland 756 pp.

Lee, A.K. 1995. The Action Plan for Australian Rodents. Canberra : Australian Nature Conservation Agency 62 pp.

Menkhorst, K.A. & Woinarski, J.C.Z. 1992. Further records of the Carpentarian rock-rat Zyzomys palatilis from the Gulf region of the Northern Territory. Northern Territory Naturalist 13: 40-41

Puckey, H. 2003. Additional records of the Capentarian rock-rat (Zyzomys palatalis) at Redbank, close to the type locality. Northern Territory Naturalist 17: 43-45

Puckey, H., Lewis, M., Hooper, D. & Michell, C. 2004. Home range, movement and habitat utilisation of the Capentarian rock-rat (Zyzomys palatalis) in an isolated habitat patch. Wildlife Research 31: 327-337

Common Name References

ABRS 2001. Census of Australian Vertebrates. Australian Biological Resources Study. (Carpentarian Rock-rat)

History of changes

• Conilurus pedunculatus Waite, E.R. 1896. Muridae. 393-409 pls 25-26 in Spencer, B. (ed.). Report on the Work of the Horn Scientific Expedition to Central Australia. Pt 2.— Zoology. Melbourne : Melville, Mullen & Slade. [395].

  Type data:

   
  Syntype(s) AM M1064 skin (skull not extracted; specimen A of Waite), Alice Springs, NT; SAMA M2437 ♂ skull (specimen B of Waite) skin (not found in SAMA), Alice Springs, NT; NMV C7806 (=57122=R12316) ♂ skin (wet, skull not extracted), Alice Springs, NT; BMNH 97.1.8.4 ♂ skin (wet, skull not extracted), Alice Springs, NT; BMNH 97.1.8.5 ♀ skin (wet) & skull, Alice Springs, NT.
• Conilurus pedunculatus brachyotis Waite, E.R. 1896. Muridae. 393-409 pls 25-26 in Spencer, B. (ed.). Report on the Work of the Horn Scientific Expedition to Central Australia. Pt 2.— Zoology. Melbourne : Melville, Mullen & Slade. [397].

  Type data:

   
  Syntype(s) AM M1065 ♀ skin (skull not extracted), specimen G of Waite, Illamurta, James Range, NT; SAMA M2412 ♂ skull, specimen F of Waite, Illamurta, James Range, NT; whereabouts unknown skin (not found in SAMA), Illamurta, James Range, NT.

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Mahoney, J.A. in Walton, D.W. (ed.) 1988. Zoological Catalogue of Australia Volume 5. Mammalia. Canberra : Australian Government Publishing Service x 274 pp. [Date published 13/Apr/1988] [191]

Generic Combinations

• Zyzomys pedunculatus (Waite, 1896).
• Laomys pedunculatus (Waite, 1896).

Distribution

States

Northern Territory, Western Australia

IBRA

NT, WA: Burt Plain (BRT), Carnarvon (CAR), Central Ranges (CR), Davenport Murchison Ranges (DMR), Geraldton Sandplains (GS), Great Sandy Desert (GSD), Tanami (TAN)

Ecological Descriptors

Very rare.

General References

Finlayson, H.H. 1941. On Central Australian mammals. Part II The Muridae. Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia 65: 215-232 pls 10-13

Kitchener, D.J. 1989. Taxonomic appraisal of Zyzomys (Rodentia, Muridae) with descriptions of two new species from the Northern Territory, Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum 14: 331-373

Lee, A.K. 1995. The Action Plan for Australian Rodents. Canberra : Australian Nature Conservation Agency 62 pp.

Nano, T., Smith, C. & Jeffreys, E. 2003. Investigation into the diet of the central rock-rat (Zyzomys pedunculatus). Wildlife Research 30: 513-518

Watts, C.H.S. & Aslin, H.J. 1981. The Rodents of Australia. Sydney : Angus & Robertson xii 321 pp. 16 pls.

Wurst, D. 1995. Central Rock-rat Zyzomys pedunculatus. pp. 624-625 in Strahan, R. (ed.). The Mammals of Australia: The National Photographic Index of Australian Wildlife. Sydney : Reed New Holland 756 pp.

Common Name References

ABRS 2001. Census of Australian Vertebrates. Australian Biological Resources Study. (Central Rock-rat)

History of changes

• Laomys woodwardi Thomas, O. 1909. On the N. Australian rats referred to the genus Mesembriomys. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 8 3: 372-374 [373].

  Type data:

   Holotype BMNH 9.2.16.3 ♀ skin & skull, rough stony range, Parry Creek, 5 miles W of Trig Station HJ9, East Kimberley, WA 100 ft (skin label); Trig Station HJ9 is located at 15º34´24.69˜S 128º20´47.01˜E.

Generic Combinations

• Zyzomys woodwardi (Thomas, 1909).

Distribution

States

Western Australia

IBRA

WA: Central Kimberley (CK), Dampierland (DL), Northern Kimberley (NK), Victoria Bonaparte (VB)

Ecological Descriptors

Closed forest, granivore, terrestrial.

Extra Ecological Information

Restricted to rocky habitats.

General References

Baverstock, P.R., Watts, C.H.S., Adams, M. & Cole, S.R. 1981. Genetical relationships among Australian rodents (Muridae). Australian Journal of Zoology 29: 289-303

Baverstock, P.R., Watts, C.H.S. & Hogarth, J.T. 1977. Chromosome evolution in Australian rodents I. The Pseudomyinae, the Hydromyinae and the Uromys/Melomys Group. Chromosoma (Berlin) 61: 95-125

Begg, R.J. 1981. The small mammals of Little Nourlangie Rock, N.T. IV. Ecology of Zyzomys woodwardi, the Large Rock-rat, and Z. argurus, the Common Rock-rat, (Rodentia: Muridae). Australian Wildlife Research 8: 307-320

Begg, R.J. & Dunlop, C.H. 1985. The diets of the large rock-rat, Zyzomys woodwardi, and the common rock-rat, Z. argurus (Rodentia: Muridae). Australian Wildlife Research 12: 19-24

Begg, R.J. & Dunlop, C.R. 1980. Security eating, and diet in the Large Rock-rat, Zyzomys woodwardi (Rodentia: Muridae). Australian Wildlife Research 7: 63-70

Breed, W.J. & Sarafis, V. 1979. On the phylogenetic significance of spermatozoal morphology and male reproductive tract anatomy in Australian rodents. Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia 103: 127-135

Calaby, J.H. & Taylor, J.M. 1983. Breeding in wild populations of the Australian rock rats, Zyzomys argurus and Z. woodwardi. Journal of Mammalogy 64: 610-616

Fleming, M.R. & McKenzie, N.L. 1995. Kimberley Rock-rat Zyzomys woodwardi. pp. 626-627 in Strahan, R. (ed.). The Mammals of Australia: The National Photographic Index of Australian Wildlife. Sydney : Reed New Holland 756 pp.

Friend, G.R., Morris, K.D. & McKenzie, N.L. 1991. The mammal fauna of Kimberley rainforests. pp. 393-412 in McKenzie, N.L., Johnston, R.B. & Kendrick, P.G. (eds). Kimberley Rainforests. Chipping Norton : Surrey Beatty & Sons 490 pp.

Kemper, C.M., Kitchener, D.J., Humphreys, W.F. & How, R.A. 1987. Small mammals of the Mitchell Plateau region, Kimberley, Western Australia. Australian Wildlife Research 14: 397-414

Kitchener, D.J. 1989. Taxonomic appraisal of Zyzomys (Rodentia, Muridae) with descriptions of two new species from the Northern Territory, Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum 14: 331-373

Kitchener, D.J., Keller, L.E., Chapman, A., McKenzie, N.L., Start, A.N. & Kenneally, K.F. 1981. Observations on Mammals of the Mitchell Plateau area, Kimberley, Western Australia. pp. 123–169 in, Biological Survey of Mitchell Plateau and Admiralty Gulf, Kimberley, Western Australia. Papers resulting from a joint field expedition to Mitchell Plateau, Kimberley, by the Western Australia Museum, Perth, and the Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, U.S.A., 1976–1977. 274 pp.

Morrissey, B.L. & Breed, W.G. 1982. Variation in external morphology of the glans penis of Australian native rodents. Australian Journal of Zoology 30: 495-502

Watts, C.H.S. 1982. Australian hydromyine rodents: maintenance of captive colonies. pp. 180-184 in Evans, D.D. (ed.). The Management of Australian Mammals in Captivity. Proceedings of the Scientific Meeting of the Australian Mammal Society, Healesville, Victoria, February 1979. Melbourne : Zoological Board of Victoria 194 pp.

Watts, C.H.S. & Aslin, H.J. 1981. The Rodents of Australia. Sydney : Angus & Robertson xii 321 pp. 16 pls.

Common Name References

ABRS 2001. Census of Australian Vertebrates. Australian Biological Resources Study. (Large Rock-rat)

Clayton, M., Wombey, J.C., Mason, I.J., Chesser, R.T. & Wells, A. 2006. CSIRO List of Australian Vertebrates: A Reference with Conservation Status. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing iv 162 pp. [113] (Kimberley Rock-rat)

History of changes