This article is from the WSSF 2017 AFRMA Rat & Mouse Tales news-magazine.

A new rat was found in the Solomon Islands that is the first rodent discovered there in 80 years. The native land mammals on the Solomon Islands are mostly bats and rats. This rat is four times the size of a normal city rat and can be a foot and a half long and weigh more than 2 pounds. It is said to spend most of its time high up in the trees of the rainforest and can chew through coconuts and the ngali nut. Because of its small distributional range, apparent low population densities, and logging going on in its native land of Vangunu, this puts the Vika on the critically endangered list.

A new species of giant rat (Muridae, Uromys) from Vangunu, Solomon Islands.