Student Was the First to Document a Giant Rat

František Vejmělka, a student at the Faculty of Science of the University of South Bohemia, is proud of an exceptional achievement. He was the first to document one of the largest rodents in the world, the giant rat (Mallomys istapantap). He made the discovery during a six-month expedition to the island of New Guinea. The mysterious giant rat measures 85 centimeters and weighs almost two kilograms.

The giant rat measures 85 cm, weighs almost 2 kg, is the largest rodent in Australia and Oceania, and young Czech scientist František Vejmělka was the first in the world to document it on the tropical island of New Guinea. Until now, the giant rat Mallomys istapantap had only been described based on old museum materials, and only in 1989. It was last seen thirty years ago.