18-Inch Coconut-Cracking Rat Discovered

A new rat species, now called <em>Uromys vika</em>, was discovered in the Solomon Islands. — A new rat species, now called *Uromys vika*, was discovered in the Solomon Islands.

(Image credit: copyright Velizar Simeonovski/The Field Museum)

A rare new species of rat — up to four times the size of the rodents that populate American cities — has been identified in the Solomon Islands.

The discovery marks the first time in 80 years that a new rat species has been found in the archipelago in the South Pacific.

Thousands of new animal species are discovered each year, but about half that make the list are insects and arachnids, according to The New York Times. Despite what Bigfoot believers might try to convince you, it's rare for relatively large animals to remain undiscovered. Lavery said just a few dozen new mammals are identified every year. He explained that ancestors of the vika likely floated to the island on a raft and then evolved into a new species after years of isolation.

TOPICS

Megan has been writing for Live Science and Space.com since 2012. Her interests range from archaeology to space exploration, and she has a bachelor's degree in English and art history from New York University. Megan spent two years as a reporter on the national desk at NewsCore. She has watched dinosaur auctions, witnessed rocket launches, licked ancient pottery sherds in Cyprus and flown in zero gravity. Follow her on Twitter and Google+.