the Huon peninsula. The cold, fast-flowing streams of the mountains are its habitat. During the day it is actively hunting for tadpoles, worms, and river insects (mostly larvae), but at night it sleeps in holes along the river bank. The animal gets only one young at the same time. It is only captured by Telefol hunters when river levels are low. It is called kwypep by the Kalam tribe (Madang Province), possibly ogoyam in the Telefol language (in Sandaun Province) and momo by the Rofaifo (Southern Highlands Province), although that name is also used for other water rats, like the common Rakali. Some local names can be translated as "water sugar glider", which refers to the similarity of the fur of these two species. Little is known about the conservation status of this species, although it has the status "least concern" in the IUCN Red List. Notes and references Old World rats and mice Rodents of Papua New Guinea Mammals described in 1907 Taxa named by Oldfield Thomas Rodents of New Guinea