The reported re-discovery of the dwarf cloud rat in the Mount Pulag National Park, the second highest peak in the country, which was last seen 112 years ago, was said to be a major breakthrough in the study of biology and biological diversity in the Philippines and the rest of the world.

American biologist Dr. Lawrence Heany, a curator of mammals at the Field Museum of National History in Chicago, and Danilo Ballete, research associate of the Philippine National Museum, conducted a comprehensive survey of the small mammals in Mount Pulag here which was recently completed.

The dwarf cloud rat, which was seen only once by a British-commissioned research team doing a survey of distinctive mammals in Mount Data in 1896, was captured in a mature mossy forest patch of Mount Pulag at around 2,350 meters above sea level.

Researchers disclosed the scientific name of the dwarf cloud rat is cartomysmelanurous. It is a smaller relative of the giant cloud rats, which are found only in Luzon.

Heany and Ballete described the dwarf cloud rat as beautiful with densed, soft reddish brown fur, a black mask around large dark eyes, small rounded ears, a broad and blunt snout, a long tail covered with dark hair, and weighing only 185 grams.

The small rodent probably lives only high up in the big canopy of trees in mature mossy forests, with elevations ranging from 2,200 to 2,700 meters in the Cordillera mountains.

They said the cloud rats are one of the most spectacular cases of adoptive radiation by mammals anywhere in the world with at least 15 species ranging in sizes from 2.7 kilograms to only 15 grams, all living only in the Philippines.

The Philippines may have the greatest concentration of unique biological diversity relative to its size compared to any country in the world.

The dwarf cloud rat will be shipped to Chicago for further detailed scientific studies with the permission from the Philippine government courtesy of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Biologists worldwide have a high and great respect for the Philippines in the field of biology and biological diversity but only a few people realize the important role of the mossy forests found in the cordillera.

Mount Pulag and Mount Data are two of the areas which are considered to be most interesting and most challenging sites for study on biology.

Aside from the dwarf cloud rat, the other unusual species documented by the team are the bushytailed cloud rat, a spectacular animal weighing 1.5 kilos with long, flowing black fur and found to be common in mossy forests.