Rattus everetti (Günther, 1879). Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1879:75.

TYPE LOCALITY: Philippines, N Mindanao Isl (Heaney and Rabor, 1982).

DISTRIBUTION: Islands of Luzon, Catanduanes, Mindoro, Sibuyan, Ticao, Camiguin, Samar, Calicoan, Leyte, Dinagat, Siargao, Mindanao, Basilan, Bohol, Biliran, and Maripipi; probably occurs on other islands in the Philippine archipelago (Musser and Heaney, 1992).

SYNONYMS: albigularis, gala, tagulayensis, tyrannus.

COMMENTS: May be more than one species represented in insular samples (tyrannus, for example), and the everetti complex needs critical systematic revision. Similar to the core group of Rattus in cranial, dental, and spermatozoal characters (Breed and Musser, 1991; Musser and Heaney, 1992), but not closely related to other species of Rattus endemic to the Philipines. Member of the Philippine New Endemics, but distantly related to other genera in that group (Musser and Heaney, 1992).