See the First Photos and Videos of the Rare Subalpine Woolly Rat, a Massive but Elusive Rodent in New Guinea’s Mountains Working with local Indigenous people, biologist František Vejmělka spent six months surveying the creatures that live on Mount Wilhelm in Papua New Guinea Trail cameras recorded nocturnal subalpine woolly rats roaming around in search of plants to eat. Czech Academy of Sciences The subalpine woolly rat lives high in the mountains of New Guinea, where it spends its nights searching for plants to eat and its days hiding in underground burrows or tree canopies. This furry rodent is massive, measuring more than 2.5 feet from nose to tail and tipping the scales at more than four pounds. But despite its large size, the subalpine woolly rat (Mallomys istapantap) is incredibly elusive. First described in 1989, the species was only known to scientists because of a few museum specimens, and it had never been photographed in the wild—until now. František Vejmělka, a biologist at the Czech Academy of Sciences and the University of South Bohemia, spent six months exploring the highlands of Papua New Guinea. With help from local Indigenous people, he surveyed and genetically identified 61 species of rodents and marsupials found on Mount Wilhelm, a 14,793-foot peak and the country’s highest mountain. But perhaps his most significant work centered around the subalpine woolly rat. Vejmělka captured the first photos and videos of the mysterious creature in the wild. He also caught a few individuals, which allowed him to take the first biometric measurements of males and gather data about the rats’ behavior, diet and parasites. He shared his findings in a paper published April 18 in the journal Mammalia. By capturing several subalpine woolly rats, František Vejmělka was able to take the first biometric measurements of males of the species. Czech Academy of Sciences “It’s astonishing that such a large and striking animal has remained so poorly studied. How much more is there to discover about the biodiversity of tropical mountains?” Vejmělka says in a statement shared last week. The subalpine woolly rat is the biggest rodent in Australia and Oceania, and it’s one of the largest in the world. It’s a “striking and formidable creature,” with three-inch-long paws, sharp teeth and dense, shaggy fur covering most of its body, according to the statement. But these rodents are only active at night, and they live between 10,500 and 12,140 feet above sea level. Their rugged, remote habitats, coupled with their nocturnal habits, have made them difficult for researchers to study. Subalpine Woolly Rat Filmed For The First Time Watch on Vejmělka was up for the challenge. He wanted to know more about this mysterious species, as well as the mammalian diversity of New Guinea more broadly. For help, he turned to several tribes living on Mount Wilhelm. Their support and collaboration were crucial to the project, he says. The rats spend their days hiding in underground burrows or tree canopies, but they come out at night to search for food. Czech Academy of Sciences “If it weren’t for the Indigenous hunters who accompanied me in the mountains and helped me locate the animals, I would never have been able to collect this data,” he says in the statement. From trail camera footage and biometric observations, Vejmělka was able to glean several new insights into the lives of these mysterious creatures. He learned they primarily eat ferns and other plant material, for example, and that both males and females have a reddish brown color on their chests, reports IFLScience’s Eleanor Higgs. The species’ large size is likely due to “insular gigantism,” a biological phenomenon in which animals on islands evolve to become larger than those on the mainland, Vejmělka tells Live Science’s Jess Thomson in an email. Scientists think the rodents’ predecessors first arrived on New Guinea roughly five million years ago. Without much competition to worry about, they’ve been able to adapt to the rainforest landscape and thrive. “Their ancestors arrived from Asia to the island completely absent of any other terrestrial placental mammals (only marsupials and monotremes),” Vejmělka adds to Live Science. Get the latest stories in your inbox every weekday.

Tucked away in the pulse of the city, the Soft Form Studio, a project by Ans Render, offers a different kind of rhythm. One that is quiet, tactile, and deeply intentional. This urban retreat redefines minimalism by leaning into softness. It layers neutral tones, sculptural lighting, and cozy textures to create a home that feels both elevated and inviting. Every detail, from the woolly wall art to the curved form, is designed to slow you down and draw you in. A cream-themed foyer with an organically shaped mirror invites you into the Soft Form Studio. You will be led into the living space, first catching a glance of a decorated bookshelf. Here, an open floor plan, with a living room and kitchen area, keeps the ambiance airy. A cozy gray sectional anchors the living area, while the kitchen features a marble island, warm wooden cabinetry, and tiled backsplash. Despite being a compact apartment, the Soft Form Studio makes room for the homeowners’ priorities, one of which was working from home. This home office houses a gray two-seater sofa, adding modern design and functionality. A sculptural table provides room to hold magazines or other essentials, while a plush rug softens the area underfoot. On the other end, a sleek wall-mounted desk curves at one end, adding elegance. Natural light floods the space, making sure it’s illuminated throughout the day. The dining nook features a pedestal table, which makes for a space-savvy pick. This is paired with minimalist chairs and a globe-like chandelier. A special mention for the textured artwork, which instantly forms the focal point of the space. It is further accentuated by accent lighting. The bedroom in the Soft Form Studio features a soft upholstered bed. This is flanked by two different types of nightstands, adding a beautiful sense of asymmetry. The pendant lights hanging on either end add visual intrigue to the bedroom when the sun goes down. The bathroom is as luxurious as it gets! We see marble features adding a bold punch. A freestanding sink is paired with recessed shelving and a strategically lit mirror, making sure the space is as functional as is stylish

The world's second-biggest rat species — a gargantuan woolly beast — was caught on camera in the mountains of New Guinea.

The rodent was found near New Guinea's Mount Wilhelm. Credit: František Vejmělka Get the Popular Science daily newsletter💡 Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. New Guinea’s subalpine woolly rat is the rodent of legends. Mallomys istapantap was first described in 1989, but even then the descriptions were only gleaned from examining historical museum material. The last recorded sighting of the fuzzy rodent 30 years ago failed to yield any photographic evidence, but after six months scouring the jungles of New Guinea, one researcher has finally documented one of the world’s most elusive mammals. The New Guinean woolly rat doesn’t make itself easy to find, but Czech Academy of Sciences doctoral candidate František Vejmělka recently managed to make history with the help of local guides. “If it weren’t for the indigenous hunters who accompanied me in the mountains and helped me locate the animals, I would never have been able to collect this data,” Vejmělka said in a statement. This image was captured using a trap camera set up near Mount Wilhelm in Papua New Guinea. Credit: František Vejmělka Vejmělka collaborated with multiple local tribes to survey the region around Papua New Guinea’s highest peak, Mount Wilhelm (14,793 ft). Along the way he documented and genetically identified 61 species of non-flying rodents and marsupials, but it was his firsthand encounters with the woolly rat that stood out from the rest. The murine rodent lives in the region’s remote, steep highlands at elevations around 12,000 feet. They only emerge at night to feed on plant matter and spend their days in underground burrows or high in the tree canopies. Vejmělka’s documentation published last month in the journal Mammalia notes the thick-furred woolly rats measure about 2.78-feet long including their tail, weigh around 4.4 lbs, and feature 3-inch paws. Despite their moderate size, the university announcement describes the animal as a “striking and formidable creature.” The video footage of the woolly rat was captured near this location in the Guinean rainforest. Credit: František Vejmělka While tropical biodiversity across Africa, the Americas, and Southeast Asia is well-studied, the Australasian regions remain largely unstudied. Collaborating with local indigenous communities to find and document animals such as the woolly rat is crucial to help strengthen biodiversity and conservation efforts, and what is needed to protect them from outside threats. “It’s astonishing that such a large and striking animal has remained so poorly studied,” said Vejmělka. “How much more is there to discover about the biodiversity of tropical mountains?”