Vic scientists discover new mammal

Victorian scientists have discovered a new mammal, the hog-nosed rat, with features that have not been seen by science before.

Hyorhinomys stuempkei is a new species of mammal previously undocumented in any scientific collection.

The rodent was found by a team of scientists from Museum Victoria, Louisiana State University and the Dutch Museum Zoologicum Bogoriense in a remote, mountainous area of Sulawesi Island in Indonesia.

"To Australians, Hyorhinomys, is a bit like a rat version of a bandicoot, with long hind limbs, huge ears and a long, pointed face perfect for slurping up invertebrate prey," Museum Victoria researcher Dr Kevin Rowe said.