A hog-nosed shrew rat (Rodentia: Muridae)

from Sulawesi Island, Indonesia

Authors: Jacob A. Esselstyn, Anang S. Achmadi, Heru Handika,
Kevin C. Rowe
Journal of Mammalogy. 96 (5): 895–907. 2015
Prepared by: France Joseph O. Pascual

Statement of the problem. learn, assess, evaluate and apply

The issues discussed were
the lack of morphometric and
phylogenetic analysis regarding
Muridae in their respective
surveyed areas and their updated
record since the data was limited
in regards to an outdated
assessment and their apparent
differentiation. Since the study
was focused discovering a new
branch of shrew rat from Sulawesi
under the said genus, finding its
definitive characteristics were
questioned as well as its uncanny
similarity from the genera
Echiothrix, Melasmothrix, and
Paucidentomys.
Objectives of the study.
For the objectives of the
study, the authors aim to take
consideration of all problems
faced by the study to provide an
elaborate data on both
morphological and taxonomical
approach about Muridaes. Even
though there is no complex study
yet about the said genus in
Sulawesi, the past researches will
serve as a guide to possible
limitations, and it will serve as an
open door for the opportunity to
knowledge regarding the study.
Moreover, the study is realistic in
terms of the resources needed like
the surveyed areas and the
institutions for species
examination. In line with this, the
paper aimed to describe another
new shrew rat from Sulawesi and
estimate its phylogenetic
placement among murines,
including the Sulawesi shrew rat
genera Echiothrix, Melasmothrix,
and Paucidentomys.
Author’s purpose.
In this study, the main
purpose is to perform molecular
phylogenetic inference analysis
within the Sulawesi shrew rat
genera based on both
morphological and genetic data
from Esselstyn et al. (2012) and
Rowe et al., (2014) researches.
Moreover, this paper was to
provide an elaborate practical
guide and recommendations for
specific identification of shrew rats
in the said region.
Methodology of the study.
The authors utilizes cranial
and external morphology of new
specimens of a shrew rat species
from Mt. Dako (Fig. 1) with
specimens of all other species of
shrew rats known from Sulawesi.
They also collected standard
external measurements (total
length [TTL], tail length [Tail], hind
foot length including the claw [HF],
ear length [Ear], and mass [Mass])
from fresh specimens or specimen
tags.Additionally, the researchers
also measured 20 cranio-dental
variables on cleaned skulls of the
new shrew rat using digital
calipers precise to 0.01 mm:
greatest length of skull (GLS);
zygomatic breadth (ZB);
interorbital breadth (IB); length of
rostrum (LR); breadth of rostrum
(BR); breadth of zygomatic plate
(BZP); breadth of braincase (BBC);
height of braincase (HBC); length
of diastema (LD); post palatal
length (PPL); length of incisive
foramina (LIF); breadth of incisive
foramina (BIF); length of bony
palate (LBP); breadth
mesopterygoid fossa (BMF);
length of auditory bulla (LB);
breadth of upper incisor (BUI);
depth of upper incisor (DUI);
length of nasal (LON); crown
length of maxillary molar row
(CLMMR); alveolar breadth of M1
(BM1).
They also incorporated
mitochondrial DNA (cytochrome b),
fragments of 4 unlinked nuclear
protein-coding genes,
phylogenetic relationships via
maximum likelihood (ML) and
Bayesian inference to infer other
Sulawesi shrew rat genera from
the novel species.
Hypothesis.
The research of Rowe et al.
in 2014 showed support for a
sister relationship between
Paucidentomys vermidax and
Melasmothrix naso, providing the
first molecular evidence to suggest
that the Sulawesi shrew rats form
a clade. Additionally, this study
found the new species appears
that it went through a rapid period
of diversification a long time ago
and the true relationships among
its genera will probably prove
difficult to estimate.
Major conclusions.
The described species,
Hyorhinomys stuempkei, was
of
found in Mt. Dako, Malangga
Selatan, Tolitoli, Galang, Central
Sulawesi, Sulawesi Island,
Indonesia at 1,600 meter elevation.
In total, the authors have 4
additional paratypes plus the
holotype model. Based on the
etymology, the species is named
in honor of Gerolf Steiner, who
used the pseudonym Harald
Stümpke, to publish a small book
entitled “Bau und Leben der
Rhinogradentia” or commonly
known in English as The Snouters.
Thus, the researchers of this study
recommended “Sulawesi snouter”
as its English common name.
In summary, H. stuempkei
has a unique large, pink nose with
forward-facing nares at the end of
a long rostrum.
According to their
phylogenetic analysis using
cytochrome b produced results, H.
stuempkei was the sister to all
other sampled Sulawesi shrew
rats based on concordant
Bayesian and likelihood inferences.
Critique.
The journal article entitled “A
hog-nosed shrew rat (Rodentia:
Muridae) from Sulawesi Island,
Indonesia” that appeared in the
Journal of Mammalogy can be
said to be an extended argument
with the gaping holes of the
undiscovered new species studies.
The researchers present a new
interpretation regarding the
existence of H. stuempkei at Mt.
Dako in Sulawesi Island,
indonesia.
After I read the whole journal
article, the title should indicate an
accurate and specific description
of discovery because it misleads
the readers on what and where it
happened. Even though it
stimulates the interest of the
readers due to the discovery, it
should specify the new genus and
species name as the specific
independent in the title.
As part of the paper where
the main focus of the study were
discussed, the introduction must
begin by clearly identifying the
subject area of interest (Armağan,
2013). In the first part of the
paragraph of the introduction, the
authors did not put a detailed
generalized description of the
Muridae as to the implication of
having these kinds of shrew rats in
our biodiversity, its geographic
range, etc. With this kind of
information, the readers will get to
know the specifics of Muridae and
ensure their engagement with the
subject matter without losing focus.
In writing the materials and
methods of the study, provide
enough descriptions of the field
surveys. With these descriptions,
readers will be informed of what
kind of environmental conditions
do the surveyed areas will have.
The authors in this study failed to
write the descriptions of the
surveyed areas.
The paper also shows
lapses throughout the write-up.
First, the authors heavily use the
first-person point of view in writing
from the abstract to the conclusion.
For this reason, the usage of the
words ‘we’, ‘our’, and ‘us’ is
evident throughout the paper. In
total, the authors use 34 ‘we’ and
12 ‘our’, and they are located
mostly in the discussion of the
study. Even though researchers
give effort and sacrifice many
times to conduct and write the
study, the formality of the authors
will be established if they use the
third-person point of view. It will
give the study clarity, emphasis,
and concise statements for the
readers to understand.
Lastly, the organization in
presenting photos are also
disturbing in this paper. In the
research, a photo of lower
montane was placed while
presenting the conclusion of the
study. The table should be placed
on the results and discussion
section or in the appendix for
organization purposes.