| Megalomys | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Martinique giant rice rat (Megalomys desmarestii) | |
 | |
| Saint Lucia giant rice rat (Megalomys luciae) | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Cricetidae |
| Subfamily: | Sigmodontinae |
| Tribe: | Oryzomyini |
| Genus: | †Megalomys Trouessart, 1881 |
| Species | |
†Megalomys audreyae | |
Megalomys is a genus ofrodent in the familyCricetidae, part of the tribeOryzomyini. The genus contains five large rodents from variousCaribbean islands, of which two are known to have survived into modern times, but all of which are now extinct. The last species to survive wasM. desmarestii fromMartinique, which became extinct after theMount Pelée eruption in 1902.Ancient DNA analysis placesMegalomys forming a clade withPennatomys, sister to the clade containingAegialomys,Nesoryzomys,Melanomys andSigmodontomys, having diverged from the mainland clade around 7 million years ago.[1]
It contains the following species:
Recently extinct species:
Fossil species:
