Abstract
The present mammal fauna of New Ireland consists of 38 species, thanks to waif dispersal, deliberate human introductions and the arrival of human commensals. The pre-human fauna, c29 species, is depauperate relative to that of many other Melanesian islands. Species deliberately introduced by humans include Phalanger orientalis, Spilocuscus maculatus, Thylogale brunii, Sus scrofa and Canis familiaris. Species that are either self-introduced since human occupation, or arrived inadvertently as a result of human activity include Rattus exulans, Rattus praetor, and Rousettus amplexicaudatus. Zoogeographic analysis of the terrestrial mammal fauna supports predictions of its very poor dispersal ability. -from Authors
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 96-113 |
| Number of pages | 18 |
| Journal | National Geographic Research & Exploration |
| Volume | 7 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Publication status | Published - 1991 |