Scientists discover ‘hog-nosed rat’ in Indonesia

An undated handout picture made available by Australia's Museum Victoria on 06 October 2015 shows a Hog-nosed rat. - EPA

JAKARTA, Oct 6, 2015 (AFP) - Researchers working in Indonesia have discovered a new species of mammal called the hog-nosed rat, named for its features that scientists said have never been seen before.

The creature was found in a remote mountainous area on the island of Sulawesi in central Indonesia, according to Australia’s Museum Victoria whose scientists were involved. The rat, whose scientific name is Hyorhinomys stuempkei, has features "never seen by science before", according to the museum in a statement released Tuesday. The discovery was made by a team of scientists from Indonesia, Australia and the United States.

As well as its large, flat, pink nose, with forward-facing nostrils similar to that of a pig’s, the creature has extremely large ears, a small mouth and long white front teeth, according to the museum.