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Kimberley rock rat
Conservation status
	; Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Rodentia
Family:	Muridae
Genus:	Zyzomys
Species:	Z. woodwardi
Binomial name
	Zyzomys woodwardi; (Thomas, 1909)
	Distribution of the Kimberley rock rat

The Kimberley rock rat (Zyzomys woodwardi) is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found only in Australia, specifically in the northern tropical part of the Northern Territory and adjacent Kimberley region of Western Australia, in high-altitude closed forest.

Biologists have proposed that Zyzomys woodwardi speciated from Zyzomys argurus around 8,000 years ago due to a large flood that increased the wetness of the environment. In response to the wetter environment Zyzomys woodwardi had a better Darwinian fitness and out-competed Zyzomys argurus due to new selective pressures and over time the two species were separated by large vine thickets and sandstone barriers.

The species is present in the Charnley River–Artesian Range Wildlife Sanctuary in the Kimberley region of WA.^[2]

References

^ Burbidge, A.A. (2016). "Zyzomys woodwardi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T23328A22457333. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T23328A22457333.en.
^ "Charnley River – Artesian Range: ACE". Australian Wildlife Conservancy. Retrieved 2 January 2021.

Musser, G. G.; Carleton, M. D. (2005). "Superfamily Muroidea". In Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 1522. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
Begg, RJ (1981). "The Small Mammals of Little Nourlangie Rock, N. T IV.* Ecology of Zyzomys woodwardi, the Large Rock-rat, and Z.argurus, the Common Rock-rat, (Rodentia : Muridae)". Wildlife Research. 8 (2): 307. doi:10.1071/WR9810307.