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Phoberomys Pattersoni |
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The remains were discovered about 250 miles west of the Venezuelan capital Caracas. This ancient rodent (named Phoberomys Pattersoni) lived on riverbanks around 8 million years ago, feeding on grass and spending most of it's time dodging 35ft crocodiles and huge carniverous birds. Experts believe it was hunted to extinction because it was too big to burrow to safety and too slow to flee from predators. South America is also home to todays largest living rodent - the capybara which can weigh up to 50kg. Cambridge expert Dr Andrew Sugden says the new discovery is a milestone. "This rodent more than doubles the size range of this remarkable family of animals and provides fascinating new insights into life 8 million years ago".
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In
August 2003, scientists in South America claimed to have discovered
the fossilized remains of a monster guinea pig... 9ft tall when
rearing up on its hind legs and weighing 700kg making it the largest
rodent ever to have walked the Earth!
| © 2005 Mike & Tracey Parfitt |
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