Josephoartigasia
| Josephoartigasia | |
|---|---|
| |
| Josephoartigasia monesi reconstruction | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Dinomyidae |
| Genus: | †Josephoartigasia Mones, 2007 |
| Species | |
Josephoartigasia is an extinct genus of giant rodent from the Early Pliocene to Early Pleistocene, related to the living pacarana. The genus includes the largest known rodent, Josephoartigasia monesi.[1] The two species would have resembled gigantic pacarana, or capybaras the size of cows, with an estimated weight of 1,000 kg (1.0 t; 1.1 short tons; 0.98 long tons).[2]
As the first specimen was found in Uruguay, it was named in honour of José Artigas, the libertador of the country.[2]
References
- ^ "Biggest rodent 'shrinks in size'". BBC News. 2008-05-21.
- ^ a b Rinderknecht, Andrés (2008). "Nueva especie de roedor fósil: Josephoartigasia monesi". Museo Nacional de Historia Natural y Antropología (in Spanish). Uruguay.
Significado del nombre: Josephoartigasia en honor a José Artigas y monesi por el paleontólogo uruguayo Álvaro Mones.
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