- WASHINGTON (AFP) -- A massive
rodent the size of a buffalo that roamed Venezuela eight million years
ago was an ancestor to the modern-day domestic guinea pig, according to
research due to be published in the journal Science tonight.
-
- In examining the giant rodent's fossil and plant evidence,
three researchers have identified it as a sibling to the pakarana Dinomys,
which was a close relative of the guinea pig.
-
- The rodent, Phoberomys Pattersoni, is the largest discovered
rodent to have walked the earth. It weighed a hefty 700 kilograms and grew
more than 10 times the size of today's biggest rodent, the Capybara, the
largest of which weighs 23 kilograms.
-
- "Imagine a weird guinea pig, but huge, with a long
tail for balancing on its hind legs and continuously growing teeth,"
explained researcher Marcelo Sanchez-Villagra.
-
- "It was semi-acquatic, like the Capybara, and probably
foraged along a riverbank," he added.
-
- The research team discovered the fossil of the giant
rodent in 2000 in a now arid region of Venezuela some 400 kilometres west
of Caracas, in the town of Urumaco.
-
- The research team was led by Sanchez-Villagra of Germany's
Tubingen University, Orangel Aguilera of Venezuela's Universidad Nacional
Experimental Francisco de Miranda, and Ines Horovitz of the University
of California.
-
- Copyright 2003 News Limited.
-
- http://news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,7310820%255E1702,00.html
-
-
- Comment
- From Lucille Spacek
- 9-19-3
-
- Hi Jeff,
-
- Not sure if you are aware of this fact, but...This is
actually, one of Dumbya's ancestors, along with G-3. This is a little known
large factoid, only really dedicated rodologists and a few exterminators,
are aware of. Several of the smaller versions, weighing between one-two
hundred pounds are actually extant in the Black House, senate and of course,
the congress critters, and you thought 'critters' was just a cute anacronym.
No they truly are just 'critters', bottom feeders, living off the fat of
the land and regurgitating in the vomitoriums, on Capitol Hill, they are
so engorged. They actually eat as much , as their 1500 lb. antecedents.
Well, it had to come out sometime, ', ya know, 'the truth will out', and
all that.
-
- We will not only have to build a 'better' mousetrap,
but many larger ones. All those architects of such hardware, please submit
your blueprints, prototypes and working models, for concideration, soon,
very SOON, we need 'em SOON. All you old retired guys and ex-marines are
called upon, once more, to serve your country, in the trenches, bunkers
and garbage dumps, on Penn. Ave., where the giant rats, mostly congregate,
burrow in and feast. We need your expertise, now, more then ever. Answer
the call, or be damned! All large felines, cats, lions, tigers, and yes
bears, will be called up from households, zoos and shelters to do their
part, to sniff, catch, swat, fillet, crush and clear cut, these egregious
rampant rodents. Cats truly are 'our best friends', in this case, except,
maybe for a few Dobermans, Pitbulls and Rhotweillers, that may need a bite
to eat, and are willing to indulge their tastebuds.
-
- Yes, Jeff, we can fight and win, against these monstrous
rug rats, that infest our regions, counties, states and country. God, please
don't save the King!
-
- Yours truly,
- Lucille Spacek
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