Giant Rat Found in South America
Fossils of 3,000 Pound Rodents Discovered in Uruguay
The largest living rodent is the capibara also a native of South America but only 110 pounds in weight. Capibaras are also vegitarians and live in a semi aquatic environment. The Josephoartigasia is also likely to have been semi aquatic since like a hippo, it would have problems getting around on land to forage. The water would also provide a measure of protection from jungle predators and a better environment for its young.
The shape of the skull reveales large incisor teeth, typical of rodents but the elongated face is somewhat closer to a beaver mixed with a hippo. These would probably have made poor pets since there are few home aquariums big to house a creature of this immensity and they are unlikely to want to run on wheels even bigger than they are for exercise.
Published by Stephen Joltin
I am a problem solver with 18+ years of Higher Education Credentials, last employed as the Information Systems Manager at Montgomery College in Maryland and a member of the Maryland Community College Data Pr... View profile
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19 Comments
Post a CommentOh good heavens, I can't even imagine. I'm glad we're not dealing with that today!
My son thought this was so kewl he printed it out for school tomorrow. :-)
I like how you said, "only 110 pounds in weight." Only? LOL Well, maybe that "little" rat has some brothers or sisters over here in my house. I can't ever seem to find even socks in my sock drawer. I thought it was the washing machine that ate them, but you just gave me an idea!
Wow! Great article :)
Scary rats! Get away from me! Lucky we don't live in the same period of time. :-)
Freaky! Amazing what our world once supported.
That is amazing. I have never minded rats, I dont necessarily want to be best friends with them although I did nurse a dying rat that a family had. I think his name was Benjamin. I cleaned for them about 3 times a week and he was dying. I put him under his water bottle so he could get his water and then I would give him a carrot. He would gnaw on it time to time and within a few days he was dead. He really had a lot of personality. I don'tthink though that I would like a cow sized rat. Great article
It is cool that they've found something that of that size that lived so long ago. Great article!
That just gave me the creeps and goosebumps that would give me a heart attack for sure
I just thought of something else. If you could put one in a cage with a wheel, you could generate enough electricty to run the household appliances...but who would clean the cage?