Phoberomys pattersoni
Encyclopedia
Phoberomys pattersoni is an extinct
rodent
that lived in the ancient Orinoco River delta approximately 8 million years ago. It was the second-largest of the roughly 7 species of its genus
. Like many other rodents, Phoberomys was a herbivore
with high-crowned
premolar
s and molar
s. Informal names include Ratzilla and Mighty Mouse.
An almost complete skeleton
of the giant rodent was discovered in Urumaco
, Venezuela
in 2000. The new species was later classified with the name Phoberomys pattersoni in honor of palaeontologist Brian Patterson. From the fossil, researchers have been able to reconstruct its size and probable lifestyle. It was 3 m (9.8 ft) long, with an additional 1.5 m (4.9 ft) tail, and probably weighed around 700 kg (1,543.2 lb), making it for some years the largest known rodent for which a good size and weight estimate was possible. Its congener
Phoberomys insolita was a bit larger still, but it is not known from any reasonably complete remains and thus its size cannot be estimated more precisely.
In early 2008, the discovery of Josephoartigasia monesi
was announced, which was even larger.
Extinction
In biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
rodent
Rodent
Rodentia is an order of mammals also known as rodents, characterised by two continuously growing incisors in the upper and lower jaws which must be kept short by gnawing....
that lived in the ancient Orinoco River delta approximately 8 million years ago. It was the second-largest of the roughly 7 species of its genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
. Like many other rodents, Phoberomys was a herbivore
Herbivore
Herbivores are organisms that are anatomically and physiologically adapted to eat plant-based foods. Herbivory is a form of consumption in which an organism principally eats autotrophs such as plants, algae and photosynthesizing bacteria. More generally, organisms that feed on autotrophs in...
with high-crowned
Hypsodont
Hypsodont dentition is characterized by high-crowned teeth and enamel which extends past the gum line. This provides extra material for wear and tear. Some examples of animals with hypsodont dentition are cows, horses and deer; all animals that feed on gritty, fibrous material. The opposite...
premolar
Premolar
The premolar teeth or bicuspids are transitional teeth located between the canine and molar teeth. In humans, there are two premolars per quadrant, making eight premolars total in the mouth. They have at least two cusps. Premolars can be considered as a 'transitional tooth' during chewing, or...
s and molar
Molar (tooth)
Molars are the rearmost and most complicated kind of tooth in most mammals. In many mammals they grind food; hence the Latin name mola, "millstone"....
s. Informal names include Ratzilla and Mighty Mouse.
An almost complete skeleton
Skeleton
The skeleton is the body part that forms the supporting structure of an organism. There are two different skeletal types: the exoskeleton, which is the stable outer shell of an organism, and the endoskeleton, which forms the support structure inside the body.In a figurative sense, skeleton can...
of the giant rodent was discovered in Urumaco
Urumaco
Urumaco is a town in the state of Falcón in Venezuela. It is of world importance for its fossils. The arid climate of the region means that the fossils are not hidden by vegetation. They were first made known to science by geologists who came across them while looking for oil...
, Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
in 2000. The new species was later classified with the name Phoberomys pattersoni in honor of palaeontologist Brian Patterson. From the fossil, researchers have been able to reconstruct its size and probable lifestyle. It was 3 m (9.8 ft) long, with an additional 1.5 m (4.9 ft) tail, and probably weighed around 700 kg (1,543.2 lb), making it for some years the largest known rodent for which a good size and weight estimate was possible. Its congener
Congener
Congener has several different meanings depending on the field in which it is used. Colloquially, it is used to mean a person or thing like another, in character or action.-Biology:In biology, congeners are organisms within the same genus...
Phoberomys insolita was a bit larger still, but it is not known from any reasonably complete remains and thus its size cannot be estimated more precisely.
In early 2008, the discovery of Josephoartigasia monesi
Josephoartigasia monesi
Josephoartigasia monesi, an extinct species of South American caviomorph rodent, is the largest rodent known, and lived approximately 4 to 2 million years ago during the Pliocene to early Pleistocene. The species may have weighed , considerably larger than its closest living relative, the pacarana...
was announced, which was even larger.