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Thursday, October 28, 2010

Photo: Bull-Size Rodent Discovered -- Biggest Yet


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An artist's reconstruction of Josephoartigasia monesi (top) is superimposed on an image of the prehistoric rodent's skull. A sculpture (below) further fleshes out the South American mammal. (See more pictures of the giant rodent—and its nearest living cousin.)

Analysis of the fossil skull suggests that the animal was as big as a bull or hippo, making J. monesi the largest rodent ever found.

Artist's reconstruction (drawing at top, sculpture at bottom) by Gustavo Lecuona, courtesy Proceedings: B