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Phoberomys pattersoni, prehistoric rodent
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Phoberomys pattersoni, prehistoric rodent
Phoberomys pattersoni. Artists impression of a giant rodent, Phoberomys pattersoni, based on fossil remains found at Urumaco, in Venezuela in 2000. The guinea pig-like creature is estimated to have been one metre tall, three metres long and to have weighed 700 kilograms, around 14 times the weight of the largest living rodent, the capybara. P. pattersoni lived during the Miocene epoch, around 8 million years ago. At that time, the area around Urumaco was covered in a giant river system with wetlands, grasslands and lagoons. The giant rodent may have been semi-aquatic, living in large herds on the wetlands, and feeding on grasses using its tough incisor teeth
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Media ID 6369897
© CHRISTIAN DARKIN/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
America Ancient Early Extinct Fossil Vertebrate Fossils Giant Gigantic Group Herbivore Herbivores Herbivorous Herd Herding Large M Ammals Mammal Marsh Miocene Epoch Moving Pre Historic Rodent Rodentia Rodents Semi Aquatic South American Swamp Venezuela Vertebrates Walking Wet Land Guinea Pig Palaeontology Venezuelan
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This print showcases the remarkable Phoberomys pattersoni, a prehistoric rodent that once roamed the ancient landscapes of Venezuela. The artist's impression vividly depicts this giant rodent, estimated to have reached an astonishing one meter in height and three meters in length, weighing a staggering 700 kilograms. To put it into perspective, this creature weighed approximately 14 times more than its modern-day counterpart, the capybara. Belonging to the Miocene epoch around 8 million years ago, P. pattersoni inhabited a vast river system teeming with wetlands, grasslands, and lagoons near Urumaco. It is believed that these colossal rodents were semi-aquatic creatures who thrived in large herds within the wetlands while using their robust incisor teeth to graze on abundant grasses. The artwork not only offers us a glimpse into an early chapter of Earth's history but also highlights the incredible diversity of mammals during this era. Its presence reminds us of how different our world was millions of years ago when gigantic herbivores like P. pattersoni roamed South America. Thanks to paleontological discoveries such as these fossils found at Urumaco, we can piece together fragments from our planet's past and gain valuable insights into ancient ecosystems and their inhabitants. This awe-inspiring image serves as a testament to both scientific exploration and artistic interpretation – capturing the essence of an extinct species that once dominated its marshy habitat with grandeur and grace.
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