Josephoartigasia

Josephoartigasia is an extinct genus of giant rodent from the Early Pliocene to Early Pleistocene, related to the living pacarana. The genus includes the largest known rodent, Josephoartigasia monesi.[1] The two species would have resembled gigantic pacarana, or capybaras the size of cows, with an estimated weight of 1,000 kg (1.0 t; 1.1 short tons; 0.98 long tons).[2]

Josephoartigasia
Temporal range: Chapadmalalan-Uquian
~4–2 Ma
↓
Josephoartigasia monesi reconstruction
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Dinomyidae
Genus: †Josephoartigasia
Mones, 2007
Species

As the first specimen was found in Uruguay, it was named in honour of José Artigas, the libertador of the country.[2]

References
  1. "Biggest rodent 'shrinks in size'". BBC News. 2008-05-21.
  2. Rinderknecht, Andrés (2008). "Nueva especie de roedor fósil: Josephoartigasia monesi". Museo Nacional de Historia Natural y Antropología (in Spanish). Uruguay. Significado del nombre: Josephoartigasia en honor a José Artigas y monesi por el paleontólogo uruguayo Álvaro Mones.


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