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Brachytarsomys Mahajambaensis
''Brachytarsomys mahajambaensis'' is an extinct rodent from northwestern Madagascar. It is known from nine isolated molars found in several sites during fieldwork that started in 2001. First described in 2010, it is placed in the genus ''Brachytarsomys'' together with two larger living species, which may differ in some details of molar morphology. The presence of ''B. mahajambaensis'', a rare element in the local rodent fauna, suggests that the region was previously more humid. Taxonomy Remains of ''Brachytarsomys mahajambaensis'' were found during fieldwork in northwestern Madagascar that started in 2001.Mein et al., 2010, p. 102 The species was described in a 2010 paper by Pierre Mein and colleagues, together with another extinct rodent, ''Nesomys narindaensis''.Mein et al., 2010, p. 101 The specific name, ''mahajambaensis'', refers to Mahajamba Bay, which is close to the places where the species has been found.Mein et al., 2010, p. 103 It is placed in the g ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rodent
Rodents (from Latin , 'to gnaw') are mammals of the order Rodentia (), which are characterized by a single pair of continuously growing incisors in each of the upper and lower jaws. About 40% of all mammal species are rodents. They are native to all major land masses except for New Zealand, Antarctica, and several oceanic islands, though they have subsequently been introduced to most of these land masses by human activity. Rodents are extremely diverse in their ecology and lifestyles and can be found in almost every terrestrial habitat, including human-made environments. Species can be arboreal, fossorial (burrowing), saltatorial/richochetal (leaping on their hind legs), or semiaquatic. However, all rodents share several morphological features, including having only a single upper and lower pair of ever-growing incisors. Well-known rodents include mice, rats, squirrels, prairie dogs, porcupines, beavers, guinea pigs, and hamsters. Rabbits, hares, and pikas, whose i ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
