New pictures of 'living fossil' (BBC)

[eppur_se_muova]

A rodent that "came back from the dead" after supposedly going extinct millions of years ago appears to be more common than previously thought.

The Laotian rock rat, known locally as the kha-nyou, was identified as a species new to science in 2005.
***
The creature was originally thought to belong to an entirely new rodent family more closely related to rodents in Africa and South America than in Asia.

However, after a detailed search through the fossil records of the Natural History Museum in London, the mammal is now believed to be the sole survivor of an ancient group of rodents that died out 11 million years ago.

***
more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4884052.stm


I wonder how many more "living fossils" we'll discover before we manage to wipe them all out?

[benburch]

1. Do they taste like chicken? nt

[Chiyo-chichi]

2. Rodents of Unusual Size

[PDX Bara]

3. Second Picture

What is that pink thing in the second picture? Is it a coelacanth?

[architect359]

4. Maybe a shark?

Kind of looks like it from the body shape and the tail fin...

[NickB79]

8. It looks like a nurse shark

From the fins and wide head...

[eppur_se_muova]

5. Probably a giant river catfish. These are in danger too.

See http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/11/photogalleries/giantcatfish/

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/11/1118_031118_giantcatfish.html

Critters like this are coming to light as expanding populations push into their habitats. So as soon as they are known to the wider world they are "under pressure" and losing habitat fast.


edited to add a link

[Dead_Parrot]

6. The one in that top pic is certainly in danger...

...it's not wearing a helmet.

[eppur_se_muova]

7. "Nanny State" enabler! nt