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 PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
Josephoartigasia monesi reconstruction
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Rodentia
Family:	Dinomyidae
Genus:	†Josephoartigasia Mones, 2007
Species
†Josephoartigasia monesi †Josephoartigasia magna

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.