Cercolabidae

/ˌsɜrkoʊləˈbaɪdiː/ noun

Definition

The family of spiny rats that includes the genus Cercolabes, South American rodents with prehensile tails and spiny pelage.

Etymology

From Cercolabes plus -idae, the taxonomic suffix for animal families. The family is named after its most notable genus.

Kelly Says

Cercolabidae is a family of rodents that almost nobody knows about, but they're incredibly specialized—they've evolved prehensile tails like primates and spines like porcupines, making them one of nature's most cosmetically confused animals.

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