Dinomys

/ˈdaɪnoməs/ noun

Definition

A genus of large extinct ground-dwelling rodent-like mammals that lived during the Miocene epoch.

Etymology

From Greek 'dino-' (terrible/great) + 'mys' (mouse/rat). Named to reflect these creatures as 'giant rats' compared to modern rodents.

Kelly Says

These were rodents that grew to enormous sizes—imagine a guinea pig the size of a large dog, and you'd have dinomys, proving that rodents were once major players in prehistoric ecosystems!

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