Josephoartigasia

Josephoartigasia is an extinct genus of giant rodent from the Pliocene. It is related to the living pacarana. The genus includes the largest known rodent, Josephoartigasia monesi.^[1]

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
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Rodentia
Family:	Dinomyidae
Genus:	†Josephoartigasia Mones, 2007
Species
†Josephoartigasia monesi †Josephoartigasia magna

The two species would have looked like gigantic pacarana, or capybaras the size of cows. However, Dr Virginie Millien, from McGill University in Montreal, said the mathematical models originally used to calculate the rodent's mass from its skull probably overestimated its body size.^[1]

A recent report said it had big front teeth, which it might have used for defence.^[2]