Canaanimys

Ca-naan-em-iss.
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Claire Morris

Marine Paleontologist

Claire Morris has dedicated her career to exploring the depths of prehistoric oceans. Her fascination with ancient marine life has led her to discover significant fossils that illuminate the evolution of early sea creatures.

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Name

Canaanimys ‭(‬Canaan mouse‭)‬.

Phonetic

Ca-naan-em-iss.

Named By

Pierre-Olivier Antoine,‭ ‬Laurent Marivaux,‭ ‬Darin A.‭ ‬Croft,‭ ‬Guillaume Billet,‭ ‬Morgan Ganer�d,‭ ‬Carlos Jaramillo,‭ ‬Thomas Martin,‭ ‬Ma�va J.‭ ‬Orliac,‭ ‬Julia Tejada,‭ ‬Ali J.‭ ‬Altamirano,‭ ‬Francis Duranthon,‭ ‬Gr�gory Fanjat,‭ ‬Sonia Rousse‭ & ‬Rodolfo Salas Gismondi‭ ‬-‭ ‬2012.

Classification

Chordata,‭ ‬Mammalia,‭ ‬Rodentia,‭ ‬Hystricomorpha,‭ ‬Hystricognathi,‭ ‬Caviomorpha.

Diet

Herbivore‭?

Species

C.‭ ‬maquiensis‭

Size

Uncertain.

Known locations

Peru,‭ ‬Loreto‭ ‬-‭ ‬Yahuarango Formation.

Time Period

Late Lutetian of the Eocene.

Fossil representation

Teeth.

In Depth

       Canaanimys is one of the earliest known occurrences of the Caviomorpha,‭ ‬a group of rodent mammals that is best known today for including chinchillas and guinea pigs. Another genus from the same formation and named in the same year as Canaanimys is Cachiyacuy.

Further Reading

-‭ ‬Middle Eocene rodents from Peruvian Amazonia reveal the pattern and timing of caviomorph origins and biogeography‭ ‬-‭ ‬Proceedings of the Royal Society B‭ ‬279‭ (‬1732‭)‬:‭ ‬1319‭–‬1326‭ ‬-‭ ‬Pierre-Olivier Antoine,‭ ‬Laurent Marivaux,‭ ‬Darin A.‭ ‬Croft,‭ ‬Guillaume Billet,‭ ‬Morgan Ganer�d,‭ ‬Carlos Jaramillo,‭ ‬Thomas Martin,‭ ‬Ma�va J.‭ ‬Orliac,‭ ‬Julia Tejada,‭ ‬Ali J.‭ ‬Altamirano,‭ ‬Francis Duranthon,‭ ‬Gr�gory Fanjat,‭ ‬Sonia Rousse‭ & ‬Rodolfo Salas Gismondi‭ ‬-‭ ‬2012.

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