Prehistoric “Giant” Previously Unknown to Science Revealed from Fossil Discovery in Thailand

Scientists have discovered new evidence of a previously unknown species of giant rodent that once roamed southern Thailand. The discovery, based on a pair of ancient fossil teeth, includes a molar and an incisor, and has identified an ancient mammal that weighed close to 30 kilograms. This species, referred to as a "giant rat," represents one of the largest creatures of its kind from the Paleogene period. The discovery raises questions about how the ancestors of modern rodents grew to such sizes.

• The fossils were found in a coal mine in Thailand’s southern Krabi province.
• They were initially thought to be bones but were later identified as a rodent's tooth.
• The species belongs to a different family of rodents, the Ischyromyidae, compared to today's largest capybaras.
• The new species was named Yakamys sirindhornae in tribute to Princess Sirindhorn.
• The discovery is detailed in a study published in Scientific Reports.

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