Mammal Believed Extinct For 11 Million Years Found In Laos - AFP

[hatrack]

The first images of a live specimen of a small, furry animal once believed to have gone extinct more than 11 million years ago have been captured during a Southeast Asian expedition led by a retired Florida State University researcher. The remarkable video and photos shot by David Redfield, a professor emeritus of FSU's science education faculty, and Thai wildlife biologist Uthai Treesucon are being hailed as historic images documenting a true "living fossil," the Laotian rock rat.

The Laotian rock rat is so called for its only known habitat - limestone outcroppings in Central Laos - and the appearance of the animal's head and face, which sport long whiskers and beady eyes like those of a rat. To view photographs and video of the Laotian rock rat, visit here.

Redfield's video shows a docile, squirrel-sized animal covered with dark, dense fur and bearing a long tail that's not as bushy as that of a typical squirrel. Perhaps the most striking observation is how the animal walks - like a duck. Clearly not adapted to climbing trees, the rock rat exhibits a duck-like waddle with its hind feet splayed out at an angle to its body.

An avid but otherwise amateur wildlife observer, Redfield has traveled the world since retiring in 1988 from a career in teaching and research at FSU. A passion for bird watching in the 1990s segued into an interest in seeing some of the world's rare mammals in their native habitats. When he learned about the discovery of the Laotian rock rat last year - and that no one had seen a live specimen - Redfield set out on a personal quest to accomplish the feat.

EDIT

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Living_Fossil_Captured_On_Video.html

[Benhurst]

1. Interesting story. Thanks, hatrack. NT

:hi:

[hatrack]

2. No sweat - I love biological nook and cranny stories like these

:toast:

[eppur_se_muova]

3. Link to earlier stories (no live specimens):

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=228&topic_id=19479&mesg_id=19479