Easter Surprise: World's Oldest Rabbit Bones Found

[n2doc]

Bones that a scientist picked up on a trip to India (including these ankle bones, far left) were later deemed to be the oldest known rabbit bones ever found, a new study says.

The ancient rabbit would have likely looked similar to a modern-day jackrabbit (right).

The new bones also show that advanced rabbit-like features evolved earlier than thought—as far back as the early Eocene, which lasted from 54.8 to 33.7 million years ago, experts say.

Bones photographs courtesy Rose et al., Proceedings of the Royal Society
of London B, 2008; Jackrabbit photograph by Jeremy Woodhouse/Photodisc/Getty Images

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/bigphotos/36109518.html

[annabanana]

1. It'd be more exciting to the general public if they were

GIANT rabbit bones

[Forkboy]

2. Bugsasaurus.

[dixiegrrrrl]

3. oh no ! You mean that

The Easter Bunny is dead?
SOB !!!!!:cry: :cry: :cry:

[zanne]

5. THE EASTER BUNNY IS NOT DEAD!

Don't even think it! It's okay, sweetie...just go and chew off those chocolate bunny ears,now.

[DemBones DemBones]

6. A friend of mine once served roast rabbit for Easter dinner. Her kids

all said, "Mommmm!" She said, "What, isn't it appropriate?" :evilgrin:

Don't worry, they were all old enough not to be traumatized.

[HereSince1628]

4. What part of the figure on the right is implied by the bones?

I understand that these bones may reveal something of the extent of the articulation, the size of ligaments running over them, etc. But frankly, the thing about the critter on the right that everyone notices is the ears.

Is it really possible to know something about the soft tissue of the auricle from the shape of a lower leg bone?