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Alormys

Alormys is a genus of extinct murids that lived on Alor Island (Indonesia) during the Holocene period. Their fossil, which indicate that they are large sized rodent, at first was noticed in the Tron Bon Lei rockshelter and also owl roost deposit on Makpan. Superficially, Alormys most closely resembles Milimonggamys (Sumba) and Papagomys (Flores) of the giant murids of Nusa Tenggara. Based on its relatively unspecialized moderately hypsodont teeth and the isotype, Alormys is said to probably have an almost exclusively plants diet. Interestingly, authors from the describing paper wrote that it is possible for the taxa to be still alive and waiting to be discovered although it is very unlikely. The carbon dating from the specimen indicated that they went extinct around 2000 years ago.[1]

References

  1. ^ Louys, Julien (August 2018). "New genus and species of giant rat from Alor Island, Indonesia". Journal of Asia-Pacific Biodiversity. 11 (4) – via Elsevier Science Direct.