Creature
Fast Facts
Introducing you to extinct species.
THE
VESPUCCI'S RODENT
1. The Vespucci's rodent, Noronhomys vespuccii, is an extinct rat species from the islands of Fernando de Noronha off northeastern Brazil. 2. Amerigo Vespucci landed on the island of Fernando de Noronha on August 10, 1503. and wrote in his journal that he saw "very big rats and lizards with two tails, and some snakes". 3. Storrs L. Olson found fossils of a large rat and confirmed the new genus in 1999 validating Vespucci's journal entry. The still common Noronha skink was probably the lizard noted in his journal. 4. Its closest relatives, the Holochilus and Lundomys, lived a semi-aquatic lifestyle similar to that of the capybara, but the bones of Vespucci's rodent indicate it gave up the aquatic lifestyle when it arrived on the islands. 5. It had high-crowned molars & several ridges on the skull that held strong chewing muscles. 6. It is thought that this terrestrial rat was probably brought to the island of Fernando de Noronha by drifting debris. 7. Though relatively common in 1503, the Vespucci's rodent soon disappeared after the accidental introduction of the black rat and the house mouse which competed for food and may have brought diseases to the native island wildlife like Vespucci's rodent.
Extinction
Cometh
Facing the light at the end of the tunnel
EXTINCTION DATE
1503
Although recorded in Amerigo Vespucci's journal upon his visit to the island of Fernando de Noronha on August 10, 1503, the Vespucci's rodent seemed to go extinct soon thereafter. The introduction of black rats and the house mouse onto the island added a new hurdle for Vespucci's rodents, competition for food and new diseases. Although very little is known about this rodent, fossils and bones have been collected from sites on the northeastern end of the island. In fact, Vespucci's rodent wasn't declared a new species until 1999. Although Jurassic Park is fiction, scientists are working on several de-extinction projects. In fact, in 2003 scientists did bring back the extinct Pyrenean ibex, a type of wild goat, for 7 minutes before it died, showing de-extinction is possible. The Vespucci's rodent would probably not be a good candidate, due to a lack of soft tissue although DNA samples from bones and skull fragments could possibly be used. If it was brought back from extinction, would it be able to survive on its home island of Fernando de Noronha off the eastern coast of Brazil? The fact that black rats and mice still dwell there, might make a return to the island difficult.
COMING
SOON
The Wake Island rail's Lazarus Tale has yet to be written. Would it be able to thrive again on Wake Island if it did return?
More to Explore
All answers lead to more questions
Graphic about the
Vespucci's Rodent
Image from Paleo Zoo Brazil
VIDEOS & ADDITIONAL INFO
Paleo Zoo Brazil - Giant Rats Info
Amerigo Vespucci Short Biography Video
Amerigo Vespucci Mini Bio - Video
Gari the Pet Capybara - Animal Planet Video