A team of researchers from different scientific institutions in Indonesia, Australia and the US has announced the discovery of a new species of mammal in a remote mountainous region of the island of Sulawesi, in Indonesia. According to these experts in the Journal of Mammalogy , the animal, about 250 grams and 45 centimeters long, resembles a rat in appearance, but has such surprising anatomical characteristics that it has given rise to a new genus.
Thus, Hyorhinomys stuempkei , as this rodent has been called, has a striking and prominent snout, similar to that of a pig, huge ears that occupy more than 20% of its head and a small mouth from which very long teeth protrude. In fact, the mouth has such a limited capacity for distension that it probably feeds by "sucking" its prey, such as worms and other small invertebrates, from the ground. Furthermore, the configuration of its hind limbs suggests it could be a good jumper and its distinctive pubic hair has so far only been seen on an Australian marsupial known as a potoroo.
Evolutionary biologist Kevin Rowe of the Victoria Museum in Australia, who was involved in the 2013 discovery of Hyorhinomys stuempkei , notes that the new "rat" appears loosely related to some shrews.
