Neochoerus pinckneyi

Neochoerus pinckneyi
Temporal range: Pleistocene
Paleoart of Neochoerus pinckneyi
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Caviidae
Genus: †Neochoerus
Species:
†N. pinckneyi
Binomial name
†Neochoerus pinckneyi
(Hay, 1923)

Neochoerus pinckneyi, commonly called Pinckney's capybara, was a North American species of capybara. While capybaras originated in South America, formation of the Isthmus of Panama three million years ago allowed some of them to migrate north as part of the Great American Interchange. Capybaras and porcupines are the only caviomorph rodents that reached temperate North America during this exchange (a much greater diversity of North American rodents invaded South America). At 90–113 kilograms (198–249 lb), 40% larger than the living capybara,[1] N. pinckneyi is one of the largest rodent species ever discovered, surpassed only by Josephoartigasia monesi, several species of Phoberomys, and possibly the Pleistocene giant beaver.[2] Remains have been found in southern North America, from Arizona to Florida to South Carolina,[3] and throughout Central America.

References

  1. ^ Kurtén, Björn and Anderson, Elaine. 1980. Pleistocene Mammals of North America. Columbia University Press, New York, p. 274. ISBN 0-231-03733-3
  2. ^ Pleistocene Fauna of South Texas
  3. ^ Baskin, Jon A.; Thomas, Ronny G. "South Texas and the Great American Interchange" (PDF). Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies Transactions. 57: 37–45. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-07-18.