alphynix:Deinogalerix koenigswaldi, from the Late Miocene of Gargano, Italy (~11-5 mya). Despite loo
alphynix:Deinogalerix koenigswaldi, from the Late Miocene of Gargano, Italy (~11-5 mya). Despite looking a lot like an opossum, this 60cm (2ft) mammal was actually a type of moonrat, relatives of hedgehogs which lack quills. Since at the time Gargano was an isolated island, Deinogalerix evolved to fill the niche of cat-sized predator – although it would have fallen prey itself to creatures like giant barn owls.It had some particularly weird proportions, with its head making up a full third of its body length (minus the tail). -- source link