Scientists have discovered an extreme species of rodent in Indonesia unlike any other on Earth; an almost toothless, worm-eating rat unable to gnaw or chew. The discovery of Paucidentomys vermidax illustrates how the process of evolution can lead to the loss of previously successful traits in species faced with new opportunities.
“There are more than 2,200 rodent species in the world and until this discovery all had molars in the back of their mouth and incisors at the front,” said Dr. Kevin Rowe, Senior Curator of Mammals, Museum Victoria, and member of the team of scientists who discovered the new species…