Dinosaurs are not the only prehistoric animals being unearthed lately, as scientists have recovered fossils belonging to a hairy rat-like creature that lived more than 100 million years ago.
Scientists announced on Wednesday, Oct. 14 that a set of fossils in mint condition was found near Cuenca, Spain. The recovered fossils belong to a mammal called Spinolestes xenarthrosus. The find included preserved fur with spines like those of a hedgehog, parts of the skin, a rounded external ear, a complete skeletal frame and even liver and lung soft tissues.
The preserved spine and hair follicles resembled those of modern day porcupines, leading to the belief that the prehistoric rodent had the same defense mechanism as today's spiny mammals.
"We are familiar with these characteristics in modern spiny mice from Africa and Asia Minor," explained Thomas Martin, a paleontologist at the University of Bonn in Germany. He said that if a predator grabs the rodent by the back, the spines detach from the skin to enable the mouse to escape, leaving the attacker with nothing more than a mouthful of spines.
There were even indications that the creature suffered from a fungal infection, based on its abnormally truncated hairs. Scientists concluded that it most likely suffered from dermatophytosis, which mammals today are still prone to contracting.
Researchers are delighted at this rare and nearly intact find. The discovery, they said, can provide a clearer insight on early mammals.
"The discovery of Spinolestes is extremely exciting for me because it provides information on structures that we believed would never be accessible," said Martin.
The Spinolestes - the name means "spiny robber" - lived in the Cretaceous Period. It was around 9-1/2 inches long from nose to tail and weighed about 0.11 to 0.15 pounds. The furry mammal lived in wetlands shared with other prehistoric animals and consumed a diet of mostly insects and worms.
"It would look like [a] small rat, except it has a more pointy nose," said Zhe-Xi Luo, a paleontologist from the University of Chicago.
It may resemble an African spiny mouse, but it is not closely related to any group of mammals living today. The Spinolestes belonged to the eutriconodonts, a primitive mammal group that lived as early as 170 million years ago before dying out 66 million years ago.
The discovery, along with pictures of the fossils and a graphic representation of the Spinolestes, was published in the journal Nature.
