Cachiyacuy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cachiyacuy |
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Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Parvorder: | Caviomorpha |
| Genus: | †Cachiyacuy Antoine et al. 2012 |
| Species | |
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Cachiyacuy is an extinct type of rodent that lived a very long time ago. It is known from fossils found in the Loreto area of Peru. Scientists have identified two different kinds of Cachiyacuy: C. contamanensis and C. kummeli.
What Was Cachiyacuy?
Scientists found all the Cachiyacuy fossils in a place called CTA-27 Locality in Peru. These fossils came from a rock layer called the Yahuarango Formation. This means they lived during the late Middle Eocene period, which was about 41 million years ago.
The first species, C. contamanensis, is known from many fossil teeth. The main fossil, called the holotype, is a right second molar (a grinding tooth). Scientists estimate this animal weighed about 80 to 120 grams. That's roughly the size of a small hamster or a large mouse.
The second species, Cachiyacuy kummeli, is known from a left first molar and other teeth. This rodent was much smaller than C. contamanensis. It probably weighed only about 30 to 40 grams. That's like a tiny mouse!
Scientists studied these fossils carefully. They believe Cachiyacuy was one of the very first known caviomorphs. Caviomorphs are a group of rodents that includes animals like guinea pigs, capybaras, and chinchillas.
How Did It Get Its Name?
The name Cachiyacuy was given by a group of scientists led by Pierre-Olivier Antoine in 2012.
The first part of the name, Cachiyacu, comes from a local river in Peru. The second part, cuy, is a word from the Quechua language. It means "guinea pig." So, the name basically means "guinea pig from the Cachiyacu River."
The full name of the first species, C. contamanensis, comes from the city of Contamana. This city is close to where the fossils were found.
The second species, C. kummeli, was named to honor a geologist named Bernhard Kummel. He was important because he described the Cachiyacu area in the 1940s.
See also
In Spanish: Cachiyacuy para niños
