Living Fossil Discovered In The Flesh

Laotian Rock Rat

The year 2006 was a heady one for the Laotian rock rat, a rodent thought to have gone extinct about 11 million years ago.

First, George Schaller, a naturalist with the Wildlife Conservation Society, discovered a Laotian rock rat carcass at a market. Then, a few months later, that startling discovery was followed by the live capture of one of these "living fossils" by retired Florida State professor David Redfield.

Redfield is an avid wildlife observer. He gained the confidence of local Laotian hunters, who helped him track and capture the elusive creature without doing it any harm.

A video that Redfield took of the animal shows a docile creature, about the size of a squirrel, covered with dark, dense fur. Its appearance was described as an example of the "Lazarus effect," a reference to the Biblical character Lazarus, who returned from the dead. Biologists use the term to refer to rare instances when animals that were thought to be extinct turn up alive and well.

These discoveries should stimulate efforts to conserve the pristine forests of Laos -- a treasure trove of new information about past and present biodiversity.

Script by Bob Rhein
Copyright 2007, Catalina Island Conservancy

Discovery Links

To learn more about today’s topic, please explore the links below:

• Florida State University Research News
• Laotian Forests Shrinking
• A Living Fossil