Sivacanthion
| Sivacanthion Temporal range: middle Miocene | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Hystricidae |
| Genus: | Sivacanthion Colbert, 1933 |
| Species | |
| |
Sivacanthion is an extinct genus of rodent from the Miocene of Pakistan. The build of Sivacanthion is very like that of a modern Old World porcupine, although details of the anatomy suggest that it is not a direct ancestor but a side branch of the family tree. The spines are modified hairs that act as a defensive mechanism. It belongs to a small group that are known in the Indian sub-continent - all the other phiomorphs are restricted to Africa.
Sources
- World Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs & Prehistoric Creatures - Dougal Dixon
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