Cachiyacuy

Kak-e-ya-cu-e.
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Benjamin Gutierrez

Vertebrate Paleontologist

Benjamin Gutierrez is a leading expert on dinosaurs, particularly the mighty theropods. His fieldwork in South America has uncovered new species and provided insights into dinosaur social structures.

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Name

Cachiyacuy ‭(‬Cachiyacu cuy‭ ‬/‭ ‬Cachiyacu guinea pig‭)‬.

Phonetic

Kak-e-ya-cu-e.

Named By

Pierre-Olivier Antoine,‭ ‬Laurent Marivaux,‭ ‬Darin A.‭ ‬Croft,‭ ‬Guillaume Billet,‭ ‬Morgan Ganer�d,‭ ‬Carlos Jaramillo,‭ ‬Thomas Martin,‭ ‬Ma�va J.‭ ‬Orliac,‭ ‬Julia Tejada,‭ ‬Ali J.‭ ‬Altamirano,‭ ‬Francis Duranthon,‭ ‬Gr�gory Fanjat,‭ ‬Sonia Rousse‭ & ‬Rodolfo Salas Gismondi‭ ‬-‭ ‬2012.

Classification

Chordata,‭ ‬Mammalia,‭ ‬Rodentia,‭ ‬Hystricomorpha,‭ ‬Hystricognathi,‭ ‬Caviomorpha.

Diet

Herbivore‭?

Species

C.‭ ‬contamanensis‭

Size

Uncertain.

Known locations

Peru,‭ ‬Loreto‭ ‬-‭ ‬Yahuarango Formation.

Time Period

Late Lutetian of the Eocene.

Fossil representation

Mostly teeth.

In Depth

       Cachiyacuy is recognised as one of the earliest known occurrences of the Caviomorpha,‭ ‬a group of rodent mammals that is best known today for including chinchillas and guinea pigs.‭ ‬Another caviomorph from‭ ‬the same Formation as well as being named in the same year as Cachiyacuy is Canaanimys.

Further Reading

-‭ ‬Middle Eocene rodents from Peruvian Amazonia reveal the pattern and timing of caviomorph origins and biogeography‭ ‬-‭ ‬Proceedings of the Royal Society B‭ ‬279‭ (‬1732‭)‬:‭ ‬1319‭–‬1326‭ ‬-‭ ‬Pierre-Olivier Antoine,‭ ‬Laurent Marivaux,‭ ‬Darin A.‭ ‬Croft,‭ ‬Guillaume Billet,‭ ‬Morgan Ganer�d,‭ ‬Carlos Jaramillo,‭ ‬Thomas Martin,‭ ‬Ma�va J.‭ ‬Orliac,‭ ‬Julia Tejada,‭ ‬Ali J.‭ ‬Altamirano,‭ ‬Francis Duranthon,‭ ‬Gr�gory Fanjat,‭ ‬Sonia Rousse‭ & ‬Rodolfo Salas Gismondi‭ ‬-‭ ‬2012.

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