Prehistoric ‘giant rat’ found in Thailand from fossil teeth

In 2004, two fossilised teeth were discovered at a coal mine in southern Krabi province, Thailand, by geologist Pannipa Tian. Initially misidentified as a bone due to its large size, the teeth were later determined to belong to a previously unknown species of prehistoric rodent, weighing approximately 30 kilograms. The animal, described as a "giant rat", belonged to the extinct Ischyromyidae family and represents one of the largest known rodents from the Paleogene period, offering new insights into early rodent evolution.

The discovery was published in the journal Scientific Reports and the species was named Yakamys sirindhornae in honor of Thailand's Princess Sirindhorn.