Posted on 06/27/2014 5:36:33 PM PDT by blueplum
(Reuters) - A new mammal discovered in the remote desert of western Africa resembles a long-nosed mouse in appearance but is more closely related genetically to elephants, a California scientist who helped identify the tiny creature said on Thursday.
The new species of elephant shrew, given the scientific name Macroscelides micus, inhabits an ancient volcanic formation in Namibia and sports red fur that helps it blend in with the color of its rocky surroundings, said John Dumbacher, one of a team of biologists behind the discovery.
Genetic testing of the creature which weighs up to an ounce (28 grams) and measures 7.5 inches (19 cm) in length, including its tail revealed its DNA to be more akin to much larger mammals.
"It turns out this thing that looks and acts like shrews that evolved in Africa is more closely related to elephants,"
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
It’s cute!
Not the same thing, no backbone.
and?
ROFLMAO!!! Good one.
Where are the tusks? Does it eat peanuts too?
A gene here, a gene there...
Most likely no relation to elephants.
Remember the time when taxonomists thought that the giant panda was a giant raccoon rather than a bear?
If you put him in the zoo in Wash DC, he lets everyone punch him in the shoulder.
Later he begs to go to lunch with those same people.
He swells with pride if photographed with them.
Did they find it near Disneyland or Disney Studios?
God created elephants so that rinos can take over.
Why do scientist have to come with such stupid sounding names?
and.. I’m interested in how Darwinists incorporate this cute as a bug little critter into the elephant evolutionary tree. It’s one thing to leap from gorillas to human, but which came first - the elephant, or the mouse with elephant DNA that acts like an antelope?
and if the elephant (or mouse) DNA branched into so many variations, why didn’t gorilla DNA? (I know the Christian answer but I’m always interested in the evolutionist perspective)
African Scientists Develop Shrink Ray!
Evo answer would be: LUCK
What was he doing in California???
Thanks for prompting me to look that up! I’d forgotten about that.
Yes. DNA sequencing did kind of mess up that whole ‘tree of life’ thing a bit, didn’t it?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.