The Easter bunny: Nuralagus rex

[MatthewS.Paleofan]

Easter is almost here. What is a better way to Celebrate a day all about a Giant humanoid Bunny that lays eggs? 

 

Well It would be to Tell you all about the Nuralaqus rex, A species of ancient Rabbit related to the European Rabbit, It lived around 4 million years ago in the Pliocene era on the island of Minorca of the coast off Spain. 

 

Its ancestors arrived to the island 5 million years ago when it was attached to the mainland but the sea soon separated it leaving the island to the rabbit which evolved larger and slower as this island was devoid of predators. The Rabbit grew to be 23 kg (61 Ib) in weight. Twice as big as the largest breed of rabbit today.  They lived mostly on roots and tubers on the island which was a Scrub land habitat. 

 

The animal, which lived about three to five million years ago, had several "odd" features that have never before been seen in rabbits, living or extinct, according to the study.

For one, the giant rabbit's "short and stiff" vertebral column meant it couldn't bunny hop. And the relatively small sizes of sense-related areas of its skull suggested that the animal had small eyes and stubby ears. 

 

Happy Easter!

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Links

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/03/110323-giant-rabbit-minorca-biggest-bunny-science-nuralagus-rex-largest/

http://www.prehistoric-wildlife.com/species/n/nuralagus.html

[ashcraft]

a rabbit version of a cow

[doushantuo]

eabun