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Plains viscacha rat
Order : Rodentia
Suborder : Hystricognathi
Family : Octodontidae
Genus : Tympanoctomys
Facts about the genus Tympanoctomys, the plains viscacha rat
The sperm head of Tympanoctomys is is by far the largest naturally occurring in mammals, and its size is causally related to the double genome size it has to accomodate. (Full text)
The generic name Tympanoctomys is derived from the Greek words tympa meaning 'drum', in reference to the large tympanic bullae, and Octomys, a 'mouse with 8-shaped molars'. (Full text)