microrobert
07-27-2013, 05:29 AM
Newly Discovered Hero Shrew Has Extraordinary Strength
http://www.redorbit.com/media/uploads/2013/07/thors-hero-shrew-617x416.jpg
Scientists say they have discovered a new species of one of the most bizarre mammals on the planet.
A team from Chicago’s Field Museum (http://fieldmuseum.org/), along with international collaborators, said in the journal Biology Letters (http://rsbl.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/9/5/20130486.full?sid=fb300632-1618-45ed-be29-f0eb4f67018a) that they have identified a new species of Hero Shrew (http://www.redorbit.com/topics/shrew/). This new species, named Scutisorex thori, possesses characteristics that have allowed scientists to come up with a novel hypothesis for the function of the animals’ crazy lower spine.
Hero Shrews have interlocking vertebrae that render the spine four to five times more robust relative to body mass. Scientists have not witnessed this unique characteristic in another mammal. This arrangement of the spine allows the animal to have extraordinary strength.
Tiny Hero Shrew Has Extraordinary Strength - Science News - redOrbit (http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/1112906606/hero-shrew-species-discovered-in-democratic-republic-of-congo-072513/)
http://www.redorbit.com/media/uploads/2013/07/thors-hero-shrew-617x416.jpg
Scientists say they have discovered a new species of one of the most bizarre mammals on the planet.
A team from Chicago’s Field Museum (http://fieldmuseum.org/), along with international collaborators, said in the journal Biology Letters (http://rsbl.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/9/5/20130486.full?sid=fb300632-1618-45ed-be29-f0eb4f67018a) that they have identified a new species of Hero Shrew (http://www.redorbit.com/topics/shrew/). This new species, named Scutisorex thori, possesses characteristics that have allowed scientists to come up with a novel hypothesis for the function of the animals’ crazy lower spine.
Hero Shrews have interlocking vertebrae that render the spine four to five times more robust relative to body mass. Scientists have not witnessed this unique characteristic in another mammal. This arrangement of the spine allows the animal to have extraordinary strength.
Tiny Hero Shrew Has Extraordinary Strength - Science News - redOrbit (http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/1112906606/hero-shrew-species-discovered-in-democratic-republic-of-congo-072513/)