Pennatomys nivalis is an extinct oryzomyine rodent from the islands of Sint Eustatius, Saint Kitts, and Nevis in the Lesser Antilles (range pictured). It is known from skeletal remains found in Amerindian archeological sites on all three islands, with dates ranging from 790–520 BCE to 900–1200 CE. No live specimens are known, but there are several historical records of rodents from Saint Kitts and Nevis that could conceivably refer to Pennatomys. The animal apparently belongs to a group within the tribe Oryzomyini that includes many other island-dwelling species. Pennatomys nivalis was a medium-sized species without many distinctive adaptations. The nasal bones were short and blunt-ended. The zygomatic plate, a bony plate at the side of the skull, was broad. The bony palate was long and flat. The root of the lower incisor was housed in a bony protuberance, the capsular process. The molars were low-crowned and possessed accessory crests such as mesolophs. The upper molars all had three roots.
Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennatomys_nivalis
_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:
1799:
French soldiers at Fort Julien, near the Egyptian port city of Rashid, uncovered the Rosetta Stone, an essential key in the decipherment of ancient Egyptian scripts. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosetta_Stone
1870:
Manitoba and the Northwest Territories were established following the transfer of Rupert's Land and the North-Western Territory from the Hudson's Bay Company to Canada. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manitoba
2016:
The Peace at Home Council, a faction of the Turkish Armed Forces, staged a coup d'état attempt against the government and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_Turkish_coup_d%27%C3%A9tat_attempt
_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:
artful: 1. Characterized by, or performed with, cleverness or contrivance; clever, ingenious. 2. Not naturally produced; artificial; imitative. 3. Exhibiting or using much art or skill; dexterous; skilful. 4. (by extension) Skilful at using dishonest or unfair means to achieve a purpose; crafty, cunning. 5. (obsolete) Knowledgeable about the liberal arts; learned, wise. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/artful
___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:
A painting is finished when the artist says it is finished. --Rembrandt https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Rembrandt