Almost 100 years ago astrange mousewas retrieved by scientists from a current in Ethiopia that had water supply - immune fur and retentive , goofball - comparable feet . The semi - aquatic animate being surprise its captors as very few rodents in Africa display adaptations check for a watery lifestyle . Over 90 years afterward the specimen remain the only one of its genus ever collected and can be witnessed by those golden enough to have access code to Chicago ’s Field Museum where it ’s housed . As one of the rarified animals ever line , it ’s thought the stream - dwell shiner is now out but novel research bring out in theZoological Journal of the Linnean Societyhas verified some of its close cousins , including two species young to scientific discipline .
The study look at two genera of mouse , NilopegamysandColomys . Nilopegamys , which intend " mouse from the source of the Nile " is our lone specimen hole out up in Chicago whileColomysis an easier - to - come - by genus find throughout the Congo Basin . Translating roughly to “ stilt mouse,”Colomysalso sport stretch feet which are primed for wading in shallow streams . Here they hunt for piddle - dwelling louse , stood up on their haunches like a kangaroo . For a pocket-sized gnawer , they have surprisingly gravid brains that allow them to process the sensory overburden experienced when fish with sensible whiskers in running water .
The researchers were even able to reap some DNA from the dried tissue of the 93 - year - oldNilopegamysspecimen to liken against their new data . Working with such an old specimen requires special discourse , as “ old-fashioned deoxyribonucleic acid ” such as this can very easily become contaminated . astonishingly , the squad got it to play on their first try and confirm thatNilopegamysis indeed a baby genus toColomys , its closest relation .
" These two chemical group of mice have been confused with one another for a century , " said Julian Kerbis Peterhans , Field Museum research worker and one of the paper ’s authors , in astatement . " They ’ve been so tough for so long , they ’re some of the rare creature in the world , so it ’s exciting to eventually figure out their family tree . ”
