'Orangish' critter found living along rivers in Amazon rainforest. It's a new species

[Judi Lynn]

‘Orangish’ critter found living along rivers in Amazon rainforest. It’s a new species

BY BRENDAN RASCIUS
OCTOBER 19, 2023 3:16 PM

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Researchers recently discovered a small, “orangish” creature dwelling near the Amazon River. The animal, a type of rice rat, was found in the heavily deforested Brazilian states of Pará and Rondônia, according to a study published Oct. 12 in the journal Systematics and Biodiversity.

Measuring about 3.5 inches, the rat is distinguished by its ginger-colored fur, researchers from various Brazilian universities said.

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So far it’s only been found near the Amazon River, researchers said. Photo from the journal Systematics and Biodiversity

DNA analysis revealed that it belongs to the genus Oecomys Thomas, a family of South American rats currently known to contain 19 species. It was given the name jamari in a nod to the Jamari National Forest, a swath of federally protected land within Brazil’s broader Amazonia biome.

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