Prehistoric rodent (Ailuravus macrurus) fossil. Ailuravus is one of the earliest known rodents. It lived during the Eocene period in what is now Europe, 48 million years ago. Ailuravus is believed to have lived in forests and may have been arboreals. This fossil dates back to the Middle Eocene period, 47 million years ago. Found in Messel, Germany.

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Photo credit: © PHILIPPE PSAILA/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
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Keywords: -, ailuravus, animal, arboreal, extinct, fauna, fossil, fossilised, fossilized, fossils, ischyromyidae, macrurus, mammal, mammals, messel, nature, palaeontological, palaeontology, palaeozoological, palaeozoology, paleontological, paleontology, paleozoological, paleozoology, prehistoric, prehistory, rodent, rodents, squirrel-, wildlife, zoological, zoology