The bristle-spined rat: A bizarre-looking rodent that’s long baffled scientists

[Still Waters]

You’ve heard of porcupines, you’ve heard of rats, but have you ever seen an animal that’s a confusing mixture of the two… and also looks like someone made it out of the same stuff as a stiff broom? No? Then it’s time to introduce you to the bristle-spined rat.

Also known as thin-spined porcupines, bristle-spined rats (Chaetomys subspinosus) are a species of nocturnal rodent that were first reported in the scientific literature back in 1818, the only species belonging to their genus.

https://www.iflscience.com/meet-the-bristle-spined-rat-a-bizarre-looking-rodent-thats-long-baffled-scientists-75534