Thor's hero shrew (Scutisorex thori) and its sister species, the hero shrew (Scutisorex somereni), are the only known mammal species with interlocking vertebrae. Thor's hero shrew, which is indigenous to the Democratic Republic of Congo, has eight lower vertebrae - two fewer than its sister species - and a smaller skull. Its vertebrae have fewer bony offshoots, and its ribs are flatter and sturdier. Similar to the hero shrew, Thor's hero shrew has an incredibly strong back, approximately four times stronger than that of a human when accounting for size. The animal is smaller than one foot (0.
Thor's hero shrew is a mammal that measures 30 meters in length and weighs only 1.7 ounces (48 g). It is known to be less flexible than other mammals, and was first documented in Biology Letters by a group led by vertebrate biologist William T.
In
...July 2013, Stanley discovered a new type of shrew called Thor's hero shrew. This happened while he was dissecting a specimen collected in the village of Baleko. The shrew was named after the Norse god Thor, who was associated with strength. The structure of the shrew's cranium and vertebrae suggest it may be an evolutionary intermediate between hero shrews and other shrew species. Thor's hero shrew's existence may help explain the evolutionary process of hero shrews, which have been cited as an example of punctuated equilibrium. According to Stanley, punctuated equilibrium is a theory that suggests some species evolve rapidly in short bursts after long periods of stability.
The theory of gradual or incremental evolution is supported by the presence of an intermediate species in the hero shrew's extreme specialization. Thor's hero shrew sheds
light on the potential advantages of having interlocking vertebrae during evolution. Both species of hero shrew may use their sturdy backs to hunt for worms by pushing under rocks or logs, or to search for larvae between palm leaves and trunks of trees. However, this behavior has yet to be witnessed in their natural habitat.
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