# Petromus

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***Petromus*** is a genus of [hystricognath](/source/Hystricognath) [rodents](/source/Rodents) that contains the [dassie rat](/source/Dassie_rat) *(Petromus typicus)* of southwestern [Africa](/source/Africa), the only extant member of this group and the entire family [Petromuridae](/source/Petromuridae).

Two fossil species are known from the [Pliocene](/source/Pliocene), with the oldest being *[Petromus antiquus](/source/Petromus_antiquus)* of the Early Pliocene.[1]

## References

1. Sénégas, F. (2004). ["A New Species of Petromus (Rodentia, Hystricognatha, Petromuridae) from the Early Pliocene of South Africa and Its Paleoenvironmental Implications"](https://www.jstor.org/stable/4524764). *Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology*. **24** (3): 757–763. [doi:10.1671/0272-4634(2004)024\[0757:ANSOPR](https://doi.org/10.1671/0272-4634(2004)024%5B0757:ANSOPR%5D2.0.CO;2)2.0.CO;2]. [JSTOR 4524764](https://www.jstor.org/stable/4524764)

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