Published on January 13, 2006

The Mineral Resources Department has discovered an unknown species of carnivorous animal that apparently became extinct about 10 million years ago.

The species had a dog-like head but bear-like body.

“We have discovered a species previously unknown,” Dr Yaowa-lak Chaimanee, a senior geologist at the department, said yesterday.

She said her team named the species Maemogcyon potisati Pigne et al 2006, after five years of research, with a French expert, and had confirmed that there was no previous record of the species.

The fossil, whose origins trace back more than 13 million years, was discovered at Mae Moh lignite mine in Lampang.

“This species is named after the Mineral Resources Department’s director-general Somsak Potisati, for his continued support for geological work,” Yaowa-lak said.

Strangely, the spe-cies can be compared with the Malayan sun bear which still exists. But unlike the Malay-an sun bear, the extinct species could not stand on two feet. The Mae-mohcyon potisati Pigne is the first fossil of a carnivorous animal to be found in the Mae Mon area. Before this, fossil discoveries were limited to herbivorous species only.

Somsak said he felt honoured that his name was used for the new species. “I like knowing there’s a species named after me,” he said.

Somsak said he previously maintained a policy of no species being named after the director general or deputy directors-general of any department, to fend off criticism.

“This species has dog-like features. So, I think it might not be appropriate to use other [important] figures’ names” Som-sak said.

The Mineral Resources Department will put the Maemohcyon potisati Pigne on display at its Geology Museum on Rama VI Road for Children’s Day this weekend.

Janjira Pongrai

The Nation

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