Why Did These Ancient Gophers Have Horns?

[@scussrubbish7608]

Such a tragedy we no longer have real-life Nidorans.

[@xX_wiLLiam_Xx]

Indeed

[@themagichatter1054]

Truely we are in the darkest timeline.

[@RikoJAmado]

You comment is the only Nidoran reference. This comment board disappoints me.

[@Travissquid18]

This guy gets it

[@threeomgthree]

Lolllll

[@raijinoflimgrave8708]

If this channel has taught me anything: everything has had a giant version, or some crazy appendage.

[@tommyswoodpileadventuresan5940]

Caleb Fairfield even humans?

[@alformodoritos2076]

Is a crocodile size (or nearly) ant been discovered yet? 😂🐜

[@bird2034]

Tommy's Woodpile Adventures And Tall Tales Foot thumb

[@krankarvolund7771]

@@alformodoritos2076 Okay not everything, ants have appeared after the Carboniferous and the giant insects, so they're not gonna be this size ^^

[@NukelearFallout]

Just remember, there were possibly millions of dinosaurs, and we've only discovered a mere 700 skeletal remains we've fully identified and studied. That number of species doesn't compare to all the species in the time periods before that, and the ones before that. The history of our planet is over 4 billion years old, plenty of time for evolutionary traits of all sorts -- and evolution and adaption still happen to this day. On top of discovering old deceased species, we find hundreds of new species every year; of course it doesn't amount to how many we have yet to find, and how many have gone extinct in today's time period before we caused a rampant decline in species. Anyhow, now imagine the vastness of infinite space, where we have discovered clusters of galaxies -- and we've only discovered a over a mere 10 thousand planets/stars. Just an interesting thought, and there's more to these ideas.

[@ian_b]

"What kind of geology joke is this, Holmes?" "Sedimentary, my dear Watson."

[@Infernoraptor]

My God, this one is amazing

[@pierreabbat6157]

My sediments exactly.

[@kinkybon-bon5346]

Metamorphicly perfect

[@AskMia411]

Underrated comment!

[@emilybeckstrand5413]

They were the prehistoric equivolent of stray legos on the ground. Unweary predators and passersby would know true pain after stepping on this fellow.

[@november8039]

Ah yes, the often overlooked Lego niche. Occupied today by sea urchins and hedgehogs.

[@IrisGlowingBlue]

+

[@epauletshark3793]

And they were mobile. They could intentionally move under the feet of predators.

[@leeleaman8057]

@@epauletshark3793I just pictured Lego’s with that ability … the horror

[@slappy8941]

"equivolent" 😂😂😂

[@TragoudistrosMPH]

Recognition of the indigenous groups is so great. People only know the few large names, forgetting the other groups that existed. I like learning who else lived there.

[@stringbeans7342]

If rodents still had horns it would have made Groundhog Day even more interesting.

[@lahavmorris9919]

They would be called hornhogs!

[@lahavmorris9919]

It it would become hornhog day!

[@farkasmactavish]

Or Caddyshack.

[@randiplays1980]

Hahaha. U guys just made my day.

[@josiahhockenberry9846]

Hmm... Would be hard to improve upon one of the greatest movies of all time but, I think that would work. Maybe there could be a fight scene between man and rodent right after Murray takes of with the truck and just before he drives off the cliff. 😂

[@WhackBytch256]

"Gopher it" Oh Kallie... 🤦🏻‍♀️

[@kinkhoest]

"Just" a few million years ago.... Feels like yesterday hahaha!

[@heinuchung8680]

kinkhoest “said earth”

[@Ratciclefan]

I think modern humans already existed by then, but I might be wrong :P

[@elijahmikhail4566]

Juan D'Marco Other Homo species would've. Anatomically modern humans, however, are commonly accepted to have risen just 250000 years ago.

[@kinkhoest]

Of course I understand in the grand scheme of things, a few million years is nothing. But for a human being to comprehend the length of a million years is already challenging. Let's say a million years is around 50K human generations... I know who my great great grandfather was but earlier than this? No clue.....

[@pchilds80]

@@Ratciclefan not modern humans I think... Though I'm not an expert lol

[@dracdrum]

It also would have made it harder for snakes to swallow it.

[@Koshiplaygames]

dracdrum no because snakes can just avoid the horns while eating the by expanding there throats correct me if iam wrong

[@noahsaiz7536]

Mahnoor Naz how you gonna eat a horn

[@Koshiplaygames]

Noah Saiz snakes dont really eat there food they have acid that is way more potent then humans so they dont chew

[@seretith3513]

That still would make a Dead Rodent

[@Rusk-zk2ch]

Mahnoor Naz Mahnoor Naz I have two snakes and there’s a cap for how large they can expand around prey. For example, neither of my snakes can swallow prey back-to-front because the limbs don’t bend down against the body. A horn would be much harder to deal with than limbs. Also, the snake would have to keep its body expanded around where the horn was until it got digested enough to no longer be a potential threat to their internal organs, which would be unusual for a snake since they sort of go back to being normal snake shaped as soon as their prey has passed through that specific part of their body. It would probably also hinder their movement, thus making eating a horned rodent an overall bad choice

[@azteclady]

I appreciate immensely that you have closed captions for deaf and hard of hearing subscribers; it would be really neat if your acknowledgement of Indigenous territories were audio narrated, for the sake of visually impaired people who otherwise enjoy the channel.

[@Sparrow-lh9qk]

As one of said HoH subscribers, yes! I so much appreciate the captions, especially since so few people will actually include them. I also agree that the acknowledgement should have been narrated.

[@DrBunnyMedicinal]

That's an excellent suggestion. I love the recent addition of the acknowledgement of the indigenous territories involved in an episode. Having it narrated would be an even better idea!

[@skyscreamstudios]

I'm always happy when indigenous territories and First Nations acknowledgements are included. It happens so rarely. I also agree that narration of it would have been educational for the visually impaired.

[@daleicious1528]

WHAT?

[@leecupp2573]

Normal Folks: Rhino Rats A Warhammer Fan: The Great Horned Rat!!

[@ltericdavis2237]

Yes-yes. More more horned rats!

[@FirstDagger]

Horns to kill Eagle-things. Yes-yes.

[@merrittanimation7721]

SKAVEN

[@gazoofio]

GREAT HORNED RAT DAY!

[@Al3xtheMeh]

Yes-yes! This pleases the council.

[@rockingthemike]

well, horned gophers will now haunt my dreams. quips aside, thank you for that acknowledgement of indigenous peoples and traditional lands. this keeps discussions and recognition going.

[@Thumbsupurbum]

Just think of them as horny rats. Then they aren't so scary.

[@jayfeatherthesnarkymedicin8160]

DirtyBlastard ... um....

[@rockingthemike]

@@Thumbsupurbum hahahahaha.... now we're dealing with a whole other image!

[@chayanikade1236]

These prehistoric nature mood swings bring me such joy

[@TheOneCalledSloth]

GLORY TO THE HORNED RAT!

[@donutrock2132]

Horned rat is greatest rat, yes yes.

[@daleicious1528]

Praise be!

[@mesho05666]

yesyes

[@MutantGoblinCaravan]

Yes-yes!

[@Sandwich13455]

Hail to the horny rodents!!

[@alecsmith3448]

Finally a creature that actually used its horns for defense

[@aislygncovante7524]

Right? By now I'm just sneering at my screen like "You're not so tough, Mr. I use this to appeal to women. You have a spike coming out of your head, use it!"

[@TaterKakez]

I love how silly you are - never change or dim to fit in, Kallie 💜💜💜

[@FranKoPepez]

Beautiful that you acknowledge the indigenous peoples that were and are still present in those fossil sites :)

[@android584]

Solutreans?

[@pimbu936]

Hey, one time I was at that site, I should get an acknowledgment too! Yes, you really are being that stupid

[@AC-fg4kg]

@@pimbu936 Yeh man, you really got him there, definitely didn’t make yourself look like an idiot.

[@chocothun1]

She’s my favorite host. I love when she’s on an episode of Eons.

[@ditzfough]

Great speaker. Knowledgable. And easy on the eyes.

[@TylerThomas]

same! I was going to say it if no one else had haha

[@richynguyen8]

her voice is so soothing

[@theghostofyourwastedmoney9007]

Her favorite movie is Tremors, which is cool.

[@Hatarue]

This show is so binge worthy!!! So amazing we can date things so far far far away in the past. Amazing things happened on this sphere of life.

[@jonohanks8933]

Thanks for including the acknowledgement of native tribes and lands. It's a good step to include that. I'd appreciate it at the beginning of the videos too, so people see it going in.

[@carlyblack42]

It never ceases to amaze me how crazy evolution can get sometimes. Thanks for sharing the story of these very odd rodwnts.

[@maksphoto78]

The craziest mammal of them all - Chalicothere. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chalicothere

[@Crow0567]

I love how peaceful and relaxed so many of the gophers look in the art in this video

[@craigthacker]

Good work on acknowledging the traditional custodians of the land on which the fossils were found. That is both respectful and a step towards reconciliation. Thank you.

[@thereptilian1045]

The Great Horned Rat approves, yes-yes

[@akumaking1]

You mean it's new alias, Mickey Mouse.

[@leoarenque9917]

Ring the bell 13 times!!!

[@archaon1400]

FOR THE VERMINTIDE

[@robertvallejos9374]

I feel like the horns may have evolved specifically for predation by snakes. It seems like a perfect defense for being swallowed head first! Just a guess though. 🤷🏽‍♂️🤔

[@patreekotime4578]

A: that would be a real big snake. B: many would have to survive the attempt in order to pass on the genes, and AFAIK snakes dont generally try to swallow live prey because most rodents have sharp claws and teeth and could easily kill a snake from the inside.

[@jaywu2856]

snakes swallow their prey head first. to be effective vs swallowing, horns would have to be facing away from the face rather than towards.

[@KarlBunker]

"metamorphic rock -- under a lot of pressure." Ha ha; gneiss one.

[@chelsey8737]

I laughed way too hard at this

[@Christian_Sims]

Love this channel, PBS Eons can y'all do a video on the new tail of Spinosaurus?

[@synthia8703]

Didn't you ask this on the last episode of Eons?

[@Christian_Sims]

@@synthia8703 yep and gonna keep doin it till we get it lol

[@thewhovianhippo7103]

Agreed

[@owenconant]

Man, 24 seconds since upload I'm seeing gophers with horns. Hype.

[@suleimansghk]

random trivia: rhinoceros literally means “nose horn”

[@albatross4920]

One of my all time favorite paleo-creatures finally gets some much-deserved spotlight 🤟

[@thewhovianhippo7103]

Funny thing I was reading about this creatures last week

[@ScrapPalletMan]

Gopher it! :-) love it

[@pmr4123]

Aww come now, everyone knows natural history puns are the highest form of humor!

[@VeteranVandal]

It was funny and embarrassing at the same time.

[@zeeslag123]

"Every weasel's got a plan, until they get gopher horned in the face" - Mike Weasel

[@Coelacantha]

Thank you for telling us which native lands these fossils come from!

[@Finallybianca]

Largest contraction of their fossils are here in Nebraska

[@EMurph42]

Whomever it is that does the editing, they find beautiful art. Excellent work as always!

[@Kleshumara]

I love these paleontological detective stories!

[@DavidHernandez-sp9jg]

Im a simple person I see a new PBS eons video, I click

[@rickloftus9330]

Thank you for acknowledging that fossil hunting often occurred, and occurs, on the lands of indigenous people without those peoples’ consent or recognition.

[@EChacon]

I always am fascinated by these horned Gophers and learning more about their biology and history

[@MesozoicMonotreme]

Really appreciate the shout out at the end for all of the Native American Tribes. Please keep this up it is an amazing standard to set!

[@rmsredwood3]

Yes!! Thank you so much PBS EONS, these fascinating guys have waited to long for their own personal documentary. 🙏🙏

[@sovietpotato6252]

Means that you can hold them easier while eating lunch

[@a.g.m.s_1916]

Eww lol

[@Thumbsupurbum]

Apparently not, lol. 7:36

[@kyrionbookshield2205]

So this is where the idea of a horned rabbit (from fantasy worlds) came from. I truly enjoy learning about adaptation and evolution for storytelling's sake. There are so many crazy blueprints in the evolution lines. I love it.

[@MargoMB19]

Okay, I admit it, I actually laughed out loud with the 'gopher it' joke at the end! I really enjoy learning about all these animals that were such a mystery for so long, it's interesting to see how our understanding of adaptations has evolved over time.

[@tt-ew7rx]

I was breathlessly waiting for it for so long that I almost ended my breathing career.

[@raeinteriano4359]

I'm really glad Eons is now acknowledging native peoples' lands now:)

[@Freakmaster480]

Eveyone is an immigrant. It's just a matter of how early your family immigrated.

[@Freakmaster480]

@Jordon Carlson It's why, even if the term is a little gaudy, I prefer first peoples. At least it's probably accurate.

[@TearyEyesAnderson]

Ohhh... I was hoping you were going to tell me that the Jackalope was real. :(

[@culwin]

Jackalopes are lagomorphs, not rodents

[@leleforsythe9756]

@@SwayRod836 the jackalope isn’t real as well as the fact that rabbits are lagomorphs not rodents

[@VerrouSuo]

JACKALOPES WERE REAL? you learn something new every day. Thanks, Eons!

[@jiimbv]

I really love you guys. The stupid jokes at the end this time made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Thanks for everything

[@dynamosaurusimperious6341]

Rodent , now: not stonks Rodents, then: STONKS

[@hiimryan2388]

Tongeria Thompson Rats now: stonks Rats before cities: HELP IM GETTING MAULED BY A CAILSUDKGFGJKCJXCGSHK

[@dynamosaurusimperious6341]

Hilarious

[@Depipro]

The puns somehow get better when one imagines Blake's face in the background - and I have a feeling Kallie is doing just that. ;)

[@JoCox4048]

Ceratogaulus: YOU WILL SUFFER THE PAIN OF A THOUSAND DEATHS BY MY HORNS Bear-dog: steps on Ceratogaulus, then proceeds to Howie Scream

[@animaldude1470]

My mood right now, eons and something to drink

[@ulisesvargasmoreno3839]

Every friday for me

[@DutchBane]

Out of a horn?

[@wanderingoff13]

It's so great to see a land acknowledgement at the end of this video! Kudos to everyone who made that happen.

[@GrimmDelightsDice]

Nobody: Eons: These cute ass guinea pig dudes had horns.

[@Jajalaatmaar]

This meme is stupid.

[@GrimmDelightsDice]

@@Jajalaatmaar Let us have our fun jfc

[@bootyannihilator4931]

Qoi Pond No fun allowed

[@lahavmorris9919]

No one: Earth: Rino rodents!!!

[@USSAnimeNCC-]

Writer why didn’t I think of that

[@Jajalaatmaar]

This meme is still stupid.

[@jocelynmontoya1029]

Nature at some point went through a "slap horns on everything" phase.

[@morristhecat69]

The great plains? :0 Maybe these guys bones inspired the "fearsome critter", the Jackalope.

[@shannonwold638]

I love the acknowledgement at the end.

[@MrThatguyuknow]

Always a treat when this channel releases a video

[@larryg3326]

My spouse, who is a gardener, has the answer to "why horns?" Gophers are the devil.

[@mossdaemon]

I'm always so excited to see what you guys will teach us next! Thank you for all your hard work (especially during the pandemic!!) Stay safe!

[@morganstarchild5359]

They're cute I think prairie dogs are absolutely adorable 😍😍

[@lyreparadox]

Even the ones that carry bubonic plague!

[@CyanDreams1312]

I really like that card at the end talking about how natives have been mistreated, thank you

[@-Zevin-]

The Skaven were right all along. Hail the horned rat.

[@Morbacounet]

Yes-yes.

[@thisisnotmyrealname5658]

That drawing of the horned goafer looking out of his burrow is bloody terrifying

[@xanadujones9110]

That thumbnail will haunt my dreams tonight

[@melvinshine9841]

I love the addition of that "frontier" banjo music. Seems fitting when talking about the *realllly* old West.

[@alexanderdaniels4251]

They’re so cute

[@Villosa64]

why do u think prehistoric legos are cute

[@JoMo4Sho]

This was fascinating. It reminds me that I would really like to see something about the evolution history of the jackalope.

[@michaelblacktree]

Clicked for the PBS Eons, stayed for the dad jokes. 😉

[@giishaw92]

I love the music you guys use in your videos. Often times I get distracted by the music and have to skip back because I missed some key information.

[@pierreabbat6157]

You forgot the German horned squirrel: das Einhörnchen.

[@SimonsDiscoveries]

Also known as Das Letzte Einhorn;)

[@needfoolthings]

Also, not to forget the laziest of rodents: das Hörnchen (Flaezus croissantis).

[@michaelflores9220]

I have never heard of this animal! I should watch this channel as often as I used to!

[@nekkidnora]

Sitting here with my pet rats, trying to imagine them with horns...

[@MaddoxLightning]

Thanks for crediting at the end. I really appreciate that.

[@zedmercury2605]

Oh dont worry, it's just the avatar of the great horned rat. The skaven shall be pleased

[@Gitarr_Jennan]

Love the content! Can the next video be about the evolution of horns and antlers in ungulates?

[@cintronproductions9430]

@Elizabeth Frantes If that's an insult it's an incredibly bizarre one.

[@jotaro2690]

Imagine horned human

[@alphanightfury1416]

So demons ?

[@GrimmDelightsDice]

Happens with certain genetic mutations and anomalies actually!

[@lahavmorris9919]

In greek mythology they had goat people that had horns

[@OliviaLiliana]

DnD 100

[@jotaro2690]

@@alphanightfury1416 goat man

[@serenityriver2701]

This is my favorite pbs channel.

[@suchomimustenerensis]

Could you do prehistoric Japan?Pleaseeeeee

[@Sam-yg1lt]

Thank you for being a professional with visible tattoos

[@Villosa64]

tf

[@thomasennser3113]

Thank you for acknowledging the desecration of Native American lands

[@PolymerChan]

your videos are always so interesting! thank you!

[@aishwaryasingh6859]

Ugly and Cute- two words you don't often hear together in a sentence.

[@Catsaresocooyayayaya]

hi! great video! i love learning from all your videos keep up the good work!

[@Bob1128]

That's a Digimon.

[@TJ52359]

that little Fellow in the pencil drawing just looks so happy...

[@bjarnes.4423]

beat the notification

[@Mello-208]

I like reading along with the subtitles to see how certain (paleontological) terms are pronounced, so i can expand my vocabulary (since english isn't my native language). Thank you for including them and for the wonderful videos!

[@imperialofficer6185]

GLORY TO THE HORNED RAT

[@valentinfejes]

YES-YES, YOU SAID THAT RIGHT-RIGHT!

[@moniqueodile]

No loud music interfering with your voice... thank you.

[@Opal_jen_X]

Thank you for the message about acknowledging Indigenous people at the end of your videos. I hope this practice remains on your channel ❤

[@DonnaBarrHerself]

“The Croods” cover all the evolutionary nuttiness when mammals got started. In the cutest way possible.

[@diGritz1]

Am I the only who's first instinct is to toss a Holy Hand Grenade then run away at the speed of an African Swallow?

[@staytuned2L337]

With or without the coconut?

[@6KIWIDino5]

Forever respecting this channel for the dedication to the Natives

[@violetholiday]

18 seconds ago, huh

[@AnesidoraAston]

"You think these might be Horned Gopher bones, but you cannot be sure. They are too weathered to make a final determination."

[@kentotonic2787]

My Theory: There are the descendants of Triceratops 😅

[@Paper_Frogg]

Mammals are actually older than dinosaurs- but it would be cool to imagine an evolutionary line like that

[@leonnarain8431]

@@Paper_Frogg true. It's crazy how different modern day mammals looks in comparison to the Synapsids.

[@zachlyons-weiler4179]

I love that you put the indigenous slide at the end.

[@zachlyons-weiler4179]

It’s actually so awesome to see people acknowledging this

[@clicheguevara5282]

Who else thought of the rabbit from Monty Python when they saw the thumbnail? 😂

[@ExtremeMadnessX]

Rabbits from Re: Dive...

[@blackpanda5989]

Best narrator on pbs eons