Falanxes (Amphimorphodus cynomorphus Dixon) attacking a rabbuck

    50 Million Years After Man, the rats expanded to ocupy the niches left by the dwindling carnivores. The gnawing incisors developed long, stabbing points and were equipped with blades that could cut into and grip their prey. The gap between the incsiors and the back teeth became smaller and grinding molars became shearing teeth that worked with a scissor action. The Falanx is the commonest species of predator rat in the temperate latitudes. Here, two Falanxes are hunting their principal prey, the common rabbuck. 

 Figure © Dixon (1981) "After Man: A Zoology of the Future"; text © 2005 by Steven M. Carr