Scientists in Uruguay have found the fossil remains of a 2,000 pound rodent that lived 2 million to 4 million years ago -- the largest rodent ever found.

The giant creature probably ate soft food such as fruit or tender plants, Andres Rinderknecht and Ernesto Blanco of the National Museum of Natural History in Montevideo reported on Wednesday.

"However, our work suggests that 4 million years ago in South America, rodents with 1,000 kg (2,200 pounds) of body mass (a ’mouse’ larger than a bull) lived with terror birds, saber-toothed cats, ground sloths and giant armoured mammals among others."

They have named the fossil Josephoartigasia monesi. They dug it out of rock along the Rio Plata and said they were amazed at its size.

But it had small teeth and weak jawbones.

"Palaeobiologically this could imply a diet composed of soft vegetation and perhaps fruit."

The largest living rodent is the carpincho or capybara found in parts of South America. They can grow to about 125 pounds.

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