Ancient giant otter unearthed in China

illustration of giant otters

OUT OF THE SWAMP  Six million years ago, giant otters (illustrated above eating a clam and walking) may have lived in the lush swamps of what is now China, and coexisted with tapir (one illustrated in background).

Art by Mauricio Antón

Fossils of a giant otter have emerged from an open-pit mine in China.