Rodents of Unusual Size! :)

*Ratmagiclady* · 09-07-2009, 11:37 PM

Thought this was a spot of cheerful news: not often people discover a whole habitat full of species new to science:

Lost world of fanged frogs and giant rats discovered in Papua New Guinea | Environment | The Guardian

*geauxpez* · 09-08-2009, 04:46 AM

Wow -- incredible finds. Darwin would be proud.

*séamuis* · 09-08-2009, 07:25 AM

I saw this on my BBC homepage. really neat stuff. its amazing that the rat was just calm and didn't seem to even care about all the people. its strange when trying to picture this as a rat. kinda cute when they are that big.

*daacon* · 09-08-2009, 10:58 AM

Stop it I mean it !!! ..Anybody want a peanut

Big fan of that movie ...

and wow - I would image there are still unclassified species as this is a pretty big ass planet we have. Impressive

*Ratmagiclady* · 09-08-2009, 01:18 PM

Originally Posted by daacon

Stop it I mean it !!! ..Anybody want a peanut Big fan of that movie ...

and wow - I would image there are still unclassified species as this is a pretty big ass planet we have. Impressive

Hee.

Finding a whole bunch of new macro-sized animals, and a whole possibly-undisturbed habitat, though, that's a treat.

And, yeah, wonderful (also worrisome in a way) the big rats had no fear of humans. I wonder if they're social enough to be capable of imprinting on humans or are just indifferent. (Not that I think anyone'd domesticate them, but the idea's appealing. New friends 4 rat people.

)

*Blue* · 09-08-2009, 01:49 PM

Maybe the Giant Rat of Sumatra exists after all.

They just looked on the wrong island.

*Ratmagiclady* · 09-08-2009, 02:53 PM

Originally Posted by Blue

Maybe the Giant Rat of Sumatra exists after all. They just looked on the wrong island.

Heehee. I suppose it's very possible that these fellows were once more widespread: may have had relatives also big enough to have been of note.

Mike L · 09-08-2009, 05:47 PM

I spend a lot of time in PNG and it is called the land of the unexpected for good reason. We're talking about a country where some tribes were only contacted by the "outside world" for the first time in the 1950s and 1960s so the fact that science is still discovering new species is not a huge surprise.

*Blue* · 09-08-2009, 07:56 PM

There are probably some cool insects, specialized ectoparasites, that maybe on some of those mammals and birds. Fleas, lice, beetles, flies etc.

Mike L · 09-08-2009, 08:16 PM

Originally Posted by Blue

There are probably some cool insects, specialized ectoparasites, that maybe on some of those mammals and birds. Fleas, lice, beetles, flies etc.

I've "discovered"

there are some very scary arachnids

*Blue* · 09-08-2009, 08:44 PM

Originally Posted by Mike L

I've "discovered" there are some very scary arachnids

I take it you saw that big 'ol spider that looks like a chunk of lichen.

In my business, we call that aggressive mimicry. That would be a bad day . . . getting eaten by moss!

Mike L · 09-08-2009, 08:51 PM

Originally Posted by Blue

I take it you saw that big 'ol spider that looks like a chunk of lichen. In my business, we call that aggressive mimicry. That would be a bad day . . . getting eaten by moss!

No lichen spiders just big ol'd spiders that look like they they could eat a small child

Being significantly taller than the locals I need to walk into webs that they go under

Parallax · 09-09-2009, 08:52 AM

I love stories like this. I think we need to be reminded once in a while of just how little we actually know about the world.

*raymeedc* · 09-09-2009, 10:40 AM

We have the world's largest right here in New York. It's scientific name is the Bernhard Madoff.

*graphicgr8s* · 09-09-2009, 11:05 AM

Ain't that the truth. But again it all comes down to personal responsibility. If it sounds to good to be true.......

Due diligence