Comments on: New Giant Rat Discovered in Extinct Volcano

By: cryptidsrus

cryptidsrus — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 17:53:39 +0000

HoosierHunter:

We have to PROVE those “Nyc Sewer Rats” really are THAT Big.

Personally, I have no problem believing that.

But that’s just me.

I also cannot wait to see the Frog with Fangs. Great post.

By: mystery_man

mystery_man — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 01:58:47 +0000

Although this is a cool discovery, the huge size of the rat is not too big a surprise. Rodents generally tend towards insular gigantism (island gigantism). This is the tendency of some species in island habitats to become larger than their continental relatives due to a wide variety of reasons, such as lack of predators or competitors, more or less a removal of restrictions, among others. This is in contrast to isular dwarfism, which is when certain species, usually predators or animals that started out larger, are miniaturized typically due to the addition of ecological restrictions in the island habitat. Both of these can occur in a much shorter span of time than what we see in the evolution of continental animals as well.

Rodents have demonstrated a consistent trend towards insular gigantism, and there are many examples of this among both extant and extinct island rodent species. The Maclear’s rat of Christmas Island, the St. Lucia giant rice rat, the Canary Island giant rat, the Malagasy rat, all of these are examples of insular gigantism at work. The discovery of this new species makes me wonder what other giant rodents may be awaiting discovery on in the island “lost world’s” of this planet of ours.

Interesting article.

By: ctinn

ctinn — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 14:30:02 +0000

I can’t wait to see pics of the frog with fangs.

By: David-Australia

David-Australia — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 03:35:22 +0000

The original story (in australia at least) was that Mt Busavi was on an “island” off the coast (complete with image). I did a Google Maps check and it proved otherwise. Apparently someone else in the media has decided to report it properly!

By: Lee Murphy

Lee Murphy — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 03:17:29 +0000

I want one of those rats.

By: Shelley

Shelley — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 01:26:03 +0000

Didn’t Sherlock Holmes discover a “giant rat of Sumatra?”

By: Weird New Englander

Weird New Englander — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 00:49:02 +0000

Now that is a big rat, I must say! lol Good find I might add.

By: HOOSIERHUNTER

HOOSIERHUNTER — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 23:39:40 +0000

Looks to almost be the size of a New York sewer rat! LOL

By: Richard888

Richard888 — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 22:33:39 +0000

Fascinating stuff! Reading this article was pure delight.