Giant Rat Discovered in 'Lost World'

[Behind the Aegis]

Source: AP

JAKARTA, Indonesia (Dec. 17) - Researchers in a remote jungle in Indonesia have discovered a giant rat and a tiny possum that are apparently new to science, underscoring the stunning biodiversity of the Southeast Asian nation, scientists said Monday.

The discoveries by a team of American and Indonesian scientists are being studied further to confirm their status.

The animals were found in the Foja mountains rainforest in eastern Papua province in a June expedition, said U.S.-based Conservation International, which organized the trip along with the Indonesian Institute of Science.

"The giant rat is about five times the size of a typical city rat," said Kristofer Helgen, a scientist with the Smithsonian Institution in Washington. "With no fear of humans, it apparently came into the camp several times during the trip."


Read more: http://news.aol.com/story/_a/giant-rat-discovered-in-lost-world/20071217090909990001?ncid=NWS00010000000001

---

Do check out the pictures of the other animals recently discovered. It is amazing what is still to be seen on this planet!

[SteppingRazor]

1. 60 Minutes just did a story on this Sunday.

Impressive footage, if anyone happened to catch it. Not just the mammals, but also lots of new birds of paradise, insects, etc.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

7. I saw it

It was fascinating. It also appeared to me as if the tiny possum had no fear of the humans by the way it was climbing all over them.

[Barrett808]

21. That bird of paradise's mating dance: wow

"Transforms itself into an otherworldy creature." That was not an exaggeration!

[Lisa]

2. what -- no "Giant Rat of Sumatra" jokes?

"With no fear of humans, it apparently came into the camp several times during the trip."
--the researchers probably assumed it was canvassing for the GOP?

[Plaid Adder]

33. First thing I thought of. n/t

n/t

[4_TN_TITANS]

46. There's a Duzy....ROFL

'canvassing for the GOP' :rofl:

[BadgerKid]

3. "no fear of humans"

Pretty cool. Some of our species are pretty damn scary.

[PATRICK]

4. Should be introduced

to "Big Cheese" Cheney. It would be an interesting encounter. Perhaps very sympatico.

[Mythsaje]

5. See, I KNEW there were Rodents Of Unusual Size. n/t

[rocktivity]

6. FIVE times the size of a city rat?

Thanks--but no thanks, LOL!

:yoiks:
rockantion

[Samurai_Writer]

10. You mean the ROUSes?

I don't believe they exist.

[JNelson6563]

36. haha! That was my first thought too!

:toast:

[kenfrequed]

43. Gods I'm such a Dork

I admit it. I too thought instantly of ROUS's.

[Lorien]

47. Lol! Exactly what I thought when I read the headline

kinda dates us, huh? ;-)

[doc03]

8. New York times has column and pictures

of giant rat.
Link: http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/l/joseph_i_lieberman/index.html?inline=nyt-per

[shadowknows69]

9. Bwah ha ha ha ha

:applause:

[awoke_in_2003]

28. Nicely done. nt

[davekriss]

29. I grew up in NYC...

...and used to see rats that size regularly. They'd climb out of the 8th avenue & 42th street subway, steal the slice of pizza out of your hand, and retreat to the tunnels. Absolutely fearless.



(ok, I'm just kiddin')

[baldguy]

11. STOP MAKING JOKES ABOUT REPUBLICANS!

THEY'RE PEOPLE TOO!!

[caseycoon]

18. Are you SURE?

I never heard of that.
:rofl:

[GoddessOfGuinness]

12. Awwwww! The possum is so damn cute!!!

[montanto]

15. OMG I want one!! nt

[Neoma]

13. R.O.U.S's?

(Rodents Of Unusual Size)

[NashVegas]

26. I Didn't Believe They Exist

I do now.

Princess Bride is running on HBO as I type.

[balantz]

14. Let's include the three Senators running for POTUS

Who didn't show up to support Dodd's filibuster on the Telecom Immunity vote like they said they would! They must think we don't watch our rats!

[Historic NY]

16. wow

http://www.aolcdn.com/aolnews_photos/09/00/20071217102709990034

[acmavm]

17. Is this guy's last name bush?

http://www.aolcdn.com/aolnews_photos/09/00/20071217102709990034

[FloridaJudy]

19. "The giant rat of Sumatra..,."

"..a story for which the world is not yet prepared".

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, "The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire"

Extraordinary! Holmes knew about it before we did.

[MetaTrope]

22. And Doc Savage knew about the hole in the ozone layer above the Antarctic

which apparently was rediscovered in 1985...

http://docsavage.org/arch/1936/10/077_1036_the_so.html

[aquart]

20. That's their "giant" rat? LOL!

I've seen bigger rats than that at the beach.

[L0oniX]

23. I am suprised that SwampRat hasn't PhotoShopped a rats body on Lieberman.

[pipoman]

31. My exact first thought...

[Submariner]

35. Make sure you email that to Joementum's office

He should see that work of art. The rat, scab, double-crossing, warmongering chickenhawk Likud agent bears a remarkable resemblance.

[okoboji]

24. quick ... someone check the .....

the arc manifest to see if these two new animals were on board, if not, they can't possibly be real.

{/sarcasm}

[Xipe Totec]

25. The Fundies are going to have a field day!

This is proof positive that we are not all descended from apes.



The current denizens of the White House are descended from rats, so there!

[Hand]

27. These creatures clearly hate America.

Nuke the place! :nuke: :rofl:

[classysassy]

30. Tom

DeLay's hideaway.

[bitchkitty]

32. Wonderful yet sad

Wonderful that so many wonderful forms of life are on the earth, and sad that they are all in peril.

That little possum is CUTE! Can't say as much for the rat...the frogs were awesome though! Also the finch, such colors! I read that it was just discovered in October.

What a wonderful planet!

[Behind the Aegis]

41. I agree.

It is amazing that such beauty exists here and is so often threatened. I also loved the finch! I raise finches, so I found that to be the best picture in the group.

[MilesColtrane]

34. I didn't know that the sewer system of Manhattan was considered a "lost world". n/t

[JNelson6563]

37. Those pics were incredible!

Thanks for posting this, those pictures were splendid. :toast:

Julie

[Behind the Aegis]

40. I am glad you liked.

Actually, my partner passed the story to me. I loved the picture of the finch! We raise finches, all kinds. I would love to see one like the one in the picture. Such a beauty!

(BTW...:hi:)

[Rosa Luxemburg]

38. I saw a very large one in the White House

(20 times as large!)

[Mz Pip]

39. Has anyone

seen Cheney lately? Maybe he ran out of kitten blood and morphed into his true self.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[Gman]

42. Sounds like rats I saw in Houston around the ship channel

they'll kick your ass and take your money.

[rucky]

44. I'm holding out for the Sumatran Rat-Monkey...

[YOY]

45. LIONEL!

DON'T YOU LOVE YOUR MUMMY?



Ah...the movie that makes me shout for "Pequita!" with an NZ accent at odd times! "P'KEETAH!"