The island effect produces giant predatory house mice

[urbpan]

I found out about this on "Wait Wait, Don't Tell Me: The NPR News Quiz."

‘Monster mice’ are eating island’s seabirds
Rodents evolved to triple normal size, attack much larger chicks

The island effect produces giant tortoises, giant (flightless) pigeons, and my favorite, giant monitor lizards (Komodo dragons). For some unknown reason, it also produces dwarf humans (Homo florensis) and dwarf elephants (which, according to island biogeographer David Quammen, were originally the chief prey of Komodo dragons).

EDIT: I originally spelled the name "Kwammen," for some reason

Comments

[vyoma.livejournal.com]

I used to have a pet rat, and he loved to eat mice. Rats will hunt if there's something good to be hunted. They're total generalists.

Some insects do, but most don't. Only the ones I forget to be careful with while I'm photographing them consistently have solid defenses.

[cottonmanifesto.livejournal.com]

Rats are opportunists and will eat just about anything. There's a difference, imo, between predatory behavior/motor patterns and being omnivorous.

Seems like pretty much any animal will happily evacuate when they're nervous. :)