Giant African Rat Kills With Poisonous Mohawk

thebchuckster writes "The African crested rat has been known to kill local dogs, but researchers have just figured out how. After eating the 'poison-arrow plant,' the over-sized rodent stores its poison-laced spit in special hollow hairs in its mohawk. Then, when a predator grabs the rat, the animal gets stung with the poison and spit-tipped hairs which can sicken and kill."

Comments

Re:How did this evolve?

[Anonymous Coward]

Why, it was clearly designed by a benevolent creator that hates dogs and has a sense of humor. My personal best guess as to the relevant deity is Ifni, Goddess of Random Chance. Ifni works sort of like the infinite improbability drive -- by making things that are enormously improbable -- like electing George Bush (a certified idiot) president of the most complicated country on Earth during one of the most delicate of historical times -- happen anyway. So when you see Sarah Palin elevated from being a failed cheerleader in a tiny high school in a distant and underpopulated state to being a vice presidential candidate, possibly a presidential candidate -- one who, mind you, thinks that Paul Revere rode out to warn the British that the minutemen were coming and is willing to argue on national television with anybody who disagrees -- you can just nod your head and say, wisely -- "Yeah, African Crested Rats and Sarah Palin. Oh, Ifni is at it once again..."

rgb