The Cellar - January 27, 2008: The rat king

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January 27, 2008: The rat king

Or rather, a rat king:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...f4/Ratking.jpg

Wikipedia has more about this:

Quote:

Rat kings are cryptozoological phenomena said to arise when a number of rats become intertwined at their tails, which become stuck together with blood, dirt, and excrement. The animals consequently grow together while joined at the tails, which are often broken. The phenomenon is particularly associated with Germany, where the majority of instances have been reported.

Most researchers presume the creatures are legendary and that all supposed physical evidence is hoaxed, such as mummified groups of dead rats with their tails tied together. Reports of living specimens remain unsubstantiated. One theoretical cause for the phenomenon is cramped living space; young rats might live too closely together, becoming inextricably entangled. However, the normal behavior of rats, which generally seek their own comfort, speaks against this theory. No scientific study has been performed to prove a natural cause of the phenomenon.

Talk about gross. I would not want to meet one of these things anyday ever.

How could they survive at all? I'm suspicious.

Oh, I think I see a hair.........damn, now Iv'e lost my appetite!

So, the "Rat King" wears this thing as a crown?

That's even worse than the thorny crown thing.

Like Bruce, I am skeptical.

Rats need to move, and move through small spaces, to live. I don't see how this could do that.

Rats are selfish buggers that fight amongst their own kind. If there was a rat king starting, I would expect that they would fight it out, chew off each others' tails, kill each other, etc.

I can almost imagine someone catching a goodly number of rats, and having them tied together with twine around their tails, then as the rats die, the result is what we see here. Maybe.

I'd rather imagine that than imagine a rat king, still alive, running down an alleyway towards me. :bolt:

Quote:

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce (Post 427720)

How could they survive at all? I'm suspicious.

But...? If wikipedia said it...?:rolleyes:

Must...not...look at IotD...during......lun :vomitblu:

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluecuracao (Post 427790)

Must...not...look at IotD...during......lun :vomitblu:

Just don't order Ratatouille.

If this was to happen in the real world, there would be one very fat rat left, having eaten his bretheran as they weakened.

How to cook...deep fat fry with cheese filling

since the tied-together thingy is most likely a hoax, this is what I think of in re: the Rat King:

1) King Rat (by J. Clavell)
2) the King of the Wererats from L.K. Hamilton.

Now THAT would be bad . . . to be a wererat, that is.

Quote:

Originally Posted by toranokaze (Post 427867)

How to cook...deep fat fry with cheese filling

Looks kind of like a funnel cake already. All it needs is powdered sugar.

I'm guessing this particular 'rat-king' was flame broiled. See, no hair. If it was just a ball of dead rats wouldn't there be hair left? :eyebrow:

Quote:

Originally Posted by toranokaze (Post 427867)

How to cook...deep fat fry with cheese filling

Thats the first time I have thrown up a little in my mouth.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DucksNuts (Post 427929)

Thats the first time I have thrown up a little in my mouth.

Quick, get a cup an a lady friend. Fame awaits!!!