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Old 01-27-2008, 09:51 PM   #1
YellowBolt
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January 27, 2008: The rat king

Or rather, a rat king:


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.
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Old 01-27-2008, 10:07 PM   #2
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How could they survive at all? I'm suspicious.
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Old 01-28-2008, 08:29 AM   #3
JDwithcoke&lime
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Oh, I think I see a hair.........damn, now Iv'e lost my appetite!
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Old 01-28-2008, 09:00 AM   #4
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So, the "Rat King" wears this thing as a crown?

That's even worse than the thorny crown thing.
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Old 01-28-2008, 09:15 AM   #5
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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.
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Old 01-28-2008, 09:23 AM   #6
binky
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Quote:
Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce View Post
How could they survive at all? I'm suspicious.
But...? If wikipedia said it...?
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Old 01-28-2008, 11:10 AM   #7
bluecuracao
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Must...not...look at IotD...during......lun
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Old 01-28-2008, 01:03 PM   #8
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Must...not...look at IotD...during......lun
Just don't order Ratatouille.
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Old 01-28-2008, 03:06 PM   #9
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If this was to happen in the real world, there would be one very fat rat left, having eaten his bretheran as they weakened.
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Old 01-28-2008, 05:17 PM   #10
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How to cook...deep fat fry with cheese filling
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Old 01-28-2008, 05:57 PM   #11
Cloud
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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.
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Old 01-28-2008, 07:30 PM   #12
Sheldonrs
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Quote:
Originally Posted by toranokaze View Post
How to cook...deep fat fry with cheese filling
Looks kind of like a funnel cake already. All it needs is powdered sugar.
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Old 01-28-2008, 08:21 PM   #13
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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?
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Old 01-28-2008, 08:32 PM   #14
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How to cook...deep fat fry with cheese filling
Thats the first time I have thrown up a little in my mouth.
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Old 01-28-2008, 08:50 PM   #15
ZenGum
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Quote:
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Thats the first time I have thrown up a little in my mouth.
Quick, get a cup an a lady friend. Fame awaits!!!
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