Ratzilla: _Phoberomys pattersoni_

[Jonathan Lighter]

"Ratzilla: Extinct rodent was big, really big," says the title of an article by Sid Perkins in _Science News_ (Sept. 20, 2003) at http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20030920/fob1.asp  .

"Hide the cheese," advises the caption beneath an artist's conception of the "bison-sized" rodent, _Phoberomys Pattersoni_ ("Patterson's Fearsome Mouse," http://www.harpers.org/WeeklyReview2003-09-23.html).

Some reports prefer the marginally more accurate but minimally sexy "Guinea-zilla" http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3120950.stm .

Google reveals some 4,000 hits for "ratzilla" on the Web and Usenet. Oddly, the majority seem not to refer to the big guy.

JL


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