Professionals are Starstruck Over Giant Rat

In Papau New Guinea, they found a species of giant rat. A species which I want to hug.

Also, kudos to cameraman Gordon Buchananan, who was just informed he's made Mr. March for his action pose next to said giant rat in the 2010 wildlife photogs calendar.

According to CNN:

George McGavin, a Research Associate at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History and The Department of Zoology of Oxford University told CNN: "It's hard to be sure exactly how many new species we have found, but it is more than 30.

"To find new species of insects in this region isn't uncommon, but we found sixteen new frog species, one new bat species and at least three new fish, and this giant bloody rat -- the size of a cat. Amazing!"

A giant bloody rat! That's science-talk for jolly good fun. Seriously, these researchers have to be having the best time ever. I love it when scientists get all excited. Let's keep in mind these are the folks that shouted for joy in high school biology when they removed a frog's pancreas and brandished it in the air and the rest of us choked back bile.