January 27, 2008: The rat king

YellowBolt · 01-27-2008, 09:51 PM

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.

xoxoxoBruce · 01-27-2008, 10:07 PM

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

JDwithcoke&lime · 01-28-2008, 08:29 AM

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

Flint · 01-28-2008, 09:00 AM

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

That's even worse than the thorny crown thing.

ZenGum · 01-28-2008, 09:15 AM

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.

binky · 01-28-2008, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

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

But...? If wikipedia said it...?

bluecuracao · 01-28-2008, 11:10 AM

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

richlevy · 01-28-2008, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluecuracao

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

Just don't order Ratatouille.

spudcon · 01-28-2008, 03:06 PM

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

toranokaze · 01-28-2008, 05:17 PM

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

Cloud · 01-28-2008, 05:57 PM

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.

Sheldonrs · 01-28-2008, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toranokaze

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

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

Gravdigr · 01-28-2008, 08:21 PM

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?

DucksNuts · 01-28-2008, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toranokaze

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

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

ZenGum · 01-28-2008, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DucksNuts

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

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

01-27-2008, 10:07 PM	#2
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	How could they survive at all? I'm suspicious. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

01-28-2008, 09:00 AM	#4
Flint Snowflake Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Dystopia Posts: 13,136	So, the "Rat King" wears this thing as a crown? That's even worse than the thorny crown thing. __________________ **************** There's a level of facility that everyone needs to accomplish, and from there it's a matter of deciding for yourself how important ultra-facility is to your expression. ... I found, like Joseph Campbell said, if you just follow whatever gives you a little joy or excitement or awe, then you're on the right track. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terry Bozzio**

01-28-2008, 09:15 AM	#5
ZenGum Doctor Wtf Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Badelaide, Baustralia Posts: 12,861	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. __________________ Shut up and hug. MoreThanPretty, Nov 5, 2008. Just because I'm nominally polite, does not make me a pussy. Sundae Girl.

01-28-2008, 05:17 PM	#10
toranokaze I'm still a jerk Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Little Mexico Posts: 1,817	How to cook...deep fat fry with cheese filling __________________ "Without deviation from the norm progress is not possible." - Frank Zappa It is the ignorance of ignorance that lead to the death of knowledge The Virgin Mary does not weep for her son, for he is in paradise. She weeps for the world , for we are in suffering.

01-28-2008, 05:57 PM	#11
Cloud ... Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,360	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. __________________ "Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards!"

01-28-2008, 08:29 AM	#3
JDwithcoke&lime Recruit or Something Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 4	Oh, I think I see a hair.........damn, now Iv'e lost my appetite!

01-28-2008, 11:10 AM	#7
bluecuracao in a mood, not cupcake Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 3,034	Must...not...look at IotD...during......lun

01-28-2008, 03:06 PM	#9
spudcon Beware of potatoes Join Date: May 2007 Location: Upstate NY, USA Posts: 2,078	If this was to happen in the real world, there would be one very fat rat left, having eaten his bretheran as they weakened.

01-28-2008, 08:21 PM	#13
Gravdigr The Un-Tuckian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: South Central...KY that is Posts: 39,517	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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