Afarensis is a 3.5-2.8 million year old hominin from the Kada Hadar member of the Hadar formation in the Middle Awash, Ethiopia. He is approximately 41 inches tall, weighs approximately 60 pounds and has a cranial capacity of a whopping 410 cc (approximately). Afarensis is currently considered to be transitional between apes and humans and displays some traits of both. Since he spends a lot of time on the couch watching monster movies, some observers question whether he is an obligate biped (although no one has observed him climbing a tree). He also has a blog called 
It's like Night of the Lepus! A giant rabbit is running amok eating crops in Felton England. Think I'm kidding? Here is a picture of one of it's buddies:
According to National Geographic:
Rabbit experts say the rodent could be an escaped giant domestic rabbit. Some pet breeds can grow to more than three feet (one meter) in length.
Apparently it is also kind of aggressive:
"These rabbits can be aggressive," she added. "They'll see anybody off that enters their territory. This particular rabbit sounds like it's reverted to the wild."
Comments
According to Nat'l Geographic rabbits are rodents? Those guys just get sloppier and sloppier.
Posted by: Carel | April 11, 2006 6:27 PM
I didn't catch that till you pointed it out. You are correct rabbits are in the order Lagomorpha not Rodentia...Good catch!
Posted by: afarensis, FCD | April 11, 2006 7:04 PM
This bunny ought to be in the front lines of the War on Easter.
Posted by: S. C. Hartman | April 11, 2006 7:18 PM
What a coincidence. We just watched Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit. Don't tell me it was based on a true story.
Posted by: Mark Paris | April 11, 2006 7:38 PM
Uh... That's a weally warge wabbit, but I think the photo exaggerates it a bit because obviously the guy is holding it close to the camera while standing in the background. Look at the hand holding the rabbit. Also, about the "rodent" error -- dude, it was an honest mistake that a lot of people make. Send the author an e-mail and I'm sure it will get corrected.
Posted by: Walter | April 11, 2006 7:44 PM
Dammit! I hadn't realised that "Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the WereRabbit" was a documentary...
Posted by: Corkscrew![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://scienceblogs.com/afarensis/nav-commenters.gif)
|
April 11, 2006 8:00 PM
I haven't actually seen Wallace and Gromit, which is why I linked it to Night of the Lepus which I have seen.
Posted by: afarensis, FCD | April 11, 2006 9:19 PM
Does it got big teeth? (See Monty Python and the Holy Grail)
Posted by: Michael Reagan | April 12, 2006 8:43 AM
I agree. It also looks as though the picture was taken with something like a 28mm lens, which would exaggerate the size even more.
The article mentions one bunny which is just over a metre long, and I could believe that this one is in that league.
Posted by: Scott Belyea | April 12, 2006 9:46 AM
From this picture, it looks like the rabbit is as big or bigger than the man's torso. I like the pictures too, but I'm with everybody else. They're "overselling" it.
Posted by: Ocellated | April 12, 2006 12:44 PM
Yeah, that's the classic "fisherman's pose," designed to make the rabbit look as big as possible. Nonetheless, that's one big rabbit!
Posted by: Dave Munger | April 12, 2006 7:07 PM
Gosh, I thought I was a skeptic. Okay, lookee here people the article said the rabbits could get up to 3 feet and upwards of 35 pounds - which is about what the rabbit above looks so, gosh darn it, quite dissing Thumper, you are making Bambi cry...
Posted by: afarensis | April 12, 2006 11:26 PM
Rarely do I come back to read comments, but I'm glad I did. Good humor. I'm stilling chuckling.
Posted by: Ocellated | April 13, 2006 2:18 PM
It's a Balco Bunny!
Posted by: J-Dog | April 13, 2006 3:34 PM
Ummmmm, http://www.snopes.com/photos/animals/bigcat.asp. Could the rabbit just be a hoax or is it the result of genetically modified carrots. Damn you science! Damn you!
Posted by: Clark Bartram | April 13, 2006 9:56 PM
It's likely a Belgian Giant or similar. The giant breeds of rabbits can indeed push a meter "standing length". They might even reach two meters stretched out; the (non-giant) bunny I used to have could get amazingly long, when he decided to rest "here... and over there..." :-)
Posted by: David Harmon | April 14, 2006 4:08 PM
Also, rabbits can indeed be aggressive -- they have not only sharp teeth, but fairly good claws. In the wild they fight over dominance and for mates, and to protect their lairs/burrows. In captivity... well, my stepfather tells how the mascot of his Navy unit was a giant rabbit that drank beer and chased the guard dogs.
Posted by: David Harmon | April 14, 2006 4:22 PM
I can believe it. I used to have a Belgian Hare when I was a teenager. It's idea of fun was to chase our cats...
Posted by: afarensis, FCD | April 15, 2006 12:36 AM
I feel that those rabbits should be moved properly by animal authoritys.And placed in a fertile and safe environment.Besides,they are beautiful!
Posted by: C. Bates | April 15, 2006 7:07 PM
I feel that those rabbits should be moved properly by animal authoritys.And placed in a fertile and safe environment.Besides,they are beautiful!
Posted by: C. Bates | April 15, 2006 7:08 PM
i have a banny it is a havana rabbit!it is in 4-h
Posted by: addie | July 17, 2006 12:58 PM
i have a rabbit it is a havana and it is in 4-h it won 3 blus for the plates round!
Posted by: addie | July 17, 2006 1:00 PM
Cool!
Posted by: afarensis, FCD | July 18, 2006 10:57 AM
And I thought my rabbits, Hoppity and Ricky, were big!Considering that they are New Zealand and Rex Rabbits.
Posted by: Suzy Holman | July 26, 2006 6:59 PM
OMG!! i want that rabbit!!! i have mini lops and show them at fairs.... i want the big bunny for a pet tho. mi mom said i could!!!! :P
Posted by: ashley | March 24, 2007 10:28 PM
WWWWWWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
Posted by: Looney | May 2, 2007 2:28 PM