Giant Stork, Leptoptilos Robustus, May Have Fed On Ancient Hobbit-Like Humans

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Giant Stork, Leptoptilos Robustus, May Have Fed On Ancient Hobbit-Like Humans On Flores Island

Joanna Zelman First Posted: 12- 9-10 02:58 PM   |   Updated: 12- 9-10 04:54 PM


An island of Komodo dragons, dwarf elephants, giant rats, and hobbit-eating storks? No, it's not a trailer for a yet-to-be-made "Jurassic Park 9." In fact, this just may be the odd island of misfit animals that once inhabited Flores Island in Indonesia.

The Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society reported a recent fossil discovery on the island. Paleontologists found bones belonging to an estimated 1.8 meter tall marabou stork, named Leptoptilos robustus. The bones are believed to be up to 50,000 years old.

This is the most recent of many bizarre discoveries on this island. One small species previously discovered to have lived on Flores island is Homo floresiensis, a one-meter-tall human-like species that has earned the nickname 'hobbit.' Due to their diminutive size, scientists believe that the giant storks may have fed on this hominid creature.

http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/journal.asp?ref=0024-4082