A 'Green' Mousetrap
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Looking for a way to get rid of those pesky mice? Than you may need to get the Nepenthes Attenboroughii, a new species of carnivorous pitcher plant, whose pitchers are so large, they can swallow an entire mouse!
The plant attracts rodents and insects with its brightly colored pitchers and sweet nectar. Once caught, the prey cannot escape thanks to the pitcher's waxy and slippery walls. The acids and enzymes inside the trap, then break down the prey and absorb the nutrients, spewing out only the bones.
The Nepenthes Attenboroughii was first discovered by two missionaries trying to climb the peak of Mount Victoria, in the remote region of Palawan in the Philippines.
Their description of a large pitcher plant, sparked the interest of three botanists, Stewart McPherson, Alastair Robinson and Volker Heinrich, who decided to investigate the claims themselves.
The trio made their first trip to the area in 2007, and have returned several times since, discovering numerous rarely or never been seen before species of plants.
Among them are, Nepenthes deaniana, another pitcher not seen in the wild in over a century, as well as, a number of other brand new plant species, including a yet to be identified blue fungi plant. Samples of each new species have been placed in the herbarium of the Palawan State University.
Stewart McPherson and his team are now in the process of making a documentary, as well as, writing a book outlining the details of their new discoveries.
Sources:BBC.co.uk,dailymail.co.uk
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38 Comments
- cutiepie1010about 13 yearscool...
- luna363over 13 yearsthat looks useful
- buckyozoalmost 14 yearsi gots to get me one of those
- ladylovealmost 14 yearsoh cutez
- Animal Expertalmost 14 yearsAfterwards, there might be consequences, so this isn't a good idea. Do you know how animals can figure things out? Well, soon the mice will stop getting into the plant and the plants will just die. Right?
- raccoons123over 9 yearsNo it also eats bugs
- Molly Moonabout 14 yearsGuys, it is the cycle of life. The mouse died. Everyone will die someday, so stop whining about the "mean" plant.
- apples528over 13 yearsi agree
- jlabout 14 yearsThe article article was great. I like to know about new carnivores I like the plants ones best.the article was great.
- Luv Pinkabout 14 yearsOMG!!! WHAT A DISGUSTING PLANT!!!
- omg!over 14 yearseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!
- 123456778910over 14 yearsI feel bad for the mouse!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!