You've probably heard of the komodo dragon before. At 10 feet (3 meters) long and 300 pounds (136 kg), it's the largest lizard in the world. How about elephant birds? These giants used to live on the island of Madagascar until they went extinct about 1,000 years ago. But then, there are also miniature versions of animals that live on islands as well — dwarf mammoths, dwarf hippopotamuses, and even Homo floresienses, a miniature cousin of modern humans that would have stood just over 3 feet (1 meter) tall. So what's the deal? Do islands make animals big or small? The short answer is "both."
They Might Be Island Giants
Island Rules Are Made to Be Broken
Do Animals Grow Bigger on Islands?
Written by Reuben Westmaas December 20, 2017
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