Rat Eating Carnivorous Plants Discovered

Botanists have discovered a brand new species of carnivorous pitcher plant in the Philippines.

The pitcher plant has a pitfall trap so large the scientists believe is can capture and devour small vertebrates as well as it’s more usual insect prey. It is so large in fact that even rats are thought to fall victim to it’s deadly lure.

The pitcher plant entices it’s prey with a tasty looking lure and once the prey animal slips inside the pitfall trap it is drowned in liquid which also slowly dissolves it’s body so the plant can extract the nutrients.

This new species was discovered by botanists Stewart McPherson of Redfern Natural History, Alastair Robinson and Volker Heinrich. But the glory of whose name was used to name this new species went to natural history broadcaster, and all round legend David Attenborough. The Latin name for the new species is Nepenthes attenboroughii.

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