Giants and Dwarfs

[brobear]

www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/04/210415114108.htm 
 
Confirmed: Island gigantism and dwarfism result of evolutionary island rule. 
 

It is an old-standing theory in evolutionary ecology: animal species on islands have the tendency to become either giants or dwarfs in comparison to mainland relatives. Since its formulation in the 1960s, however, the 'island rule' has been severely debated by scientists. Researchers solved this debate by analysing thousands of vertebrate species. They show that the island rule effects are widespread in mammals, birds and reptiles, but less evident in amphibians. 
  
Dwarf hippos and elephants in the Mediterranean islands are examples of large species who exhibited dwarfism. On the other hand, small mainland species may have evolved into giants after colonizing islands, giving rise to such oddities as the St Kilda field mouse (twice the size of its mainland ancestor), the infamous dodo of Mauritius (a giant pigeon), and the Komodo dragon.

[OldGreenGrolar]

In the animal kingdom dwafts and bears do exist. The 600 pound male Ussuri brown bear might be average but there are 400 pound males which exist as well as 1000 pound males.

[OldGreenGrolar]

In the polar bear kingdom, Stan at 810 kg would be considered a giant while a 600 pound male in Churchill and Svalbard would be considered a dwaft.