Modern Dinosaurs

S01E05 Island Giants

In New Zealand, the remarkable Giant Weta, resembling a spiky grasshopper, can reach the size of a rat. This unique environment is also inhabited by some of the largest birds ever recorded, massive centipedes, and predatory snails, alongside a two-meter-long lake creature—the enormous longfin eel, which can glide along beaches. What benefits do these animals gain from their impressive size? Additionally, what led to Australia being a habitat for giant marsupials, while New Zealand evolved its own array of giant birds, insects, and aquatic life?