Why didn't the radiation that turned the ants into giants affect other desert animals such as cougars and coyotes in the same way?
God is subtle, but He is not malicious. (Albert Einstein)
To the OP:
Simple. The script called for giant ants, not giant cougars.
Imagine what an extra exciting movie THEM! could be with every desert animal turned gigantic! If the ants were the size of bulls, how big would the cougars be?
God is subtle, but He is not malicious. (Albert Einstein)
Pseudo-scientific explanation:
The radiation did indeed cause mutations in a variety of animal (and possibly plant) life in the area of the atomic tests. However, most of the mutations were not benevolent in nature and caused the death of the animals before they could breed. In the ants, one particular species anyway, the mutations were passed on, eventually resulting (after several hundred generations -- ants would breed a lot in nine years) in the giant ants of the movie.
Besides, we already had a movie with a giant cougar. It was called "Attack of the 50-foot Woman!"
Ba-dump CHEE! Thank you, I'll be here all week. Try the veal, and be sure to tip your waitress.
Obviously the radiation had budgetary constraints
shareAttack of the 50 foot woman. Hilarious!!!
shareDidn't the Professor also say something about faster-breeding species showing the effects quicker?
So in the "reality" of THEM, humanity was going to face a lot of giant specimens over the coming decades.
This suggests THE GIANT GILA MONSTER, EARTH VERSUS THE SPIDER, and NIGHT OF THE LEPUS could be considered unofficial sequels sharing TARANTULA's irradiated desert setting.
Great answer. It's surprising just how often the simple answer is completely overlooked!
shareWhile the ants were a 'local' problem, the 'phenomena' was world-wide. Think Godzilla, Mothra, Behemoth; the list goes on and on. And who knows what malevolent creatures will arise from the 'Fukushima disaster' in the years ahead? If you think I'm kidding, already there are gigantic vegetables growing in the region -- 'Google' it!
shareIn real life radiation sickness actually shows different effects on different individuals/species. Some people vomit, some lose their hair, some grow tumors, some don't. Worms have a tendency to grow. Roaches are resistant to radiation.
Put that logic to this and maybe that was just the effect it had on this particular species.
Beats me.
Because the ants are already so small, that does of radiation make them grow bigger to give the species a chance to survive.
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