Short animals that can survive in most environments, such as Newsletter rats and pigeons, have thrived at the expense of long animals such as rhinos, which have specialised habitat requirements.Some rodents, for instance, that carry a range of viruses, thrive in urban spaces, where other species have been lost.The new evidence comes from analysis of a dataset of 184 studies incorporating almost 7,000 animal species, 376 of which are known to carry pathogens shared with humans.What can we do to stop spillover events?There are many factors involved in what scientists call spillover - when a pathogen crosses from an animal into humans, causing disease outbreaks, which may go on to become pandemics.We know, for instance, that close contact with animals through hunting, trade or habitat loss puts the world at increased risk of outbreaks of new diseases.Coronavirus is thought to have originated in bats, with other animals, playing a role in transmission to humans. There are strong indications of life source and a link to trade.
