News
The ‘croak’ conundrum: Parasites complicate love signals in frogs
5+ hour, 52+ min ago (487+ words) image:Male green treefrogs use loud, repeated "honking" calls to attract mates. view more Parasites can influence these mating signals. Infections drain energy and trigger immune responses that weaken the body, altering traits tied to mating success, such as stamina…...
Iowa-led research team names, describes new crocodile that hunted iconic Lucy’s species
13+ hour, 59+ min ago (673+ words) image:Researchers led by the University of Iowa have described and named a new crocodile species that roamed a region in Africa more than 3 million years ago. The species is named Lucy's hunter, because it overlapped with the famed Lucy…...
Howler monkeys began eating leaves 13 million years ago, changing course of primate history in South America
23+ hour, 40+ min ago (566+ words) New analysis of two jaw fossils also indicates when loudest land mammal may have developed its iconic, guttural 'howl' image:The mandible of Stirtonia victoriae. view more The mandible of Stirtonia victoriae. A report of the findings, led by Cooke,…...
The complete genome of the golden lancehead reveals how genes responsible for venom toxins evolved
1+ day, 2+ hour ago (639+ words) image:Approximately 100,000 years ago, a portion of a continental population of around 140,000 individuals likely became isolated on a mountain that now comprises Queimada Grande Island view more The golden lancehead was described in 1921 as a different species from the one…...
Rattle Is a Warning Signal_01
1+ day, 30+ min ago (145+ words) A team of researchers from The University of Texas at El Paso uncovered new evidence explaining why the rattlesnake's rattle, one of nature's most iconic warning signals, has persisted and remained effective over millions of years. The team engineered a…...
Does sexual harassment behavior matter for ecosystems?
22+ hour, 9+ min ago (780+ words) Intense harassment of females by male mosquitofish increases the ecosystem consequences of this highly invasive fish image:Western mosquitofish, pictured here, are known as the "plague minnow" due to their aggressive impact on native habitats when introduced. view more Western…...
Could ultrasound help save hedgehogs?
1+ day, 18+ hour ago (372+ words) Credit: Tine Reinholt Jensen Researchers at the University of Oxford have suggested that ultrasound-repellers could help reduce hedgehog deaths by cars. The proposal is based on new findings, published today (11 March) in Biology Letters, which demonstrate for the first time…...
Analysis of ancient parrot DNA reveals sophisticated, long-distance animal trade network that pre-dates the Inca Empire
2+ day, 3+ hour ago (423+ words) Credit: Credit: Balazs Tisza The international team of researchers, including scientists from The Australian National University (ANU), analysed parrot feathers that were discovered at Pachacamac, Peru " one of the preeminent religious centres of the Andean civilisation " far outside the birds…...
University of Tennessee College of Social Work establishes Center for Pet Family Well-Being
2+ day, 2+ hour ago (429+ words) image:University of Tennessee, Knoxville Center for Pet Family Well-Being logo view more Credit: University of Tennessee The University of Tennessee, Knoxville College of Social Work has launched the Center for Pet Family Well-Being (CPFW), marking a new chapter in…...
Snakes off the plane
2+ day, 3+ hour ago (546+ words) Studying snakes" ability to stand upright could inform soft robotics and more image:A video frame of a snake standing upright. view more Snakes may be best known for slithering. But consider that these animals also perform one of the…...