Animals

The Kangaroo Island dunnart was one species seen to reemerge after Australian bushfires Few marsupials have gone from miraculous survival to the brink of extinction as quickly as the Kangaroo Island dunnart. In 2019 and 2020, devastating fires burned nearly 10 million hectares of southeastern Australia. The flames threatened hundredsContinue Reading

Sexism in biology has left females misunderstood To Charles Darwin, nature had a certain order. And in that order, males always came out on top. They were the leaders, the innovators, the wooers and the doers. “The males of almost all animals have stronger passions than the females,” Darwin wroteContinue Reading

The amphibians control their descents without the use of any webbed limbs In one of the tallest trees on Earth, a tan, mottled salamander ventures out on a fern growing high up on the trunk. Reaching the edge, the amphibian leaps, like a skydiver exiting a plane. The salamander’s confidence,Continue Reading

Ultrasounds tracking fetal mouth movements pinpoint when vocalization motor skills develop   Cradled inside the hushed world of the womb, fetuses might be preparing to come out howling. In the same way newborn humans can cry as soon as they’re born, common marmoset monkeys (Callithrix jacchus) produce contact calls toContinue Reading

Low doses make the animals sick and rapid tests can sometimes detect the infection Golden Syrian hamsters are highly susceptible to the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, a new study shows. While the species is popular among pet owners, the results, posted April 20 at bioRxiv, are not cause for panic,Continue Reading

Tracking the snakes’ ribs in X-ray videos revealed careful control over their bones’ movements The boa constrictor’s choke hold is an iconic animal attack. By coiling around its prey, a snake can squeeze the life out of a victim in mere minutes before gulping it down whole. But it’s beenContinue Reading

We all need our rest, but too much lounging around can be tough on our bodies. We humans can lose up to 14% of our muscle power when confined to bed for just 10 days. Hibernating animals are a different story, however. Ground squirrels don’t waste away during Jack Frost’sContinue Reading

Social bonds extend beyond the roost and may save time and energy when hunting Vampire bats may be bloodthirsty, but that doesn’t mean they can’t share a drink with friends. Fights can erupt among bats over gushing wounds bit into unsuspecting animals. But bats that have bonded while roosting oftenContinue Reading

A new fossil skeleton of an extinct species of bird from northeastern China that lived alongside dinosaurs 120 million years ago unexpectedly preserves a bony tongue that is nearly as long as its head. The skull is very well preserved, showing that it had a relatively short snout and smallContinue Reading