A red-crowned crane chick, one of the largest and most threatened crane species in the world, is debuting at the Bronx Zoo.
Tag: Zoology
In paleontology, correct names are keys to accurate study
When the skeletal remains of a giant ground sloth were first unearthed in 1796, the discovery marked one of the earliest paleontological finds in American history.
Shining a light on tiny, solar-powered animals
Acoels have been found to host a wide diversity of symbiotic, photosynthetic microalgae.
Fossil Tells the “Tail” of an Ancient Beast
Approximately 200 million years ago, Antarctica was attached to South America, Africa, India, and Australia in a single “supercontinent” called Gondwana. Paleontologists have long wondered about the unique mammals that lived only on this ancient supercontinent, including a particularly elusive group…
Study reports first evidence of social relationships between chimpanzees, gorillas
A long-term study led by primatologist Crickette Sanz at Washington University in St. Louis reveals the first evidence of lasting social relationships between chimpanzees and gorillas in the wild.Drawn from more than 20 years of observations at Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park in the Republic of Congo, researchers documented social ties between individual chimpanzees and gorillas that persisted over years and across different contexts.
The physics of walking is simpler than we thought
The physics of walking for multi-legged animals and robots is simpler than previously thought. That is the finding described by a team of roboticists, physicists and biologists in the Sept. 5 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, in a paper titled “Walking is like slithering: a unifying, data-driven view of locomotion.”
False spring: Climate change may erode frogs’ ability to withstand salt pollution
Climate change may erode frogs’ ability to withstand road salt pollution, according to researchers at Binghamton University, State University of New York.
For female vampire bats, an equal chance to rule the roost
Female vampire bats establish an egalitarian community within a roost rather than a society based on a clear hierarchy of dominance that is often seen in animal groups, a new study suggests.
Study finds health trade-offs for wildlife as urbanization expands
City living appears to improve reproductive success for migratory tree swallows compared to breeding in more environmentally protected areas, a new five-year study suggests. But urban life comes with a big trade-off – health hazards linked to poorer water quality.
How Old Is Your Dog in Human Years? Scientists Develop Better Method than ‘Multiply by 7’
By mapping molecular changes in the genome over time, UC San Diego researchers developed a formula to more accurately compare dog age to human age — a tool that could also help them evaluate how well anti-aging products work.
New bat species discovered — cousins of the ones suspected in COVID-19
Bats play a huge but poorly understood role in humans’ lives–they pollinate our crops, eat disease-carrying mosquitos, and carry diseases themselves.
Scientists learn how vampire bat strangers make friends
Scientists haven’t had a good grip on how friendly connections among strangers are made between animals. A new study of vampire bats living in captivity with strangers supports the “raising-the-stakes” model of relationship development: trust builds through gradual acceleration of investments in each other’s well-being.
Frozen bird turns out to be 46,000-year-old horned lark
Scientists have recovered DNA from a well-preserved horned lark found in Siberian permafrost.
Watching TV helps birds make better food choices
By watching videos of each other eating, blue tits and great tits can learn to avoid foods that taste disgusting and are potentially toxic, a new study has found.
Does animal size in zoos matter?
As a sixth mass extinction sends shock waves through whole categories of species, modern zoos and aquariums stand as leading sources of conservation funding and safe havens for populations deemed threatened in the wild.
New dog, old tricks? Stray dogs can understand human cues
If you have a dog, hopefully you’re lucky enough to know that they are highly attuned to their owners and can readily understand a wide range of commands and gestures. But are these abilities innate or are they exclusively learned through training?
Climate may play a bigger role than deforestation in rainforest biodiversity
“Save the rainforests” is a snappy slogan, but it doesn’t tell the full story of how complicated it is to do just that.
New parasitoid wasp species discovered in the Amazon — can manipulate host’s behavior
A research group from the Biodiversity Unit of the University of Turku studies the diversity of parasitoid insects around the world.