Zoology News

November 7, 2016

Giant Predatory Lizard Swam in Antarctic Seas

Most Mammals Life Longer in Zoos

'Cyclops' Beetles Inform 'Chicken-And-Egg' ...

The Vivid Colors of Birds

Latest Headlines

updated 5:25pm EST

Researchers Unravel Viruses' Strategies to Dodge Immune Systems

Nov. 7, 2016 — As mammals evolve, so do mammalian viruses. In doing so, they develop creative and effective ways to counter and evade the antiviral responses of their mammal hosts’ immune systems. Researching ... read more

Sharks Help Prevent Climate Change

Nov. 7, 2016 — Over fishing and shark finning may result on more greenhouse gasses and increased climate change, researchers suggest. Their new paper demonstrates the importance of protecting our oceans, and the ... read more

Discovery of New Bacteria Complicates Problem With Salmon Poisoning in Dogs

Nov. 3, 2016 — Scientists have discovered another bacterium that can cause symptoms similar to "salmon poisoning" in dogs - and may complicate the efforts of Pacific Northwest pet owners to keep their dogs ... read more

Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria from Chickens Pose Risk to Human Health

Nov. 4, 2016 — Isolates of a common poultry pathogen collected from animals in Indian bird markets were found to be mostly resistant to multiple classes of antibiotics. The study provides the first data on ... read more

Herbivorous Mammals Have Bigger Bellies

Nov. 4, 2016 — Herbivorous mammals have bigger bellies than their usually slim carnivorous counterparts, an international study based on 3D reconstructions of animal skeletons reveals for ... read more

Frog, Toad Larvae Become Vegetarian When It Is Hot

Nov. 3, 2016 — Climate change is currently one of the greatest threats to biodiversity, and one of the groups of animals most affected by the increase in temperature is amphibians. A team ... read more

Female Fish Judge Males on DIY Skills, Study Shows

Nov. 3, 2016 — Male fish build nests to suit local environments - and females judge males on their ability to respond to changing conditions, an international team of ... read more

Tricking Moths Into Revealing the Computational Underpinnings of Sensory Integration

Nov. 2, 2016 — A research team has teased out how hawkmoths integrate signals from two sensory systems: vision ... read more

Aerial Surveys of Elephants, Other Mammals May Underestimate Numbers

Nov. 1, 2016 — The two main census methods now in use may be undercounting elephants and that population estimates from both are biased low, ... read more

World's Most Endangered Alligator Making a Comeback, in Shanghai

Oct. 26, 2016 — Eggs of critically endangered Chinese alligators discovered recently in a nest in a Shanghai wetland park have hatched, report researchers; the baby alligators have been ... read more

Bolivian Llama Conservation Efforts Pay Dividends

Cows Eat This Device, And It Lets Them Text Their Farmer — Sort Of

Peru Frees Thousands of Turtles Into the Amazon

Dinosaur Brain Tissue Identified for First Time

Large Numbers of Outdoor Cats Pose Challenges for Communities

Nov. 3, 2016 — The number of outdoor cats in the city of Guelph, Ontario is eye-raising, and these cats are more likely to be found in low-income residential areas, according to a new ... read more

Environmentally-Friendly Pesticides: One Hormone to Rule Them All

Nov. 2, 2016 — Identifying stress hormones in insects can be a step towards environmentally-friendly pesticides. Researchers have discovered that one hormone coordinates the responses to stress in fruit ... read more

Social Media Photos Priceless for Natural Resources Research

Nov. 1, 2016 — Tapping into social media posts on Instagram, Flickr and Panoramio gave researchers a trove of information about people’s opinions of scenic European landscapes. A new study shows that geotagged ... read more

Research Into Extreme Weather Effects May Explain Recent Butterfly Decline

Oct. 31, 2016 — Increasingly frequent extreme weather events could threaten butterfly populations in the UK and could be the cause of recently reported butterfly population crashes, according to ... read more

New Research on Bats Hunting in Noise

Oct. 28, 2016 — Noise pollution, according to a new study, has been linked to lower survival and reproduction because it masks environmental cues and makes it hard for animals to hear moving prey or approaching ... read more

How Sharks Recycle Toxic Ammonia to Keep Their Skin Moist

Oct. 28, 2016 — The Pacific spiny dogfish shark is a master at recycling the ocean’s toxic ammonia and converting it into useful urea, according to new ... read more

Common Cuckoo, Warbler Eggshells Undergo Similar Levels of Eggshell Thinning

Oct. 27, 2016 — As avian embryos develop, they draw needed calcium from the inner most layer of their eggshell, which in turn thins the eggshell and facilitates hatching. Yet, parasitic cuckoos, which lay their eggs ... read more

For 10 Months out of the Year, Common Swifts Live in Mid-Air

Oct. 27, 2016 — Common swifts are known for their impressive aerial abilities, capturing food and nest material while in flight. Now, by attaching data loggers to the birds, researchers have confirmed what some had ... read more

New Warning Over Spread of Ash Dieback

Oct. 27, 2016 — The ash dieback fungus could spread more quickly and affect more trees than previously expected, according to research. Scientists have discovered that asexual spores of the ash dieback fungus ... read more

Global Wildlife Populations: 58 Percent Decline, Driven by Food and Energy Demand

Oct. 27, 2016 — Global populations of vertebrates -- mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish -- have declined by 58 percent between 1970 and 2012, states a new report. Animals living in the world's ... read more

A Songbird's Travelogue

Oct. 26, 2016 — Biologists recently used light-weight geolocation technology to follow a species of songbird on its 10,000-kilometer migration from the Middle East to sub-Saharan ... read more

Rare Window on the Lives of Young Albatrosses

Oct. 26, 2016 — Understanding population dynamics is crucial for the conservation of long-lived species like albatrosses, but collecting data on albatrosses before they reach adulthood and begin to breed is ... read more

Mulberry Extract Activates Brown Fat, Shows Promise as Obesity Treatment

Oct. 26, 2016 — Good news for those who want to activate their brown fat (or BAT, brown adipose tissue) without having to be cold: New research suggests that a natural compound in mulberries, called ... read more

The Buzz About Edible Bugs: Can They Replace Beef?

Oct. 26, 2016 — The idea of eating bugs has created a buzz lately in both foodie and international development circles as a more sustainable alternative to consuming meat and fish. Now a report examines how the ... read more

First-Time Reconstruction of Infectious Bat Influenza Viruses

Oct. 26, 2016 — All known Influenza A viruses originate from aquatic birds that serve as virus reservoirs in nature. Avian viruses can cause severe disease and may lead to devastating pandemics when introduced into ... read more

Caught 'Napping': First Direct Evidence of Migratory Hoary Bats Hibernating

Oct. 25, 2016 — Perched among the branches and needles of California's redwood forests are nestled wayfaring hoary bats (Lasiurus cinereus). A migratory species capable of traveling hundreds of miles, hoary ... read more

New Method of Estimating Biodiversity Based on Tree Cover

Oct. 25, 2016 — Scientists used tree cover maps and on-the-ground observations to measure biodiversity in Costa Rica. The results generated a method of modeling biodiversity across tropical ... read more

Species Speed Up Adaptation to Beat Effects of Warmer Oceans

Oct. 25, 2016 — Some fish species are adapting to survive environmental changes without significant genetic evolution, according to new ... read more

Global Warming May Harm Predator and Prey Connections

Oct. 25, 2016 — A new study highlights the potential harm that climate change may have on a number of predator and prey relationships. The new work looks into predator and prey relationships, how they change ... read more

Genetic Mutation in Whale Eyes May Increase Mortality Risks

Oct. 24, 2016 — Difficulty seeing in bright light, which can be linked to a genetic mutation, can also increase baleen whales' susceptibility to fatal entanglements in fishing gear, say ... read more

Thursday, November 3, 2016