Articles tagged with Aquatic Animals
Scientists have filled in key clues on the evolution of animals transitioning to aquatic life using a newly discovered reptile fossil. The study suggests that Vadasaurus, an ancient creature with features well-suited for aquatic life, is linked to modern New Zealand species and ancient sea-dwelling vertebrates.
Researchers decoded two worm genomes and found genetic similarities with vertebrates, including humans. They share genes involved in multicellularity and head development with deuterostomes, despite being distantly related. This discovery highlights the dynamic nature of animal genome evolution and our connection to ancient ancestors.
Most blue whales exhibit a lateralization bias, being 'right-handed' or 'left-handed,' with most feeding movements involving 90-degree side rolls. However, researchers found that these whales become left-handed when swimming upward at a steep angle to approach prey near the surface.
Researchers found that blue whales tend to be 'right-handed' when feeding, rolling about 90 degrees to the right side during most lunges. However, they roll to the left when approaching from below to target patches of prey, allowing for more efficient feeding.
The LAB-IN-A-BOX portable DNA barcoding kit enables rapid species identification, improving enforcement responses against wildlife trafficking and invasive species. This technology has the potential to greatly impact conservation efforts in developing countries.
A newly discovered fossil, Jablonskipora kidwellae, fills the missing evolutionary link in the history of bryozoans. The tiny marine creature lived 105 million years ago and evolved a unique structure to tap into flowing water, giving it a competitive advantage over other species.
Scientists have discovered a new type of cell in the eye of deep-sea fish that enables them to see in twilight conditions. This finding opens up new avenues of research into how animals adapt to extreme environments and challenges existing theories about photoreceptor cells.
Scientists from Moscow State University have discovered the evolutionary pathways of groups of invertebrates with specific tentacular apparatus - the lophophore. The study reveals that lophophorates are the closest relatives, with a common ancestral morphology.
Researchers discovered that fish respond emotionally to their environment, with brain areas linked to positive and negative emotions activated. The study suggests a simpler neurologic basis for emotional assessment than expected, potentially evolving around 375 million years ago.
Researchers discovered that adult sea turtles like Eleanor can survive and even thrive during tropical storms. The study found that sea turtles like Eleanor drastically change behavior when the storm strikes, using more energy than usual but still surviving without injury.
A new study finds that deep-sea mining of polymetallic nodules poses a significant threat to the Plenaster craigi sponge species. The removal of these metal-rich nodules disrupts the sponge's filtering habits, making it vulnerable to extinction.
A new Duke University study suggests that corals are attracted to plastics due to their chemical composition, which makes them taste good. Corals in the experiment preferred unfouled microplastics over fouled ones by a threefold difference.
Researchers have found that climatic changes related to the Permian-Triassic extinction event occurred 1 million years earlier than previously thought. The discovery was made in the Karoo Basin in South Africa, where fossils revealed a 'faunal turnover' indicating early signs of the extinction event.
A new species of stalked filter feeder has been discovered in the Cambrian Spence Shale in Utah, dating back 500 million years. The ancient creature, named Siphusauctum lloydguntheri, features a unique tulip-shaped body and variations in its digestive tract compared to similar known species.
Researchers from the NOAA Northeast Fisheries Science Center used a towed linear hydrophone array to document dive depths for Gervais' and True's beaked whales, two of the least known species. The study provides new insights into their behavior, revealing that they dive as deep as 870 meters in search of food.
A new study found a shared respiratory microbiome in healthy humpback whales, with 25 bacterial groups present across all samples. This discovery could serve as an important framework for monitoring whale health and detecting diseases.
Two mass extinction events led to the survival of a low number of 'weedy' species that spread globally, affecting ecosystems and biogeography. The findings shed light on modern high extinction rates and potential consequences for current biodiversity loss.
Researchers have identified proteins that control cell complexity in animals, revealing a key difference between humans and simpler organisms like fruit flies and sea urchins. The study found that specific genes interact with chromatin to regulate cellular processes, contributing to the increased complexity of mammals.
Researchers discover two new crustacean species in deep waters off the northwest coast of Spain, both blind and measuring just a few millimeters. The species are distinct despite sharing their lack of eyes, with one belonging to the Photidae family and the other to the Corophiidae family.
Scientists report that four penguin species target gelatinous animals for meals, providing a new link in the food web. The findings suggest that gelatinous organisms play an underrated role in the carbon cycle and can sustain large marine animals.
Researchers observed reduced pulsing activity at night and delayed responses to stimulation in the upside-down jellyfish Cassiopea. The findings suggest that jellyfish do indeed sleep, but the study also raises more questions about the origin of sleep and its relationship with neural systems.
Researchers from the University of Vienna have challenged a 150-year-old hypothesis on the evolutionary origin of the gut by studying sea anemones. Contrary to previous beliefs, digestive enzyme- and insulin-producing gland cells do not develop from endoderm but from the ectodermal part of the mouth in sea anemones.
Researchers discovered a bacterium that stimulates single-cell saltwater dwellers to form colonies and mate, providing insight into eukaryote-bacterium interactions. The study also revealed the production of chondroitin in primitive organisms, challenging evolutionary timelines.
Scientists have discovered that bacteria can act as an aphrodisiac for choanoflagellates, one-celled marine organisms notable for being the closest living relative of all animals. The discovery reveals how these eukaryotes regulate their life history in response to bacterial cues.
Researchers at the University of California San Diego have unlocked the mechanisms underlying animal kinship attachments and social attraction. The study found that neurotransmitters and microRNAs play a crucial role in regulating these behaviors, including the switching of neurotransmitters in response to olfactory cues.
New research suggests that corals build their hard, calcium carbonate skeletons faster and in bigger pieces than previously thought. This active construction method helps them grow much faster and with greater control.
A team of divers has discovered a wealth of fossil remains in Mexico's Hoyo Negro cave, shedding light on the region's ecosystem during the end of the last Ice Age. The finds include early human remains, giant ground sloths, and saber-tooth cats.
Scientists have discovered a new method to track penguin migration patterns using forensics, analyzing tail feathers for geochemical signatures. This approach can be applied to other marine animals and will help better understand and conserve charismatic species.
The Gulf of Mexico's unique flora and fauna are detailed in two open-access books compiled by editor C.H. Ward, covering topics such as water quality, oil seepage, and commercial fisheries. These studies provide an extensive baseline assessment of the Gulf's state and health before the devastating 2010 spill.
Researchers have documented a rare phenomenon where humpback whales flap their foreflippers like penguins or sea lions to move forward. This novel behavior helps scientists understand the abilities and anatomy of these mysterious animals.
Researchers used a deep-diving robot to study deep scattering layers, finding that they contain discrete groups or 'schools' of squids, fishes, and crustaceans. These groups have distinct boundaries and are formed by similar-sized animals, with smaller animals staying closer together.
A recent study reveals that a third of marine megafauna disappeared around three to two million years ago, leading to a significant reduction in species diversity. The loss of functional entities resulted in an erosion of ecological functions, with 17% of total diversity disappearing and 21% changing.
The study found a strong correlation between predator size and the diameter of drill holes, suggesting that larger predators have hunted smaller prey in the past. The researchers believe that growing bigger predators may not need to switch to larger targets due to more nutritious small prey.
Researchers found that as predators grew in size, they targeted smaller prey rather than larger quarry, suggesting a shift in ecological dynamics. The study's findings support the escalation hypothesis, which posits that top-down pressure from larger predators drove key evolutionary developments in prey species.
A recent study found that polar bear mercury levels are declining, indicating a change in their diet and weight as they adapt to reduced sea ice. The researchers attribute the drop to increased consumption of lower-mercury prey, such as bowhead whales and bearded seals, in place of ringed seals.
Fossil evidence reveals a previously unknown east-west migration route for some mammals across North America, challenging previous hypotheses. Researchers propose that sea otters and potentially other animals traversed the northern edge of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt to reach California from Florida.
A new study compares physical characteristics of two similar octopus species, assigning names years ago but never rigorously compared. Researchers analyzed 72 specimens and devised a method to quantify subtle differences in wart distribution.
A recent study found that 35 percent of the world's national animal symbols are threatened with extinction, highlighting the urgent need for conservation efforts. The analysis also revealed that populations of national animal symbols represented by North America and Australia-Oceania fare better than those in Africa.
A UCR study reveals that the Ediacaran-era fossil animal Dickinsonia developed in a highly regulated way using a similar genetic toolkit to today's animals. The research helps place Dickinsonia in the early evolution of animal life, showcasing its complex growth and development.
A new WCS-led study analyzes camera trap time stamps to better estimate tiger abundance and understand their behaviors. The research uses a spatial capture-recapture model to incorporate the timing of tiger detections into analysis, offering crucial insights for effective conservation efforts.
Researchers have found that microbes manipulate the molecular machinery of animal cells, triggering patterns of gene expression associated with health and disease. The study suggests ancient parts of the genome and interactions with microbes are relevant to modern-day human diseases.
A team of scientists suggests that massive volcanic eruptions triggered the first mass extinction event, which occurred at the end of the Ordovician period. The researchers analyzed mercury levels in sedimentary rocks from North America and southern China, finding a correlation between Hg enrichments and the mass extinction.
A new study reveals that red sea rabbitfish brought live marine animals with them when they invaded the mediterranean, expanding biodiversity and threatening native ecosystems. The research highlights the role of fish in spreading invasive species through 'ichthyochory,' a previously unknown mechanism.
The study reveals that enterococci, leading hospital superbugs, have been resistant to antibiotics and disinfectants for hundreds of millions of years. They were shaped by their environment, including living in the intestines of extinct animals, and can withstand drying out and starvation.
Researchers found that breathing 11% oxygen can eliminate neurologic damage in a mouse model of Leigh syndrome, but treatment needs to be continuous. The study reveals promising results, with hypoxia therapy reversing brain lesions and symptoms in animals close to the end stages of the disease.
The Weng'an Biota fossils, once thought to be among the world's oldest evidence of animal life, may actually belong to other groups like algae. Researchers have found that characteristics previously used to define animals are not unique to them, leaving room for alternative identifications.
The discovery of Tokummia katalepsis sheds light on the evolution of mandibulates, a group including flies, ants, and crabs. The fossilized arthropod features can opener-like pincers and specialized claws, providing insights into its feeding behavior.
Researchers found that bryozoans quickly dissolved in warmer waters exposed to acidity, changing their chemical composition to build higher levels of magnesium in their skeletons. This predisposes these animals to dissolve in ocean acidification, which is becoming more common due to climate change.
Researchers uncover giant sulfur-powered shipworm with unusual energy source, living in a stinky environment where it relies on bacteria for nourishment. The discovery expands biodiversity knowledge in the Indo-Pacific region and sheds light on unique transitions between organisms.
A new study by MBARI researchers Séverine Martini and Steve Haddock found that three quarters of deep-sea animals in Monterey Bay waters can produce bioluminescence. The study revealed a surprising similarity in the proportion of glowing to non-glowing animals at different depths, with various groups of animals responsible for light pr...
A team of evolutionary biologists from Vanderbilt University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison devised a new approach to settle contentious phylogenetic tree-of-life issues. They found that comb jellies have considerably more genes supporting their 'first to diverge' status in the animal lineage than do sponges.
A coalition led by the Mexican government has developed a bold emergency plan to rescue and protect the critically endangered vaquita porpoise. The plan includes construction of a sea pen sanctuary with up to $3 million in funding, aiming to recover a population that once numbered 600 animals.
A 425-million-year-old fossil find from the Austrian Alps reveals juvenile crinoids were carried by objects floating in ancient oceans. The discovery sheds light on the behavior of early sea lilies, suggesting they spent part of their youth drifting across vast distances.
Researchers found bacteria and fungi in killer whales that cause disease in humans and land-based animals, including Salmonella and antibiotic-resistant strains. The study provides insights into whale health and reveals potential pathogens in their environment.
A new study using a digital library and machine reading system has unraveled the mystery of ancient stromatolite formation. Stromatolites, contorted layers formed by microbes, are rare in modern oceans due to changes in seawater chemistry.
Researchers at UC Santa Barbara found that as certain species decline in number, their geographic areas of occupation also shrink. This makes them easier targets for hunters and fishermen, increasing the risk of extinction. The study highlights the importance of well-managed harvests to prevent overharvesting.
Researchers from the University of Edinburgh found that disease spread varies depending on age at exposure and maternal age. Younger offspring were more susceptible to infection when mothers were younger, contradicting expectations that disease spreads in dense populations.
A new species of hard coral, Cyphastrea salae, has been discovered on Lord Howe Island, Australia, using modern genetic techniques. The discovery highlights the unique fauna of this isolated location in the Tasman Sea and increases the conservation significance of Lord Howe Island.
Research suggests that dolphins and whales expend more energy when swimming at high speeds, potentially leading to increased risk of strandings. A study by Terrie Williams found that beaked whales using loud sonar use 30.5% more energy than unstartled animals.
A new study from Rutgers University reveals that killifish played a crucial role in the food web, while terns, gulls, and wading birds were highly sensitive to oil due to their extensive connections as prey and predator. The researchers identified blue crabs as key species for future research due to their importance in the ecosystem.