Articles tagged with Natural History
A global ant expert has discovered a new, native species in his Utah backyard, which is likely adapted to the region's warm and moist habitats. The species, Strumigenys ananeotes, was found in areas with over 150 years of irrigation and introduced forest.
A new study on a well-preserved femur fossil suggests that apes, humans, and Old World monkeys developed distinct hip joint morphologies, likely adapted to their respective environments. The findings imply that navigating the environment played a key role in driving the divergence of these primates.
Scientists have discovered a new species of praying mantis that conspicuously mimics a wasp, offering insights into the evolutionary biology and defense mechanisms of this unique behavior. The newly described Vespamantoida wherleyi joins one previously known species within the newly erected genus Vespamantoida.
A study published in Molecular Biology and Evolution reveals that the Icelandic walrus went extinct shortly after Norse settlement around 870 AD, likely due to commercial hunting and ivory trade. The research used ancient DNA analyses and C14-dating to demonstrate the existence of a unique population of Icelandic walruses.
Researchers found sex biases in fossil and museum collections of mammals, with approximately 75% male bison specimens and 64% male bear specimens identified. The study suggests that larger male ranges may increase their fossilization potential, potentially leading to biased scientific analyses.
Researchers uncover remarkably complete cranium of Australopithecus anamensis, a 3.8-million-year-old early human ancestor. The discovery contradicts long-held notions of human evolution, revealing that Lucy's species and its ancestor coexisted for at least 100,000 years.
Scientists removed nearly 200 invasive red-eared sliders from a UC Davis Arboretum waterway to observe the impact on native western pond turtles. The study found that without competition, native turtles gain significant weight and improve health.
A new study on a 20-million-year-old fossil from South America reveals that the brain evolved repeatedly and independently in monkeys, with some early members having more complex brains than previously thought. The research also sheds light on the visual-olfactory trade-off in primate evolution.
A new species of giant penguin, Crossvallia waiparensis, has been identified from fossils found in Waipara, North Canterbury. The discovery adds to the list of gigantic, but extinct, New Zealand fauna and reveals a close Antarctic relative.
Goliath frogs create three types of ponds to safeguard their eggs and tadpoles from predators. Researchers observed the frogs' laborious pond-building efforts, which may explain why they evolved to be giant.
Researchers used parasitic bat flies to study buffy flower bat populations in the Bahamas, finding a single population of bats but two populations of their flies. The study suggests that ocean channels may not be universal barriers for bats, with limited gene flow over two years.
Eteplirsen shows supportive results in delaying respiratory decline in DMD patients, with slower rates of decline observed in both ambulatory and non-ambulatory patients. This may have notable positive implications on quality of life and potentially delayed mortality.
Researchers built a phylogenetic tree based on DNA from newly collected anemone specimens to fill gaps in the origin of these species. They found that as a group, anemones independently evolved the ability to host clownfish three times throughout history, with two groups originating in the Tethys Sea.
Researchers found zebras' black and white stripes create a temperature difference that increases as the day heats up. The strips aid in heat loss through evaporation and convection currents.
A recent study has found that mites and ticks belong to the same evolutionary lineage, with over 42,000 mite species and 12,000 tick species described. This discovery expands our understanding of arthropod biodiversity and highlights the importance of genomic data in clarifying long-standing debates.
A new species of extinct sea cucumber named Sollasina cthulhu has been discovered, revealing a monstrous relative of modern sea cucumbers with long tentacles and an inner ring-like form. The fossil, 430 million years old, provides crucial information on the evolution of soft-bodied creatures.
Researchers have uncovered three new species and subspecies of ancient mammals that once roamed the Cayman Islands. These mammals, including large rodents and a shrew-like creature, are believed to have gone extinct due to human arrival and introduced species.
A new study led by UCL and NHM found that bird skull shape is more influenced by shared ancestry and behavior than diet. Researchers tested 352 bird species, representing 159 out of 195 existing families, and discovered that birds who eat nectar or seeds exhibit the highest rate of cranial evolution.
The Harvard Museum of Natural History announces a new Climate Change exhibit featuring multimedia displays, interactive stations, and real-time ocean monitoring data. The exhibit aims to educate visitors about the global impacts of climate change and provide solutions for reducing fossil fuel emissions.
A new Central American butterfly species, Catasticta sibyllae, has been named after Maria Sibylla Merian in recognition of her groundbreaking work on the metamorphosis of butterflies and moths. Merian's discoveries, made centuries ahead of her time, were instrumental in changing the course of entomology.
A 33-million-year-old fossil whale named Maiabalaena from Oregon had neither teeth nor baleen, challenging previous assumptions about the evolutionary origin of these structures. The discovery provides new insights into the feeding habits of early whales and sheds light on the complex evolution of whale species.
Analysis of ancient DNA from an extinct Jamaican monkey named Xenothrix has revealed its surprising connection to South America's titi monkeys. The study shows that island colonization can dramatically impact animal evolution, leading to unique characteristics like slow movement and few teeth.
Researchers at Yale University discovered that birds inherited their egg color from non-avian dinosaur ancestors that laid eggs in fully or partially open nests. The findings suggest that egg colors evolved to camouflage eggs from predators and parasites.
Researchers estimate only 3-4% of recorded fossil locations are documented in published literature, highlighting the need for museums to invest in digital preservation. The EPICC database compiles marine invertebrate fossils from the eastern Pacific, providing a vast resource for scientists.
A new plant species, Thismia kobensis, has been identified from a preserved specimen in a Japanese museum. The discovery suggests that this species may be extinct, as it was reported as extinct by Hyogo prefecture in 2010.
The study reveals 21 new parasitoid wasp species, updating the genus count to 27 and providing a systematic revision. The wasps' unique characteristics, such as large size and vivid coloration, suggest they likely parasitize orthopterans like grasshoppers and crickets.
Researchers will develop AR experiences varying in visual immersion and interactivity to understand their impact on learning and engagement. The project aims to dispel misconceptions using AR to provide additional information about the Tar Pits' history and discoveries.
Arizona State University will receive biological samples from 81 field sites across the US for 30 years, providing long-term ecological data. The NEON Biorepository Data Portal will make detailed information available online.
Researchers at the American Museum of Natural History have identified a unique enzyme responsible for the bioluminescence in Bermuda fireworms, which powers their dramatic mating display. The study also examines genes related to reproductive timing and changes in the animals' bodies before swarming events.
A new study found that moths with larger hindwings and longer tails have a higher chance of escaping bats due to their ability to deflect sonar. Researchers tested four different hindwing shapes in real-time dogfights between bats and moths, revealing that the larger the hindwings and longer the tails, the better the moths' chances.
The study uses DNA sequence data to analyze the evolution of testes in mammals, finding that African species lack the testicular descent process due to non-functional genes. This suggests that the testicular descent process was ancestral and lost in these species.
A new study challenges the long-held assumption that plant-eating mammals' diets can be determined by analyzing carbon isotopes in fossil teeth. The researchers found that the value of these isotope analyses changes with body size, leading to a more accurate understanding of extinct species and ecosystems.
A study identified 17 new genera and 29 new species of microgastrine wasps, including those named after Crocodile Dundee and Toblerone, published in the Journal of Hymenoptera Research. The discovery highlights the megadiverse fauna of these parasitoid wasps, with many more awaiting discovery.
The National Science Foundation has awarded a grant to the Natural History Museum of Utah and the College of Education at the University of Utah to develop an online learning environment for student learning in the biosciences. The project, EPIC Bioscience, will use digitized museum collections to provide middle school students with en...
Researchers have shed new light on the previously known geographical range of the extinct Carolina parakeet, a species officially declared extinct in 1920. The study provides unprecedented information on the bird's range and offers a window into its past ecology.
A new study explores the mouth of ancient crocodilians, shedding light on their evolution and behavior. The discovery of a closed secondary palate in early shartegosuchids, a group thought to be extinct, has significant implications for understanding the purpose of this feature in modern crocodiles.
Researchers have uncovered five new species of snail-eating snakes with peculiar dining habits, which are considered endangered or vulnerable due to habitat destruction. The study presents a new evolutionary tree for the diverse group of snail eaters in Central and South America.
Five new species of snakes, including four at risk of extinction, were found in Ecuador. The international research team auctioned their naming rights to save a 72 ha plot of land and expand the protected Buenaventura reserve.
Researchers compared bird and turtle genomes to determine dinosaur chromosome structure, revealing similarities with modern birds. The study's findings suggest that dinosaurs had a similar karyotype pattern as modern birds, contributing to their diversity.
Researchers have found a complete skull of the iconic toothed bird Ichthyornis dispar, providing new insights into its transitional features. The fossil reveals a modern-looking brain and a remarkably dinosaurian jaw muscle configuration.
Researchers from the San Diego Natural History Museum have rediscovered the San Quintin kangaroo rat in Baja California, partnering with a conservation plan to protect the endangered species. The discovery was made using traditional field techniques and live traps, and the rat has been found to persist in the Valle Tranquilo Nature Res...
A 1.5-foot-long fossil slab, misidentified twice, has been reinterpreted as a large cartilaginous fish with characteristics similar to sharks and rays. The study suggests the fish lived between 70-85 million years ago and expands the diversity of the Niobrara fauna.
A team of scientists found that species with strong male sexual dimorphism are more vulnerable to extinction due to increased energy investment in reproduction. They analyzed thousands of ancient crustacean fossils, including ostracods with distinct sex-specific shapes preserved in the fossil record.
A new study re-examines a 17th-century Scottish natural history book, revealing insights into the country's pre-industrial environmental change. The research, published in the Royal Society Journal of the History of Science, highlights Scotland's lost wildlife species and its ecosystem's preservation of ancient species.
Research at Finnish Museum of Natural History sheds light on great magma eruptions, revealing two contrasting sources: the upper mantle and a deep mantle plume. This study resolves long-standing controversies and presents an interesting new framework for future geological research.
Scientists have named a new butterfly species, Wahydra graslieae, after the Field Museum's chief curiosity correspondent Emily Graslie. The dark rust-colored skipper with silver scales is found in the Ecuadorian Andes and expands our understanding of the genus Wahydra diversity.
A new study confirms the value of iDNA methods in biodiversity surveys, identifying certain ground birds and bats for the first time. Leeches can be used to survey more rapidly and confidently identify small mammal species, making them an extremely useful tool for conservation purposes.
Two new genera of slugs, Fjordia and Gulenia, have been discovered by Norwegian divers, with one genus named after a dive resort and the other after its founder. The discovery is attributed to DNA analysis and citizen science efforts.
Researchers create biomechanical models to test how ecological factors like age at sexual maturity and average precipitation influence skull shape in carnivoran species. The study reveals that nondietary factors significantly impact both skull form and function, surpassing dietary influences.
Researchers have discovered that modern cheetahs possess a distinct vestibular system in their inner ear, which enhances sensitivity and rapid responses to head motions. This unique anatomy allows the cheetah to maintain its gaze locked on prey during high-speed hunts.
Researchers have discovered that brittle stars use thousands of light-sensitive cells in their skin to navigate complex environments. The team found these photoreceptors on the entire body surface and embedded them in the skin, challenging a long-held lens-based hypothesis.
A new study reveals that birds have advanced their breeding time, laying eggs on fields still to be sown, increasing the risk of nest destruction. This mismatch is likely fatal for bird nests, highlighting the need for conservation efforts and effective schemes like Agri-environment schemes.
A new ancient dolphin species, Urkudelphis chawpipacha, has been discovered in Ecuador, with a fossilized skull featuring distinctive facial features. The species is believed to be an ancestor of the nearly-extinct Platanistoidea, or river dolphin, and may have lived during the Oligocene era.
Scientists discovered tick fossils trapped in amber, providing direct evidence of ticks parasitizing dinosaurs. The ticks were found attached to a dinosaur feather and offered the first direct fossil evidence of ticks feeding on dinosaurs.
A new study reveals that extinct marine reptiles called sauropterygians evolved similar inner ear proportions to modern aquatic reptiles and mammals. The research found that nearshore sauropterygians had ears similar to those of crocodiles, while fully-aquatic plesiosaurs had ears similar to sea turtles.
A team of researchers discovered a female alligator snapping turtle in Clear Creek, Union County, Illinois, after 30 years of absence. The 22-pound, 15-inch long turtle is believed to be at least 18 years old and not one of the released turtles.
A new study analyzing the jaws of the extinct otter Siamogale melilutra found that its jaw bones were six times sturdier than expected, indicating a strong bite force. The discovery suggests that the massive otter may have been a top predator in its time, crushing shells and bones of birds and small mammals.
A new study reveals that mammals began living in the daytime approximately 66 million years ago, shortly after the dinosaurs' disappearance. The ancestors of simian primates were among the first to abandon nocturnal activity, with their visual adaptations comparable to diurnal reptiles and birds.
The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute is sequencing 25 new UK species genomes to aid conservation and understand biodiversity. The results will be made publicly available and lead to future studies on the UK's rich species richness.
A study published in Biodiversity Data Journal uses deep learning techniques to differentiate between similar plant families with high accuracy. The researchers trained neural networks on digitized herbarium specimens, achieving up to 99% accuracy in distinguishing between two challenging species.