Seals, sea lions and walruses — collectively known as pinnipeds — are the only mammals with excellent hearing both above and below the water. The evolution of this unique ability…
Category: Animals
Spines of saber-toothed cats tell a tale of the doomed species
Clues to saber-toothed cats’ demise are emerging from fossils entombed in California’s sticky La Brea Tar Pits. Fossils of the extinct predators preserved in tar reveal a diversity of spinal…
Watch an orca ram into a sunfish so hard it explodes
Orcas have been known to slap around stingrays, punt seals into the air and otherwise play with their food. But killer whales don’t just toy with live prey. Some also…
A rare 3-D snake fossil is spilling secrets of its unusual lifestyle
Most snake fossils are two-dimensional. Sandwiched within rocks, the pressure of millions of years flattens them like a pancake. But in 2020, scientists uncovered a uniquely well-preserved snake fossil in…
This humpback whale hunting strategy has been out of sight — until now
Humpback whales are known for their ingenious hunting tactics. One of the most sophisticated strategies involves as many as 20 whales working together to create a “net” of bubbles underwater…
Ape cuddles could prevent conflicts
Humans could learn from chimpanzees and bonobos, who turn to group members for physical comfort during tense moments.
Deep-sea snails ride surface currents to reach distant hydrothermal vents
The ocean is giving up one of its secrets: how members of the same species can turn up at far-flung deep-sea hydrothermal vents. An epic migration up to — and…
Summit living isn’t a problem for this tiny mouse
It’s not easy living the high life. Take it from the Andean leaf-eared mouse, Earth’s highest-dwelling mammal. To tolerate the freezing temperatures atop dormant volcanoes, these mice generate more body…
Beefalo are bred to be part bison. A new study says most aren’t
People will spend $100 to learn about their genetic ancestry. Some pay even more to learn about their dog’s genes. But how many have questioned the genetic ancestry of their…
The natural history of every U.S. state is on display at a new D.C. exhibit
The Smithsonian Natural History Museum’s latest exhibit, “From These Lands,” connects visitors with America’s natural history.
