An animal that could be mistaken for a spiky fruit is giving scientists a peek into what mollusks looked like around 500 million years ago. Fossils of an ancient invertebrate…
Category: Animals
Scientists want to send endangered species to the moon
As more and more species near extinction, scientists have been collecting samples from animals, plants and other creatures and storing them in biorepositories across the globe (SN: 5/8/19). But climate…
Nasty-tasting cane toads teach crocodiles a lifesaving lesson
All it takes is one miserable night after a bad dinner or drink to make humans avoid an ingredient for life. To teach freshwater crocodiles in Australia to avoid a…
A risk-tolerant immune system may enable house sparrows’ wanderlust
For animals exploring new territory, taking risks is key to survival. But eating unfamiliar foods can be dicey, since they might contain new pathogens and parasites. One avian immune system,…
A frog’s story of surviving a fungal pandemic offers hope for other species
Extreme Climate Survey Science News is collecting reader questions about how to navigate our planet’s changing climate. What do you want to know about extreme heat and how it can…
A frog’s story of surviving a fungal pandemic offers hope for other species
Slimy heralds of hope are hopping around Yosemite National Park. Being a frog hasn’t been easy in the High Sierra or in many other places ever since a fungal parasite…
Hundreds of snake species get a new origin story
The ancestors of cobras and related snakes first emerged in Asia roughly 35 million years ago. Many researchers thought the Elapoidea superfamily of snakes evolved in Africa before slithering their…
Why a small seabird dares to fly toward cyclones
Tropical cyclones are synonymous with destruction. But at least one seabird may take advantage of them as feeding opportunities. The Desertas petrel, a small and threatened seabird native to the…
Pheromone fingers may help poison frogs mate
During mating, some male poison frogs embrace their partner’s face in a love-potion-laced hug. The amorous amphibians may create pheromones in glands in their fingers, researchers report July 21 in…
Static electricity may help butterflies and moths gather pollen on the fly
Birds do it. Bees do it. Even butterflies and moths do it. As lepidopterans flutter their wings, friction with the air causes them to accumulate static electricity — enough to…
