Counting cheetahs: a new approach yields results in the Maasai Mara
Being a cheetah researcher in Kenya’s Maasai Mara, I’m often asked how many cheetahs there are in the region. It’s an important question, especially for conservation as it is crucial to accurately...
View ArticleWhy were dinosaurs in a hurry to leave Europe?
At this point in time, you may well have had enough of articles on the topic of leaving Europe. If that’s the case, you’ll be delighted to know this one is about biogeography and how dinosaurs spread,...
View ArticleHere be dragons… meet the seadragons
They may not fly, breathe fire, or perch atop a pile of gold, but the dragons of Australia’s seas are still a wonderful sight to behold. They roam a beautiful and mysterious world, amid forests of kelp...
View ArticleSchools and peer pressure: fish personalities shaped by social interaction
A new study indicates that fish personalities can be influenced and changed by social context — meaning fish may be more complex and socially aware than we previously believed. Fish, in general, have...
View ArticleWhy are cephalopod populations booming?
Squid, octopus and cuttlefish populations are booming across the world. These fast-growing, adaptable creatures are perfectly equipped to exploit the gaps left by extreme climate changes and...
View ArticleHow the giraffe got its neck, and other stories
It’s difficult being a giraffe. Standing at over five metres in height, giraffes are both vertically gifted and challenged. Having your face up at tree level makes it easier to get the food that...
View ArticleThe amazing efficiency of the harbour porpoise
The harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) may be one of the northern hemisphere’s smallest cetaceans, but compared to some of their larger counterparts, they punch well above their weight. New research...
View ArticleSharks show off their distinct personalities in new study
For the first time, evidence presented from Macquarie University, Australia demonstrates how shark personalities can vary. This finding follows recent research that highlighted how fish personalities...
View ArticleIs Blood Really Thicker than Water? Vampire Bats Choose Friends Over Family
Common vampire bats regularly share food in order to survive and it appears that their social bonds with food-sharing partners take priority even over their own kin. Vampire bats may be portrayed by...
View ArticleVIDEO: MEERKATS COMPETE TO OUTGROW THEIR SIBLINGS
Recent research has shown how female meerkats compete to be the biggest and ensure a dominant role. A single pair of meerkats dominates over a group of roughly 20-50 individuals. The largest and...
View ArticleGenetic analyses reveal fishy goings-on in Indo-Pacific
What do savannah cats, killer bees and the trusty mule have in common? They are all hybrids: the result of two different parent species interbreeding. Although these fairly familiar hybrids are usually...
View ArticleFashionable lateness: a priority for pregnant mice
Mice sometimes cooperate when rearing young, forming communal nests that allow for resources to be shared amongst all pups present. But in these communal nests, all is not as friendly as it initially...
View ArticleFatal collisions: roads are causing bats harm
Road networks may allow us to get from one place to another quickly and safely, but for many animals they are a dangerous barrier, often proving fatal – the sight of an unfortunate badger, rabbit or...
View ArticleMother’s loving gaze promotes sociality in infant macaques
Social competency is crucially important for survival in complex animal societies. Successfully finding food, or mates, may well depend on how well an individual interacts with its neighbours. But how,...
View ArticleShining a light on the future of coral reefs
A number of ‘bright spots’ have been discovered amongst the struggling coral reefs of the world, but what are they, and what do they mean for reef conservation? In a global study, a team of scientists...
View ArticleSea Snakes Evolve New Use For Sensitive Scales
Sea snakes are certainly amongst the most extraordinary reptiles – only a few reptile groups have succeeded in adopting an entirely marine existence, and sea snakes are the most abundant and diverse...
View ArticleVIDEO: Why the Varroa mite prefers bees of a certain age
The Varroa destructor mite is the honey bee’s worst pest. A new study shows that the mites prefer honey bees when they are in their nurse stage compared to newly emerged bees and forgers. The study...
View ArticleSnow leopards: technology triumphs in big cat count
Hidden in the mountains of Asia, elusive big cats tread through the snow. Snow leopards – one of the most mysterious and endangered big cats on our planet. However, new findings suggest that there are...
View ArticleEnvironmental Photographer of the Year 2016 Winners Announced
The winning photographs and film will be among 60 works on display at the Royal Geographical Society in London from 29 June to 21 August 2016. The exhibition will then tour to Grizedale Forest,...
View ArticleLifestyle drives snake similarities in boas and pythons
Boas and pythons aren’t that closely related, last sharing a common ancestor 60-90 million years ago, but they are remarkably similar in appearance. A recent study has found that boas and pythons have...
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