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+29 +1
Feathers, hair, and scales have a common ancestor, study finds
Scientists have long pondered whether or not the hair of mammals, the feathers of birds, and the scales of reptiles had a common evolutionary link, and now, after decades of debate, they finally have an answer, thanks to new research published today in the journal Science Advances.
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+39 +1
These Remarkable Frigate Birds can Fly without Landing for Months at a Time
On a tiny island off the coast of Mozambique, a young frigate bird emerges from his nesting place, looks north and flies off. And for 185 days, he keeps going ... for 34,000 miles.
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+6 +1
Cotingas,Quintessential Tropical Birds
Cotingidae all live in humid rain forests throughout Central and South America. Among the 70-odd contingid species are some of the most colorful, vocal and bizarrely ornamented birds in the world.
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+26 +1
Belgian Neanderthals 'were eating each other 40,000 years ago'
Belgian Neanderthals were eating each other 40,000 years ago, new research has shown. The grisly discovery was made in a cave where scientists found bones bearing marks left by intentional butchering. Not only were they cannibals, but the Neanderthals appear to have fashioned tools out of the bones of their own kind. Neanderthals were a human subspecies that lived in Europe and western Asia for hundreds of thousands of years before becoming extinct between 30,000 and 40,000 years ago.
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+26 +1
Monkeys In Brazil Entered The Stone Age 700 Years Ago
Humanity is no longer the only species on Earth that has entered the Stone Age. It’s been known for some time now that various other primates use stone too
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+1 +1
Millions Of Tons Of Garbage Are Swirling In The Pacific Ocean "Trash Vortex"
Every year, over 10 million tons of plastic garbage ends up in the world's oceans that get caught up in a trash vortex, killing off fish and wildlife.
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+22 +1
Peregrines remain faithful falcons, even in the city
"Whenever you have animals living in habitats that have been influenced by human development, you have to wonder how the animals' life histories will be altered," said researcher John Bates. Even for birds, the city life comes with extra temptations -- chiefly, a plethora of potential mates. But new research shows, even in the city, Peregrine falcons remain committed to their partners.
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+25 +1
Dinosaurs Literally Reshaped The Planet
Dinos didn't just leave behind footprints and fossil bones—they also changed the landscapes in which they lived
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+32 +1
Why did a humpback whale just save this seal's life?
First study finds multiple cases of humpback whales going on the offensive
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+31 +1
‘Red gene’ in birds and turtles suggests dinosaurs had bird-like colour vision
A gene for red colour vision that originated in the reptile lineage around 250m years ago has resulted in the bright red bird feathers and ‘painted’ turtles we see today, and may be evidence that dinosaurs could see as many shades of red as birds - and perhaps even displayed more red than we might think.
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+8 +1
Mission Kākāpō Copulation
Still,these birds will be so inbred,it will be pathetic.
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+36 +1
We have made it harder for big-brained animals to survive
Our big brains have long been hailed as our greatest asset. We are smart, have conquered almost every corner on Earth, manipulated our habitat to suit us, and are developing increasingly-innovative technology to make our lives easier. Without our brains, none of these things would have been possible. Though they are costly organs – they require a great deal of energy to power – humans are living proof that the cost can pay off, biologically speaking. We have managed to find ways to overcome the added burden it has taken to evolve ever-bigger brains.
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+22 +1
This Animal's Eye Makes Up Almost Half of Its Body
When it comes to giant peepers, little marine animals called hyperiid amphipods are heads above the rest. When Dwayne LaGrou asked Weird Animal Question of the Week what animals have the largest eyes for their body size, we were sure the answer would be guilty-looking dogs. The actual candidates proved to be some real eye-openers. Because animals are built so differently, figuring out which has the biggest eyes can be tricky, Sönke Johnsen, a biologist at Duke University, says via email. (Read more about eyes, nature's most exquisite creation, in National Geographic magazine.)
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+14 +1
World’s Biggest Birds Are Stellar Dads and Unusual Lovers
When it comes to childcare and mating, ostriches, emus, and the like are, well, odd ducks.
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+19 +1
The Closest Living Relative to the Dodo is a Rainbow-Hued Knockout
The world is brimming with 'fancy' pigeons, but perhaps the most show-stopping of them all is the Nicobar pigeon.
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+26 +1
David Attenborough calls for end to ‘cruel’ brain tests on primates
Sir David Attenborough has joined forces with leading scientists and animal welfare experts to call for an end to the use primates in certain types of “cruel” testing by neuroscientists. The leading naturalist and broadcaster said recent breakthroughs in understanding primates’ capacity to feel suffering and pain meant it was time to stop funding some potentially painful or cruel types of experiments.
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+18 +1
A Quadruple Take on the Giraffe: There are Four Species, Not One - The New York Times Science
Genetic testing found four distinct species of giraffe.
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+31 +1
Pioneering 'Diaries' Reveal the Secret Lives of Animals
Specially designed tags that act as 'daily diaries' are revealing previously unknown animal behaviours.
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+22 +1
DNA analysis reveals there are four distinct giraffe species, not one as previously thought
Researchers have long recognized only a single species of giraffe, thought to be made up of several subspecies. However, a research collaboration has now identified four distinct species. Conservation biologist Julian Fennessy of the Giraffe Conservation Foundation, geneticist Axel Janke of the Senkenberg Research Institute, and their colleagues collected and analyzed samples from giraffes across the African continent. Their results appear in the journal Current Biology.
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+11 +1
This Endangered Hawaiian Crow is a Master Tool-User
The Hawaiian crow, also known as ‘Alalā, wields sticks to help it forage.
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