14 New Species of Endangered "Dancing" Frogs Discovered in India [Video]
Say “Hello, my baby. Hello, my darling...” to 14 newly described frog species that kick and dance like Michigan J. Frog from the classic Warner Brothers animated cartoon, One Froggy Evening.
When Did Insects Learn to Smell?
Summer beckons in the northern latitudes. As temperatures warm, beachgoers will flood sandy coasts, carrying bags of potato chips and sandwiches.
Polar Bears Diverged from Brown Bears Fairly Recently
An evolutionary analysis shows that the two species diverged within the past 500,000 years
First Major Genetic Study of Elusive South African Dolphin Reveals a Species in Peril
In 1828, in a short paper in the journal Spicilegia Zoologica, British zoologist John Edward Gray reported six “new and undescribed” marine animals, among them a small dolphin found off southern Africa’s Atlantic coast.
Monitor Lizards: 77 Species and Counting
There's been a bit of a monitor lizard thing going on here for the past few months: articles have covered Australian goannas, the Komodo dragon Varanus komodoensis, Dumeril's monitor and Timor and Peachthroat monitors, and the `prasinoid' tree monitors.
Everyone Poops, Even Paramecium
Perhaps you’ve heard of — or even read — the children’s book “Everyone Poops“. This illustrative tome explains that because everyone eats, everyone poops.
Estrogen's Role in Impulsive Behavior
Would you rather have $50 now or $100 two weeks from now? Even though the $100 is obviously the better choice, many people will opt for the $50.
Herbivorous Theropod Dinosaurs Had Sharp Claws, Too
Computer models suggest that plant-eating dinosaurs called therizinosaurs used their claws for digging, grasping or piercing plants
Ancient Crocodilians Used "Death Rolls" to Kill Dinosaurs
Bite marks on fossils coupled with an analysis of skull strength suggests that crocodilians were capable of using "death rolls" to dismember prey
Darwin's Finches Stamp Out Deadly Parasite with Help from Cotton Balls
Insecticide-laced nest materials offer a simple fix for parasite infestations
Ferns Stole Rare Gene From Unlikely Source
Scientists knew neochrome was odd before they started rooting around in its family tree. A union of independent proteins — red-sensing phytochrome and blue-sensing phototropin — the super-protein combines two already-great pieces into one fantastic whole that helps plants grow toward dim, filtered light.
Thieving Bird Apes Its Victims
The fork-tailed drongo can mimic the alarm calls of dozens of other species of animals, including nonbirds, to drive them off and steal their food. Cynthia Graber reports