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Science stories about animal research, including wildlife conservation and endangered animals studies.

Why Penguins Can’t Fly

May 23, 2013

(ANIMAL SCIENCE) Millions of years ago, penguins lost their ability to fly, and now scientists finally know why. The tuxedoed birds are some of the best divers out there, but unfortunately good flippers don’t make for good flyers. Scientists say, once penguins sacrificed flight, their wings and body size most likely evolved quite rapidly since flying no longer placed constraints on body form. Researchers were confused as to why the aquatically-skilled animals chose sea over air, but they hold a promising theory regarding the species’ perplexing decision. Continue reading for the answer to this mind-boggling question, and learn more about prehistoric flying penguins. — Global Animal

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Can These Bees Save Lives?

May 20, 2013

(ANIMAL SCIENCE) A group of unlikely heroes are currently being trained to prevent future land mine tragedies. Croatian researchers are training sugar-craving honeybees to find unexploded mines littering their country—all of which have been responsible for about 2,500 deaths since the beginning of the Balkan wars in 1991. Because bees have a perfect sense of smell which can efficiently detect the scent of explosives, identifying their food source with the scent of TNT has proved to be a successful way to safely unveil dangerous hidden mines. Read on for more on the ways in which these everyday insects can potentially make a huge difference in Croatia. — Global Animal

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New Snake Slithering Onto Endangered List?

May 18, 2013

(ANIMAL SCIENCE) A new species of pit viper has been confirmed in the highland forests of Honduras. Named after late conservationist Mario Guifarro, the new species of snake could be an extremely rare occurrence in the wild. In fact, some scientists  argue the new viper should be classified as critically endangered, as threats to the snakes’ limited environment are increasingly imminent. Continue reading for more on the details surrounding this new discovery. — Global Animal

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Deadly Amphibian Fungus Plagues Frogs

May 17, 2013

(ANIMAL SCIENCE) Beware, frogs! The chytrid fungus is out there! The lethal fungus, which seems to only harm amphibians, causes a thickening of the infected creature’s skin and hinders the animal’s breathing and electrolyte balance. Ultimately, the infection can lead to cardiac arrest and has already caused several Central American frog species to go extinct. One scientist even referred to the destructive fungus as “the single biggest threat to vertebrate diversity in the world.” Continue reading for more on the chytrid fungus and the study behind this amphibian epidemic. — Global Animal

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Swine Flu Strikes Seals

May 16, 2013

(ANIMAL SCIENCE) The swine flu virus has been found in elephant seals off the central coast of California, according to a recent study. The research is the first to report the H1N1 virus in marine mammals, which shows influenza viruses can be transferred among species. During the study, scientists encountered two northern elephant seals who were infected, and they discovered an additional 28 seals carrying swine flu antibodies. Keep reading for more information on the highly contagious virus and this enlightening study. — Global Animal

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From Kitty With Love: The CIA’s Spy Creation

May 15, 2013

(ANIMAL SCIENCE) In the 1960s, the CIA attempted to turn a cat into a spy during an effort entitled, “Operation Acoustic Kitty.” The agency attempted to turn the feline into a CIA agent by implanting a microphone, small radio transmitter, and a thin wire antenna into the cat during a risky surgery. The cat survived and was sent to a park to observe a conversation between two people on a bench. Unfortunately, the cat was hit by a taxi and did not survive the actual mission. While there are definitely some questions of animal cruelty within the discussion, it is quite interesting to learn about animals embarking on top-secret missions. Continue reading below to discover more about these animal spies. — Global Animal

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New Species Discovered In Antarctica

May 15, 2013

(ANIMAL SCIENCE) A new species of fish was discovered by Ukrainian mariners on a fishing trip near Antarctica in 2009. The new fish known as the hopbeard plunderfish, was discovered when the fishermen were attempting to catch Antarctic Toothfish. The discovery was recently publicized in a ZooKeys study this April and describes how the strange brownish splotched fish, whose shape vaguely resembles that of a tadpole, lives in depths of up to 4,560 feet. To learn more about the specifics of this new species, continue reading below. — Global Animal

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Dome-Headed, Dog-Sized Dino Discovered

May 10, 2013

(ANIMAL DISCOVERY) An 85-million-year-old dinosaur fossil named Acrotholus audeti was discovered in Alberta, Canada. The uncovering is the oldest pachycephalosaur ever found in North America and rivals the oldest specimen in the world. Pachycephalosaurs are known for their thick, bony skulls and typically weighed less than 88 pounds, which is less than a well-fed Labrador retriever. Considering the fossil’s geological age, the Acrotholus’ thickened skull dome is shockingly well-developed and provides scientists with an abundance of new information on the evolution of bone-headed dinosaurs. Read on to find out more about the diminutive dome-headed dino and the impact this unearthing has on science. — Global Animal

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