Tag Archives | evolution

Bloodthirsty Species Discovered In South American Cave

August 11, 2012

(ANIMAL DISCOVERY) VENEZUELA — It might look cute, but this cricket is certainly an insect you don’t want to be near. Last week, a film crew exploring a South American cave came across several new species, most notably this flesh-eating cricket. While the fact that these insects are blood thirsty certainly makes them intriguing, they also have the amazing ability to swim. And it doesn’t stop there. The unnamed cricket has adapted to its cave conditions by growing specialized palps for better senses and coordination in the dark. Read on for more about the amazing, intelligent species found in this single expedition. — Global Animal

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A Possible Mass Extinction On The Way?

June 14, 2012

(ENDANGERED ANIMALS) A shocking amount of animals and plants are currently listed as high risk for extinction. If all of these 20,000 species recorded actually went extinct, our world could lose more than three-quarters of all species within just a few centuries. This fact is rather startling, considering how much we depend on other species for own survival. Read on to become familiar with just how important many of these species are in order to maintain thriving ecosystems and what we can do to help. — Global Animal

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Man’s Best Friend: Did Canines Help Us Evolve?

May 18, 2012

(ANIMAL HISTORY) Why did the Neanderthal go extinct while homo sapiens thrived and came to dominate the planet? Anthropologists aren’t sure, but an analysis in American Scientist suggests that our canine companions might have helped. Dogs may have helped carry things like meat and fur so that humans could conserve energy, and they may have even helped with the hunt. Read on to learn about our evolutionary past. — Global Animal

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People And Dogs Evolved To Run

May 14, 2012

(SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY) A new study shows that both humans and dogs experience “runner’s high.” The two naturally athletic species release chemicals called endocannabinoids after moderate to intense aerobic exercise, compared to ferrets, a species that does not run. Read on for why scientists believe certain species evolved the motivation to run. — Global Animal

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No Candy For Kitty

March 16, 2012

(ANIMAL SCIENCE) Your kitty might stare at you when you’re enjoying a big bowl of ice cream, but scientists suggest that domestic cats and their carnivorous cousins, like lions and tigers, have lost the ability to taste anything sweet. It’s a genetic mutation that other animals don’t share, since finding and tasting carbohydrates is essential for survival in omnivorous animals. Carnivores, however, can survive without. Read more to find out which animals do, or don’t have these sweet-sensing genes. — Global Animal

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The Biggest Can Still Get Bigger

February 4, 2012

(ANIMAL SCIENCE) Being the largest mammal on the planet has its advantages and disadvantages, but what happens when you don’t stop growing? The blue whale, scientists say, is doing just that. Why hasn’t the largest animal on earth stopped growing when other mammal species are shrinking? Read more to find out why and what this could mean for blue whales. — Global Animal

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Animal Drag Queens Triumph

November 11, 2011

(ANIMAL SCIENCE) Some male creatures of the animal kingdom have a special quirk which helps to succeed in mating and avoid conflict: they act like females. The anomaly, cited as permanent female mimicry, occurs in fish, reptiles, insects, and garter snakes, as well as several species of raptors.  However, studies show the trait stays a consistent 10% throughout generations of species, telling us that female mimicry isn’t necessarily the most advantageous of characteristics. Adaptations as such are truly unique wonders of our wild kingdom. — Global Animal

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Fish Flop For Evolution

October 18, 2011

(FISH DISCOVERY) A new study suggests that fish are an important link in the evolution of land animals. The research focuses on how fish can control their movements both in water and on land, and how their jumping skills might have made them the first terrestrial dwellers. Read on for evidence of why we might have evolved from these acrobatic fish. — Global Animal

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