species

Scientists taking a very close look at the architecture of neuron cells in the brain have found a key structural difference between primates and non-primates in the cortical neurons – cells that are part of the cerebrum.  The findings give us a greater insight into this most complex of organs, and how the form and function of neurons might differ between species. We may also learn more about human and animal evolution through the research.Key to this difference in neurons is the axon fiber: a slender part of the neuron…

Bats and pangolins aren't the only wild animals harboring novel coronaviruses. Rodents like rats, mice, and voles can also carry viruses which are sometimes capable of jumping over to our own species.  Among Sweden's red-backed bank voles (Myodes glareolus), researchers have now identified a widespread and common coronavirus they've called the Grimsö virus, after the location of its discovery.We don't know whether the newly found virus is in any way dangerous to humans; nevertheless, the findings are a good reminder of…

Megalodon. The very name conjures awe: A giant shark that once dominated the world's oceans, big enough to swallow a human whole. Such a beast – known only from teeth and vertebrae that survived the 3.6 million years since it went extinct – must have been fearsome indeed.  It was one of the largest carnivores ever to have lived… and yet, there is one predator still living today whose very existence may have brought the mighty megalodon (Otodus megalodon) to its fins: the great white shark  (Carcharodon carcharias).Recent…

Potamites montanicola, classified as ‘Critically Endangered’ by automated the assessment method and as ‘Data Deficient’ by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Credit: Germán Chávez, Wikimedia Commons (CC-BY 3.0)Machine learning tool estimates extinction risk for species previously unprioritized for conservation.Species at risk of extinction are identified in the iconic Red List of Threatened Species, published by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). A new study presents a novel machine learning…

New research suggests that Darwinian evolution could be happening up to four times faster than previously thought, based on an analysis of genetic variation.The more genetic differences there are in a species, the faster evolution can happen, as certain traits die off and stronger ones get established. The team behind this latest study calls it the "fuel of evolution", and they looked at data on 19 different wild animal groups around the world.  That data analysis revealed this raw material for evolution is more abundant…

Less than 400 are left.Whale SongNorth Atlantic right whales — all 300 or so of them left alive — have a new weapon on their side.For years, marine ecologist Mark Baumgartner has been deploying real-time listening devices that record whale song. Now, the lab he works for is partnering with a marine shipping company to deploy two robotic buoys that will relay location info on right whales back to shore. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution developed the tech so mariners and the public have an idea of where the endangered…

Dogs aren't the only animals that can hear the emotion in our voices. According to new research, pigs and horses can also tell the difference between positive and negative expressions in human speech, and it could change how they respond to us.  Previous studies have shown that domesticated horses can read emotions on human faces and hear emotions in human sounds, like growling or laughter.But this is the first study to compare how domesticated animals discriminate between non-verbal human sounds and sounds from their…

Data SciencePredict what species is a bird based on genetics and locationPhoto by Shannon Potter on UnsplashLike birds? Like Data Science?You’ll love this challenge!Problem StatementScientists have determined that a known species of bird should be divided into 3 distinct and separate species. These species are endemic to a particular region of the country and their populations must be tracked and estimated with as much precision as possible.As such, a non-profit conservation society has taken up the task. They need to be…

As temperatures around the world shift dramatically, wildlife are often being forced to relocate to find suitable habitats – and scientists are working hard to try and understand how many species might struggle with trying to find a new home.  Animals going to higher ground face two issues: colder temperatures, and thinner, less oxygen-rich air (so it's harder to breathe). In a new study, a group of Anna's hummingbirds (Calypte anna) were taken on a trip some 1,200 meters (4,000 feet) above their normal…

Despite protective measures being in place, endangered fish species are regularly caught then sold in open markets. And while visually searching them out can be difficult, a new technology could more easily allow authorities to know which species are being sold at one location.Aquatic animals are constantly releasing their DNA into the water, in the form of body fluids, sloughed skin and excrement.This cast-off DNA is known as environmental DNA, or eDNA for short. By taking a water sample from a given geographical…