Paleontology
Motion in the ocean: how did the earliest animals move?
Fossils over 500 million years old may give us insight into the evolutionary origin of animal movement. Reference: Wang, X.,…
Tag: evolution
Ecology
Has eelgrass already adapted to warmer waters?
A study of eelgrass adaptive capacity indicates that they may be resilient to rising ocean temperatures.
Evolution
How did flying fish get their “wings”?
The evolution of their long, fin-like wings might be surprisingly simple.
Paleontology
New species of ancient whale discovered in Egypt
Forty-three million years ago, ancient semi-aquatic whales roamed coastal seas which have since transformed into the deserts of present-day Egypt.…
Ecology
We Finally Know Why Some Fish are Warm-Blooded
On average Tuna, Great White Sharks, and other warm-blooded fish swim faster than their cold-blooded counterparts
Conservation
Critically endangered ancient fish relative has life a 100 year life span
We are still making sense of coelacanths. Thought to be extinct, these rare, critically endangered, 400 million-year-old ancient fishes are…
Evolution
Seahorses Have The Ultimate ‘Dad Bod’
Did you know that male seahorses become pregnant? Read on to find out more on this unique feature and how…
Behavior
What do octopuses dream of when they take a little octopus snooze?
Sleep is critical to a healthy lifestyle for humans and other animals. New research shows that even octopuses cycle through…
Behavior
To communicate with members of its own species, flashlight fish uses a special type of morse code
Below a flashlight fish’s eyes is an organ that provides the ideal conditions for a special partnership. Bioluminescent bacteria live…
Book Review deep sea Evolution
Hiding at its best: Ultra-black fish of the deep sea
Animals stay hidden from predators using different skin colors and patterns as camouflage. Scientists recently discovered a unique way some…
Evolution
A shell of a ride: Pteropod survival through past mass extinction events and insights into present climate change
By looking at DNA and fossils of pelagic sea snails, Dr. Peijnenburg and colleagues are beginning to understand how this…
Evolution Genetics
Shedding Light on the Origin of Clam Photosymbiosis
You may have heard of photosymbiosis in corals. But did you know that some species of clams also host photosynthetic…
Paleontology
An ancient dolphin gives a glimpse of the past
What can fossilized dolphin skeletons tell us about how whales transitioned from land to sea millions of years ago? New…
Ecology
Arctic Unicorns: Understanding the past, present, and future of narwhals and their mysterious tusks
Why do narwhals have tusks that make them look like unicorns? As climate change continues, what is the fate of…
Evolution
East African Lake Fosters a Melting Pot for Cichlid Evolution
Darwin's famed finches weave a tale of evolution in isolation. Joana Meier and her research team now find that evolution,…
Behavior
Same-Sex Squid Sex
Same-sex sexual behavior exists across a wide range of animals, but the behavior has long puzzled scientists because of the…
Evolution
The Slow Burn: Slower Metabolisms May Help Mollusks Avoid Extinction
By looking at fossils found in the Western Atlantic, Dr. Luke Strotz and a team of scientists at the University…
Biology
When having babies, is quantity or quality better?
Evolution is riddled with trade-offs. One of the classic examples is how to spread maternal resources – is it better…
Sharkbites Saturday
A Tree of Life Project With Some Serious Bite
If you have any intererst in shark anatomy, ecology or evolution, find out about a must-see website designed by the…
Parasitism
Coming Home to Roost: A case of parasites relying on ancestral DNA to take advantage of a new penguin host species?
Parasites are nasty and resilient organisms, often highly specialized to fit their hosts. But sometimes, nature allows a bit of…