ScienceDaily: Mammal News

Genome sequence of Tibetan antelope sheds new light on high-altitude adaptation

Fri, 17 May 2013 10:27:27 EDT

How can the Tibetan antelope live at elevations of 4,000-5,000m on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau? Investigators now provide evidence of genetic factors that may be associated with the species' adaption to harsh highland environments.

World's most extraordinary species mapped for the first time

Wed, 15 May 2013 17:44:44 EDT

The black-and-white ruffed lemur, Mexican salamander and Sunda pangolin all feature on the first map of the world's most unique and threatened mammals and amphibians.

H1N1 discovered in marine mammals

Wed, 15 May 2013 17:44:44 EDT

Scientists detected the H1N1 (2009) virus in free-ranging northern elephant seals off the central California coast a year after the human pandemic began.

Using earthquake sensors to track endangered whales

Mon, 13 May 2013 15:24:24 EDT

Oceanographers used data from seafloor seismometers to analyze more than 300,000 fin-whale calls. By triangulating the position they created more than 150 tracks off the Pacific Northwest coast.

Dietary flexibility may have helped some large predators survive after last ice age

Wed, 08 May 2013 15:14:14 EDT

During the late Pleistocene, a diverse assemblage of large-bodied mammals inhabited the "mammoth steppe" of northern Eurasia and Beringia. Of the large predators -- wolves, bears, and big cats -- only the wolves and bears were able to maintain their ranges well after the end of the last ice age. A new study suggests that dietary flexibility may have been an important factor giving wolves and bears an edge over saber-toothed cats and cave lions.

World's most extreme hearing animal: The greater wax moth

Wed, 08 May 2013 09:28:28 EDT

Researchers have discovered that the greater wax moth is capable of sensing sound frequencies of up to 300 kHz -- the highest recorded frequency sensitivity of any animal in the natural world.

Do bats know voices of friends they hang out with? Bats may recognize voices of other bats

Tue, 07 May 2013 11:55:55 EDT

Is it possible that mammals have the ability to recognize individuals of the same species, whom they know well, by their voice? A new study has found that even in nocturnal, fast-moving animals such as bats, there is an ability to recognize certain vocal aspects of other bats from their social groups.

You are what (and where) you eat: Mercury pollution threatens Arctic foxes

Mon, 06 May 2013 19:10:10 EDT

New scientific results show that arctic foxes accumulate dangerous levels of mercury if they live in coastal habitats and feed on prey which lives in the ocean.

Monkey math: Baboons show brain's ability to understand numbers

Fri, 03 May 2013 13:27:27 EDT

Opposing thumbs, expressive faces, complex social systems: it's hard to miss the similarities between apes and humans. Now a new study with a troop of zoo baboons and lots of peanuts shows that a less obvious trait -- the ability to understand numbers -- also is shared by humans and their primate cousins.

Malaria: A vector infecting both apes and humans

Fri, 03 May 2013 09:47:47 EDT

In 2010, a study revealed that the main agent of malaria in humans, called Plasmodium falciparum, arose from the gorilla. Today, the vector which transmitted the parasite from apes to humans has just been identified. Scientists have determined which species of anopheles mosquitoes transfer the disease to apes. Among them is Anopheles moucheti, known for biting humans. Therefore, it appears to be the species which originally infected us through our 'cousins'. And it could do it again today.

Primate hibernation more common than previously thought

Thu, 02 May 2013 09:47:47 EDT

Until recently, the only primate known to hibernate as a survival strategy was a creature called the western fat-tailed dwarf lemur, a tropical tree-dweller from the African island of Madagascar. But it turns out this hibernating lemur isn't alone.

Killer entrance suspected in mystery of unusually large group of carnivores in ancient cave

Wed, 01 May 2013 19:31:31 EDT

An assortment of saber-toothed cats, hyenas, an extinct 'bear-dog', ancestors of the red panda and several other carnivores died under unusual circumstances in a Spanish cave near Madrid approximately 9-10 million years ago. It now appears that the animals may have entered the cave intentionally and been trapped there, according to new research.

Midwestern frogs decline, mammal populations altered by invasive plant, studies reveal

Wed, 01 May 2013 14:51:51 EDT

Researchers have discovered a new culprit contributing to amphibian decline and altered mammal distribution throughout the Midwest region -- the invasive plant European buckthorn.

Bizarre bone worms emit acid to feast on whale skeletons: Bone-melting substance drills opening for worms to access nutrients

Wed, 01 May 2013 09:19:19 EDT

Only within the past 12 years have marine biologists come to learn about the eye-opening characteristics of mystifying sea worms that live and thrive on the skeletons of whale carcasses. Now, scientists at describe how Osedax, mouthless and gutless "bone worms," excrete a bone-melting acid to gain entry to the nutrients within whale bones.

Sushi for peccaries?

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 17:59:59 EDT

It turns out the white-lipped peccary —- a piglike animal from Central and South America —- will settle for fish when fruits (its main food) are no longer on the menu, according to researchers revealing the first-ever photos of fish-eating peccaries.

Singing humpback whales tracked on Northwest Atlantic feeding ground

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 13:36:36 EDT

Male humpback whales sing complex songs in tropical waters during the winter breeding season, but they also sing at higher latitudes at other times of the year. NOAA researchers have provided the first detailed description linking humpback whale movements to acoustic behavior on a feeding ground in the Northwest Atlantic.

Whales are able to learn from others: Humpbacks pass on hunting tips

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 14:23:23 EDT

Humpback whales are able to pass on hunting techniques to each other, just as humans do, new research has found.

'When in Rome': Monkeys found to conform to social norms

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 14:23:23 EDT

The human tendency to adopt the behavior of others when on their home territory has been found in non-human primates. Researchers observed 'striking' fickleness in male monkeys, when it comes to copying the behavior of others in new groups. The study has been hailed by leading primate experts as rare experimental proof of 'cultural transmission' in wild primates to date.

Remembering the race for the secret of life

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 22:24:24 EDT

On 25 April 1953, three seminal papers describing the structure of DNA were published in Nature. Sixty years later, Genome Biology is publishing an in depth interview with one of the two surviving authors of those papers; Raymond Gosling.

Museum find proves exotic ‘big cat’ prowled British countryside a century ago

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 22:24:24 EDT

The rediscovery of a mystery animal in a museum’s underground storeroom proves that a non-native ‘big cat’ prowled the British countryside at the turn of the last century. The animal’s skeleton and mounted skin was analyzed and Aberystwyth universities and found to be a Canadian lynx – a carnivorous predator more than twice the size of a domestic cat.

Mammal and bug food co-op in the High Arctic

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 16:11:11 EDT

Who would have thought that two very different species, a small insect and a furry alpine mammal, would develop a shared food arrangement in the far North?

Roe deer more likely to be run over at nightfall on a Sunday in April

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 09:10:10 EDT

Car accidents involving animals are a serious and growing problem in Europe. They pose a risk for human life and may result in mortal victims, damage to vehicles and the loss of wildlife. Specifically, in Galicia the time distribution of the accidents varies according to the month, the day of the week and even the time of day.

Scientists cage dead zebras in Africa to understand the spread of anthrax

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 15:49:49 EDT

Scavengers might not play as key a role in spreading anthrax through wildlife populations as previously assumed, according to findings from a small study conducted in Etosha National Park in northern Namibia.

New understanding of rare white shark movement around Hawai'i

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 16:23:23 EDT

A new study sheds light on the relatively rare but occasionally recorded presence of white sharks in waters surrounding the Hawaiian Islands, and suggests a new method to help distinguish between white sharks and close relatives, such as mako sharks.

Rats' and bats' brains work differently on the move

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 14:22:22 EDT

A new study of brain rhythms in bats and rats challenges a widely-used model -- based on rodent studies -- of how animals navigate their environment. To get a clearer picture of processes in the mammal brain during spatial navigation, neuroscientists must study more species, say scientists involved in the study.

Study of pumas in Santa Cruz Mountains documents impact of predator/human interaction

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 10:01:01 EDT

In the first published results of more than three years of tracking mountain lions in the Santa Cruz Mountains, researchers have documented how human development affects the predators' habits.

'Chink in the armor' of Schmallenberg virus identified

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 22:36:36 EDT

A key building block in the Schmallenberg virus could be targeted by anti-viral drugs, according to a new study.

Bear baiting may put hunting dogs at risk from wolves

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 18:55:55 EDT

Wisconsin permits bear baiting for much longer than Michigan does. Wisconsin also pays reparations for wolf attacks on hunting dog, but Michigan doesn't. These factors make Wisconsin's risk of wolf attacks up to 7 times higher.

Resurgence of endangered deer in Patagonian ‘Eden’ highlights conservation success

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 08:51:51 EDT

The Huemul, a species of deer found only in the Latin American region of Patagonia, is bouncing back from the brink of possible extinction.

Sea mammals find U.S. safe harbor

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 19:46:46 EDT

New research shows that many US marine mammal populations -- especially some seals and sea lions -- have rebounded since 1972, because of the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

Great white sharks scavenging on dead whales

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 14:15:15 EDT

Biologists have explored the behaviors of Great white sharks scavenging on dead whales in South Africa. The team documented as many as 40 different sharks scavenging on a carcass over the course of a single day, revealing unique social interactions among sharks.

Genome mapping of koalas is promising start for understanding how koalas respond to infectious diseases

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 09:43:43 EDT

The "holy grail" for understanding how and why koalas respond to infectious diseases has been uncovered in a world-first genome mapping project.

Moa's ark: Why the female giant moa was about twice the size of the male

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 21:19:19 EDT

The evolutionary reason for the massive difference in size between male and female giant moa -- the extinct giant birds of New Zealand -- has been revealed for the first time.

An ancient biosonar sheds new light on the evolution of echolocation in toothed whales

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 15:26:26 EDT

Some 30 million years ago, Ganges river dolphins diverged from other toothed whales, making them one of the oldest species of aquatic mammals that use echolocation, or biosonar, to navigate and find food. This also makes them ideal subjects for scientists working to understand the evolution of echolocation among toothed whales.

Dwarf whale survived well into Ice Age

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 12:21:21 EDT

Research detailing the fossil of a dwarf baleen whale from Northern California reveals that it avoided extinction far longer than previously thought.

Wild mice have natural protection against Lyme borreliosis

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 07:29:29 EDT

Like humans, mice can become infected with Borrelia. However, not all mice that come into contact with these bacteria contract the dreaded Lyme disease: Animals with a particular gene variant are immune to the bacteria, as scientists demonstrate. Wild mice are the primary hosts for Borrelia, which are transmitted by ticks.

The equine 'Adam' lived fairly recently: Close relationships among modern stallions

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 07:29:29 EDT

The analysis of DNA inherited from a single parent has provided valuable insights into the history of human and animal populations. However, until recently we had insufficient information to be able to investigate the paternal lines of the domestic horse. This gap has now been filled with new information on the genetic variability in the horse Y chromosome. Researchers have shown how various breeds of the modern horse are interrelated.

Monkey study reveals why middle managers suffer the most stress

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 09:11:11 EDT

A study observing monkeys has found that those in the middle hierarchy suffer the most social stress. Their work suggests that the source of this stress is social conflict and may help explain studies in humans that have found that middle managers suffer the most stress at work.

Black bears on the rebound in Nevada

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 12:43:43 EDT

A new study has pieced together the last 150 years of history for one of the Nevada's most interesting denizens: the black bear.

Move over squirrels: Leopards are new backyard wildlife

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 12:53:53 EDT

Certain landscapes of western India completely devoid of wilderness and with high human populations are crawling with a different kind of backyard wildlife: leopards.

New bone survey method could aid long-term survival of Arctic caribou

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 16:33:33 EDT

A study adds critical new data for understanding caribou calving grounds in an area under consideration for oil exploration in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Uncovering Africa's oldest known penguins

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 10:16:16 EDT

Africa isn't the kind of place you might expect to find penguins. But one species lives in Africa today, and new fossils confirm that as many as four penguin species coexisted on the continent in the past. Exactly why African penguin diversity plummeted is still a mystery, but changing sea levels may be to blame. The fossils represent the oldest evidence of penguins in Africa, predating previously described fossils by 5 to 7 million years.

Lemur lookalikes are two new species, DNA says

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 10:15:15 EDT

Scientists have identified two new species of mouse lemur, the saucer-eyed, teacup-sized primates native to the African island of Madagascar.

Risk to endangered whales from ships in southern California analyzed in new study

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 18:39:39 EDT

Researchers have identified areas off southern California with high numbers of whales and assessed their risk from potentially deadly collisions with commercial ship traffic.

Aye-ayes: Endangered lemurs' complete genomes are sequenced and analyzed for conservation efforts

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 16:05:05 EDT

For the first time, the complete genomes of three separate populations of aye-ayes -- a type of lemur -- have been sequenced and analyzed in an effort to characterize patterns of genetic diversity and help guide conservation efforts for the species. The aye-aye species is found only on the island of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean and recently was re-classified as "endangered" by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

For the first time Iberian lynx embryos are collected and preserved

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 09:07:07 EDT

A pioneering procedure in felines allows the collection of biological material from Iberian lynx females before castration. The preserved biological material of the lynxes will be used in future conservation breeding programs.

How does the price of cheese influence perceptions of wolves?

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 09:51:51 EDT

Relationships between humans and wolves are often linked to conflicts with livestock breeding activities. Contrary to a widespread belief among western environmentalists, these conflicts don’t only occur only in western countries, even though their intensity often appears lower in other places. Indeed, in many countries, livestock breeding activities have been dealing with wolves for centuries and rural societies have developed paths to coexistence through protection of livestock and control of wolf populations.

For polar bears, it's survival of the fattest

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 20:20:20 EDT

One of the most southerly populations of polar bears in the world – and the best studied – is struggling to cope with climate-induced changes to sea ice, new research reveals. Based on over 10 years' data the study sheds new light on how sea ice conditions drive polar bears' annual migration on and off the ice.

Enigmatic giant squid is same species in all oceans of the planet, DNA studies show

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 10:27:27 EDT

The giant squid is one of the most enigmatic animals on the planet. It is extremely rarely seen, except as the remains of animals that have been washed ashore, and placed in the formalin or ethanol collections of museums. But now, researchers have discovered that no matter where in the world they are found, the fabled animals are so closely related at the genetic level that they represent a single, global population, and thus despite previous statements to the contrary, a single species worldwide.

Antarctica's first whale skeleton found with nine new deep-sea species

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 10:49:49 EDT

Marine biologists have, for the first time, found a whale skeleton on the ocean floor near Antarctica, giving new insights into life in the sea depths. The discovery was made almost a mile below the surface in an undersea crater and includes the find of at least nine new species of deep-sea organisms thriving on the bones.

Kangaroos and other marsupials: Climb to the pouch begins in utero

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 20:27:27 EDT

Scientists have visualized the short pregnancy of a small species of the kangaroo and wallaby family of marsupials, the tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii), for the first time by high-resolution ultrasound. The study has shed light on a number of developmental events that are likely to be fundamental to all marsupials. These include a very rigid program of embryonic and fetal development with very little variation in pregnancy length, specialized movements of the endometrium that roll the embryo around the uterus prior to attachment, and climbing movements of the tiny fetus up to three days before birth. This latter finding is one of the earliest developmental behaviors observed in a mammal and prepares the immature young for the journey to its mother’s pouch.

Scientists produce cloned embryos of extinct frog

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 15:10:10 EDT

As part of a "Lazarus Project" to try to bring the Australian gastric-brooding frog back from extinction scientists have succeeded in producing early stage cloned embryos containing the DNA of the frog, which died out 30 year ago. Gastric-brooding frogs were unique in incubating their young in their stomachs.

Polar bears' family secrets revealed with DNA sequencing

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 18:01:01 EDT

Brown bears on an Alaskan archipelago are the descendants of an ancient polar bear population rather than being the ancestors of modern polar bears, new research shows.

DNA study clarifies how polar bears and brown bears are related

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 17:56:56 EDT

A new genetic study of polar bears and brown bears upends prevailing ideas about the evolutionary history of the two species.

Five-million-year-old saber-toothed cat in newly discovered genus discovered in Florida

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 14:09:09 EDT

A new genus and species of extinct saber-toothed cat has been discovered in Polk County, Florida. The 5-million-year-old fossils belong to the same lineage as the famous Smilodon fatalis from the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles, a large, carnivorous apex predator with elongated upper canine teeth. Previous research suggested the group of saber-toothed cats known as Smilodontini originated in the Old World and then migrated to North America, but the age of the new species indicates the group likely originated in North America.

Role of kinship in mass strandings of pilot whales questioned

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 12:46:46 EDT

Pilot whales that have died in mass strandings in New Zealand and Australia included many unrelated individuals at each event, a new study concludes, challenging a popular assumption that whales follow each other onto the beach and to almost certain death because of familial ties.

Mass strandings of pilot whales may not be driven by kinship, DNA profiles show

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 12:46:46 EDT

Recent research has shed some light on whether family relationships play a role in beachings of otherwise healthy whales. Investigators used genetic data to describe the kinship of individual long-finned pilot whales involved in mass strandings. The study found that stranded groups are not necessarily members of one extended family, contradicting the hypothesis that stranding groups all descend from a single ancestral mother. Further, many stranded calves were found with no mother in evidence.

CITES makes historic decision to protect sharks and rays

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 11:02:02 EDT

CITES plenary today accepted Committee recommendations to list five species of highly traded sharks under the CITES Appendices, along with those for the listing of both manta rays and one species of sawfish.

Bottlenose dolphin leaders more likely to lead relatives than unrelated individuals

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 18:21:21 EDT

Traveling into uncharted territory in search of food can be a dangerous undertaking, but some bottlenose dolphins may benefit by moving through their habitat with relatives who may be more experienced or knowledgeable. It turns out that leaders in bottlenose dolphin groups in the Florida Keys are more likely to be related to the dolphins that follow them.

Whale's streaming baleen tangles to trap food

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 18:21:21 EDT

Many whales filter food from water using racks of baleen plates in their mouths, but no one had ever investigated how baleen behaves in real life. According to an expert, baleen was viewed as a static material, however, he discovered that baleen streams in water just like long hair and fringes from adjacent baleen plates tangle to form the perfect net for trapping food at natural whale swimming speeds.