Did you know there is a spider found in India that looks exactly like an ant, a mimicry that helps the spider save itself from predators? There is also a spider from the genus Lycosa that lives in the leaf litter near water bodies. To save her eggs from drowning,the mother spider carries them on […]
Scientist Finds An Unusual Bond Between Himalayan Bears And Langurs
It was fruiting season of Acorns in the pristine Himalayan alpine forests of the Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary. Researcher Himani Nautiyal was on a field trip to observe the Central Himalayan Langur (Semnopithecus schistaceus) and their interactions with livestock, when she observed an interaction of a very different kind. A Himalayan black bear was prowling in the […]
Arabica or Robusta Coffee? These Researchers Asked the Birds!
It’s an age-old debate for coffee lovers. Which is better: Arabica beans with their sweeter, softer taste, or the bold, deep flavor of Robusta beans? A new study by WCS, Princeton University, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison appearing in the journal Scientific Reports has taken the question to unlikely coffee aficionados: birds. The researchers, led by WCS […]
To Breed or Not to Breed? Migratory Butterflies of India Make Smart Choices, Finds a New Study
Quick Notes Butterflies of peninsular India that undergo a bidirectional migration every year choose a reproductive pause to conserve energy. Migrating and non-migrating female butterflies have distinct morphological and physiological differences. A non-reproductive state helps migratory butterflies to use energy for the exhaustive 300 km migration journey from Western to Eastern Ghats. Post migration the […]
Humpback Whales Learn Songs Like Humans
Quick Notes Humpback whales can learn songs in segments – verse by verse – like humans Songs are not passed on from generation to generation but learnt from peers as a social learning Songs may be remixed over time, with old and new songs with similar structure pattern mixed together Humpback whales learn songs in […]
The Search Is On For ‘25 Most Wanted’ Animals On The Planet
The Himalayan Quail is a bird from the upper Himalayas in India which was last seen in 1876. The pink headed duck a mysterious duck with pink head and neck was last spotted in 1949. Just like these two there are at least 1200 other species globally that exist and are not really extinct but […]
A Simple Test Just Proved Again How Smart Elephants Are
My pet labrador’s favourite play of the day is to stand in front of the mirror and look at himself. What’s amusing is the way he always tries to look behind or beyond the mirror and sometimes even threaten the ‘dog’ he is face to face with, with a growl. I know, he is very […]
Tracing The Evolutionary History Of Asian Horned Frogs, Without Fossil Records
If you are in Nagaland, the next time you put frogs in the cooking pot, beware – you might be an unsuspecting contributor to wiping out evolutionary history. A culinary delight to many Southeast Asian communities, frogs are no stranger to Nagaland’s food menu. Held in high gastronomic regard, aficionados here claim that frogs taste […]
Why Do Whales Leap In The Air
Whales, the world over have been observed to leap into the air and crash back into the water, slapping their tails and fins as they touch the water. This behaviour of whales is called breaching. Clearly, it requires a lot of energy and is observed when whales migrate and are fasting. Scientists therefore inferred that […]
Wild Cats And Wild Dogs Of India Choose To Co-Exist Rather Than Compete
A new study in India by Wildlife Conservation Soceity (WCS) shows that three carnivores – tigers, leopards, and dholes (Asian wild dog) – seemingly in direct competition with one other, are living side by side with surprisingly little conflict. Usually, big cats and wild canids live in different locations to avoid each other. Read More: […]
In A Hotter Future, The Thickness Of The Tree Bark Would Decide Its Survival
It is said, adversities make you tougher, and it seems the phrase is true for trees as well. Scientists from the Princeton University have found out that trees that grow in forests which are prone to fires, have a thicker bark. In a future, where global warming could lead to warmer climates, the study of […]