Animals Library: November 2013

Can Animals Be Friends with Species Other than their Own?

Although many of us have been indoctrinated that some animals, particularly cats dogs, or cats and mice, cannot live in peace together, there are far too many examples of animals forging bonds with other animal species. Animals are capable of overriding their normal biological drives and bonding with other species, especially if social contact is started early. For instance, cats don’t know that they’re cats when raised at an early age with dogs.Examples of inter-species bonds are the central focus of the PBS documentary Animal Odd Couples, which shows a dog and cheetah seemingly hanging out

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Baby dinosaur skeleton found intact in Alberta

An extremely well-preserved baby dinosaur skeleton has been discovered in Dinosaur Provincial Park in Alberta.The fossil is extremely rare, as it’s the smallest intact skeleton ever found from a group of horned plant-eating dinosaurs known as ceratopsids — a group that includes the iconic triceratops.Source: Here

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Cats recognise their owners' voices but never evolved to care, says study

Any cat owner will tell you that although they are sometimes kept as pets, felines are beholden to no one.A new study from the University of Japan has confirmed this, showing that although pet cats are more than capable of recognising their owner’s voice they choose to ignore them - for reasons that are perhaps rooted in the evolutionary history of the animal.Source: Here

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A New Species of Wild Cat Found Prowling Brazilian Forests and Grasslands

Wild cats are charismatic creatures, so you’d think we’d know them all pretty well by now. Just how little we understand—at least in some cases—is reflected in the identification of a new species of cat known as a tigrina in northeastern Brazil.Scientists have discovered that two populations of tigrina previously thought to be one species do not, in fact, interbreed and thus are distinct, according to results published today in Current Biology.Source: Here

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Seahorses stalk their prey by stealth

Seahorses may appear slow and awkward but they are ferocious and ingenious predators, according to a new study.The beautiful creatures are famously bad swimmers, but they have a secret weapon to sneak up on their prey.Source: here

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Mysteriously Intact T. Rex Tissue Finally Explained

The controversial discovery of 68-million-year-old soft tissue from the bones of a Tyrannosaurus rex finally has a physical explanation. According to new research, iron in the dinosaur's body preserved the tissue before it could decay.The research, headed by Mary Schweitzer, a molecular paleontologist at North Carolina State University, explains how proteins — and possibly even DNA — can survive millennia. Schweitzer and her colleagues first raised this question in 2005, when they found the seemingly impossible: soft tissue preserved inside the leg of an adolescent T. rex unearthed in Montana

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The Best Holiday Gifts for Cats – A Laser Pointer

Cats are, by nature, hunters, borne with instincts that are – simply put – sharp.As such, the idea of giving a laser pointer as a gift for cats doesn’t really come as strange, considering the “test” laser pointers impose on their hunting skills.A Laser Pointer There was a time when laser pointers were viewed as premium electronic items, only made available to those who actually had need of them, apart from having the necessary funds to buy them.With those days now behind all of us, the relative affordability and availability of laser pointers anywhere where office supplies are sold makes

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The Best Holiday Gifts for Cats – Toy Mice

For cat owners who wish to give their furry wards something special this year, the diverse range of toy mice available in the market stands to be a solid avenue where precious holiday gifts can be found.From remote controlled mice to battery-operated toys, the range of toy mice types are as varied as the different cat personality types and quirks, making them perfect as holiday gifts for cats.Toy MiceWhile giving kitty a real mouse to chase around the house is sure to be a real treat, it’s a safe bet that responsible cat owners aren’t all that keen on giving in to their cat’s whims just like

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The Best Holiday Gifts for Cats - A Mobile

Contrary to most assumptions, mobiles are not only toys intended for babies.Mobile varieties for pets, ranging from cats to dogs, are also known to be, standing out as one of the top holiday gifts pet owners give to their furry buds.Mobiles for CatsThe nifty thing about getting a mobile for cats is that they almost always come as dual purpose items: they also double as scratching posts, making their purchase a good deal.Available in different sizes and configurable to work with a wide assortment of kitty toys and accessories, kitty mobiles are often viewed as “all in one” toys for cats, consi

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The Best Holiday Gifts for Cats - A Ball of Yarn

With the range of kitty toys, toy accessories and treats available in the market today, cat owners can just about pick whatever they want to give as their kitty’s holiday gift – from the elementally simple to the exorbitantly frivolous.For those who like to keep things basic and simple, a ball of yarn as a gift for kitty goes a long way.The Simplicity inherent in a Ball of YarnThere’s a long running affinity between kittens and a ball of yarn (not necessarily a red one), one that isn’t just borne from shoddy marketing tricks or advertising gimmicks.Simply put, cats of all ages can’t resist th

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The Best Holiday Gifts for Cats – A Scratching Post

With the holiday season well on its well, countless cat owners from different walks of life are busy jotting down gift lists, keen on covering the different toys and treats they’ll be giving to their furry wards.From cat-sized beds to kitty nibble treats, scratching posts stand to be one of the top holiday gifts often picked out by cat lovers, year in and year out.Why a scratching post?Giving your cat a new scratching post isn’t just a gift that’s meant for your cat – it is also for you, since a new scratching post means no more furniture problems in the days ahead.Available in different shap

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This is What Happens if You Breed a Chicken with a Penguin!

Source: Here

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Taking Guard Dog to a Whole New Level!

Source: Here

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Long Distance Relationships are Hard Even for Cats!

Source: Here

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Cute Cat Rushing to Poop!

Source: Here

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The Cat that Strides!

Source: Here

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This amazing fruit fly evolved to have pictures of ants on its wing

This is unbelievable, but the fruit fly G tridens has somehow evolved to have what looks like pictures of ants on its wings. Seriously, its transparent wings have an ant design on them complete with "six legs, two antennae, a head, thorax and tapered abdomen." It's nature's evolutionary art painted on a fly's wings.Recently spotted by the New York Times, the fruit fly is just incredible. Other flies in its family of 5,000 species have other type of markings on its wings but it's the G tridens that has something so intricate and so specific.Source: Here

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SeaWorld Orlando returns bottlenose dolphin to lagoon after months of care

On Tuesday, SeaWorld rescuers returned to the wild what may be the sole survivor of a mysterious die-off that has killed at least 74 bottlenose dolphins in the Indian River Lagoon this year.The male dolphin swam to freedom from Melbourne Causeway, after almost five months of care at SeaWorld Orlando, 140 pounds heavier than when biologists rescued him.Source: here

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What's Causing Early Bird Migrations? Global Warming A ‘Key Part’ of Understanding Population Declines

Scientists have previously documented how bird migrations around the world are happening earlier every year. Recently, researchers from the University of East Anglia’s Schools of Biological Sciences in the U.K. fingered climate change as the culprit for early godwit migrations in Europe.“We have known that birds are migrating earlier and earlier each year – particularly those that migrate over shorter distances,” Jenny Gill, a biologist from the University of East Anglia and one of the authors of a bird migration study, said in a statement, according to Red Orbit. “But the reason why ha

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Rare Saola, Dubbed “Asian Unicorn,” Sighted for First Time in 21st Century

Ghosting through the forests of Laos and Vietnam, the saola—a large ox that looks like an antelope—eluded researchers and their cameras for nearly 14 years.But camera traps set out by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the Vietnamese government in the central Annamite Mountains in Vietnam captured grainy black and white photographs of the extremely rare mammal in September of this year, the group announced this week.Source: Here

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1st-Century Roots of 'Little Red Riding Hood' Found

The oldest big cat fossils ever found - from a previously unknown species "similar to a snow leopard" - have been unearthed in the Himalayas.The skull fragments of the newly-named Panthera blytheae have been dated between 4.1 and 5.95 million years old.Source: Here

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Giant Platypus Found, Shakes Up Evolutionary Tree

What's cooler than a venomous, duck-billed mammal that lays eggs? A giant one—and that's just what researchers have found.A newly discovered species of three-foot-long (one-meter-long) platypus, dubbed Obdurodon tharalkooschild, swam through freshwater pools in Australian forests about 5 to 15 million years ago, according to a new study. That's a much bigger critter than a modern-day platypus, which at 15 inches (38 centimeters) long is about the size of a small domestic cat.Source: Here

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Early Mammals Shrank – Twice – During Global Warming in Paleogene Era

DURHAM, N.H. – When the Earth heated up about 50 million years ago in a series of extreme global warming events, early mammals shrank in response. While this mammalian dwarfism had been previously linked to the largest of these events, University of New Hampshire doctoral student Abigail D’Ambrosia and colleagues connected this dwarfism to a second, smaller so-called hyperthermal, indicating an important pattern that could inform our understanding of current human-caused climate change.D’Ambrosia presented the team’s findings today at the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology’s annual meeting in

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Does your dog wag left or right? It matters.

Tail wagging could convey more meaning among dogs than previously thought.Dogs have different emotional responses to their peers depending on the direction of a tail wag, a new study found. Seeing a fellow dog swing its tail to the right keeps canines relaxed, while a wag to the left seems to induce stress, the researchers say.Source: Here

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ASU scientists discover that ants, like humans, can change their priorities

All animals have to make decisions every day. Where will they live and what will they eat? How will they protect themselves? They often have to make these decisions as a group, too, turning what may seem like a simple choice into a far more nuanced process. So, how do animals know what’s best for their survival?For the first time, Arizona State University researchers have discovered that at least in ants, animals can change their decision-making strategies based on experience. They can also use that experience to weigh different options.Source: Here

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New hammerhead shark species found off South Carolina

A team of South Carolina researchers had made a startling discovery: a new species of hammerhead shark.While new species aren't rare these days, a find this large is. And especially in an area as well-known as the waters off South Carolina.Source: Here

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New species found: walking catfish, Beelzebub bat and two-legged lizard

From a devilish-looking bat to a frog that sings like a bird, scientists have identified 126 new species in the Greater Mekong area, the WWF said in a new report detailing discoveries in 2011.But threats to the region's biodiversity mean many of the new species are already struggling to survive, the conservation group warned. "The good news is new discoveries. The bad news is that it is getting harder and harder in the world of conservation and environmental sustainability," Nick Cox, manager of WWF-Greater Mekong's Species Programme, said.Source: Here

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Predatory 'king of gore' dinosaur discovered

A new super-predator dinosaur that roamed the Earth 80 million years ago has been discovered in southern Utah.It was closely related to its slightly larger relative, Tyrannosaurus rex, but lived earlier, making it the largest living land predator of its time.Source: Here

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Giant Ant Colony Excavated, You won’t believe what they build underground!

This abandoned ant colony revealed how genius these tiny creatures are. Ants live underground – we usually see a relatively small exit on the surface. But you won’t believe the structures they build below. A group of researchers, armed with tons of cement, will show you.Source: Here

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Animals Library

Can Animals Be Friends with Species Other than their Own?

Baby dinosaur skeleton found intact in Alberta

Cats recognise their owners' voices but never evolved to care, says study

A New Species of Wild Cat Found Prowling Brazilian Forests and Grasslands

Seahorses stalk their prey by stealth

Mysteriously Intact T. Rex Tissue Finally Explained

The Best Holiday Gifts for Cats – A Laser Pointer

The Best Holiday Gifts for Cats – Toy Mice

The Best Holiday Gifts for Cats - A Mobile

The Best Holiday Gifts for Cats - A Ball of Yarn

The Best Holiday Gifts for Cats – A Scratching Post

This is What Happens if You Breed a Chicken with a Penguin!

Taking Guard Dog to a Whole New Level!

Long Distance Relationships are Hard Even for Cats!

Cute Cat Rushing to Poop!

The Cat that Strides!

This amazing fruit fly evolved to have pictures of ants on its wing

SeaWorld Orlando returns bottlenose dolphin to lagoon after months of care

What's Causing Early Bird Migrations? Global Warming A ‘Key Part’ of Understanding Population Declines

Rare Saola, Dubbed “Asian Unicorn,” Sighted for First Time in 21st Century

1st-Century Roots of 'Little Red Riding Hood' Found

Giant Platypus Found, Shakes Up Evolutionary Tree

Early Mammals Shrank – Twice – During Global Warming in Paleogene Era

Does your dog wag left or right? It matters.

ASU scientists discover that ants, like humans, can change their priorities

New hammerhead shark species found off South Carolina

New species found: walking catfish, Beelzebub bat and two-legged lizard

Predatory 'king of gore' dinosaur discovered

Giant Ant Colony Excavated, You won’t believe what they build underground!

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