Animals

Animals

Hungry elephants turn trunks into leaf blowers

Darwin once observed an elephant using its trunk to blow an object closer. Japanese zoo elephants use the behavior to obtain food, a new study reports.

Life

‘Racing Extinction’ documents plight of endangered species

The new documentary "Racing Extinction" offers hope that people can halt the sixth mass extinction.

Animals

Tortoises provide a window into the illegal wildlife trade

Tens of thousands of Indian star tortoises are poached every year, a new study finds.

Archaeology

Honeybees sweetened early farmers’ lives

Residue on pottery pegs ancient farmers as devotees of honeybee products.

Animals

Windy days mean smaller meals for little penguin chicks

Wind speed appears to affect how much food little penguins can bring home for their chicks.

Anthropology

Ancient hominids used wooden spears to fend off big cats

Saber-toothed cat remains suggest ancient hominids used wooden spears as defensive weapons.

Animals

Big cats hunt livestock when wild prey is scarce

Lions, tigers and other big cats tend to hunt livestock only after their wild prey has dropped in availability, a new study shows.

Climate

Kangaroo farts may not be so eco-friendly after all

Kangaroos fart methane, but not much thanks to the metabolism of gut microbes

Animals

Color of light sets dung beetles straight

Dung beetles may rely on green and ultraviolet colors in the sky to help orient themselves.

Animals

Diagram captures microbes’ influence across animal kingdom

A network diagram of animal species shows that many microbes living in humans also make themselves at home in dogs, pigs and cattle.

Animals

Hunchbacked conchs jump at the smell of danger

Hunchbacked conchs are among the most vigorous of snailkind’s few jumpers.

Animals

World’s smallest snail record broken again

Snails may not be speedy, but itty-bitty snail shells found in Borneo are breaking a size record at a breakneck pace.