Animals
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AnimalsPower of pupils is in their shape
Horizontally or vertically stretched pupils may provide predators and prey with visual advantages.
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AnimalsGibbons have been disappearing from China for centuries
Gibbons are now found in only a small area of southwestern China. But they once thrived across much of the country, records show.
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AnimalsFirst known venomous frogs stab with toxin-dripping lip spikes
Two Brazilian frogs jab foes with venoms more deadly than pit vipers'.
By Susan Milius -
AnimalsParasitic wasp larva gets more than a meal from its spider host
Parasitic wasps coerce spiders to construct strong supports for cocoons.
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ChemistryPlants’ ‘don’t-eat-me’ chemicals no problem for earthworms
Newly discovered gut compounds called drilodefensins allow earthworms to pack in plant debris loaded with hazardous chemicals.
By Beth Mole -
AnimalsLED lights make moths easy targets for bats
Bright LED lights may bewilder moths, making them vulnerable to predator attacks.
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AnimalsDon’t let Cecil the lion distract from the big conservation challenges
Cecil the lion’s death rocketed across the news and social media. But there are bigger conservation challenges that need attention, too.
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AnimalsHow bears engineer Japanese forests
In Japanese forests, black bears climb trees, breaking limbs. Those gaps in the forest provide light to fruiting plants, a new study finds.
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AnimalsWhere salamanders should be very afraid
Three zones of North America at high risk if the salamander-killing fungus disease Bsal invades.
By Susan Milius -
AnimalsCaterpillar treats and tricks ants by oozing spiked juice
Caterpillars ooze droplets that lure ants away from colony duties to instead lick and defend their drug source, new lab tests suggest.
By Susan Milius -
GeneticsWolves in jackals’ clothing
Africa’s golden jackals are really a species of wolf and deserve a name change, DNA evidence indicates.
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AnimalsOn the importance of elephant poop
Asian elephants are key dispersers for tree seeds. A new study finds that buffalo and cattle can also disperse the seeds, but not nearly as well.