Animals

Animals

A toxin behind mysterious eagle die-offs may have finally been found

A 20-year study of water weeds and cyanobacteria in the southern United States pinpoints a bird-killing toxin, and it's not your usual suspect.

Animals

A gene defect may make rabbits do handstands instead of hop

Mutations in a gene typically found throughout the nervous system rob rabbits of their ability to hop. Instead, the animals walk on their front paws.

Life

A plant gene may have helped whiteflies become a major pest

An agricultural pest may owe part of its success to a plant detox gene it acquired long ago that lets the insect neutralize common defenses.

Animals

Octopus sleep includes a frenzied, colorful, ‘active’ stage

Four wild cephalopods snoozing in a lab had long stretches of quiet napping followed by brief bursts of REM-like sleep.

Animals

Dim lighting may raise the risk of a West Nile virus exposure

Dimly lit nights increased risk of West Nile virus exposure in chickens. Artificial light proved a better predictor of risk than population or paving.

Animals

Why do sea turtles, penguins and sharks sometimes just swim in circles or spirals?

Tracking devices recorded the loops and spirals of 10 marine species. In some cases, scientists have good guesses for why; other times it’s baffling.

Paleontology

An ancient shark’s weird fins helped it glide like a manta ray

Nicknamed eagle shark, the newly discovered ancient creature achieved underwater flight 30 million years before the first rays.

Animals

Two bonobos adopted infants outside their group, marking a first for great apes

Female bonobos in a reserve in the Congo took care of orphaned infants — feeding, carrying and cuddling them — for at least one year.

Animals

Bee larvae drum with their butts, which may confuse predatory wasps

Dual percussion instruments — one on the head, the other on the rear — give mason bee larvae a peculiar musical gift that may be a tool for survival.

Animals

Cone snail venom may trick mate-seeking worms into becoming meals

Cone snail venom contains worm pheromone mimics, suggesting the chemicals may be used to lure worms during hunting.

Animals

A year after Australia’s wildfires, extinction threatens hundreds of species

As experts piece together a fuller picture of the scale of damage to wildlife, more than 500 species may need to be listed as endangered.

Animals

A sea slug’s detached head can crawl around and grow a whole new body

Chopped-up planarians regrow whole bodies from bits and pieces. But a sea slug head can regrow fancier organs such as hearts.