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Recent research conducted at Deakin University in Australia has shed light on an interesting question: solitary predators such as tigers and brown bears kill more animals compared to social predators such as wolves and lions.
However, it is important to keep in mind that prey size plays a significant role in this process as well. A lone predator may catch a large deer that will provide it with calories much better than many smaller animals.
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Scientists have uncovered the amazing ability of sharks to detect odors in the ocean. These predators, possessing a unique olfactory system, can pick up the odor of their prey at considerable distances. Their nasal cavities are not designed for breathing, but serve to filter seawater, where sensory cells are located that send signals to the brain.
Sharks are able to smell “in stereo,” which helps them pinpoint the direction in which an odor source is located. Studies show that some species, such as the great white shark and tiger shark, have the largest olfactory apparatuses and this indicates a high sensitivity to odors.
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Henry the crocodile will be 124 years old in December and is already recognized as the oldest member of his species on the planet.
Henry has lived an amazing life. He has fathered over 10,000 offspring during his stay at the Crocworld Conservation Center in South Africa since 1985. The longhorn was born around 1900 in the Okavango River Delta. He reaches a length of over 5 meters and weighs approximately 700 kg.
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A new study from the Stowers Institute for Medical Research explains how African killifish regenerate their caudal fins after injury. Led by Augusto Ortega Granillo, Ph.D., the team found that the duration of the cells’ active response to injury is critical for successful regeneration.
Skin cells around the damage and in the removed areas trigger a genetic program that prepares the body for repair. The extracellular matrix, like a sponge, absorbs signals from damaged tissue, guiding the cells to get to work.
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The town of Hilario-Ascasubi has a real parrot problem. Thousands of green, yellow and red birds have filled the streets, damaging electrical cables and causing frequent blackouts.
Biologists say this invasion is due to deforestation in the surrounding hills, forcing the birds to seek food and shelter in the cities.
Each year the parrots are to the city in the fall and winter, with as many as 50,000 birds per 5,000 local citizens. In the summer, they migrate south to Patagonia to breed.
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