Zoology

PALEONTOLOGY

Marks left by insects on rhynchosaurus bones indicate underground activity

Marks left by insects on rhynchosaurus bones indicate underground activity

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EVOLUTION

A rare hybrid butterfly

Heliconius elevatus, a hybrid of H. pardalinus and H. melpomene, has more genes from the former, but inherited the coloration capable of scaring off predators from the latter

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Ethology

Underground amphibians produce “milk” to feed their young

Study published in Science describes nursing behavior in caecilian species found in Brazil

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Zoology

The explosive evolution of snakes

A combination of genetic, ecological, and morphological data reveals the secrets of success behind these legless reptiles

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Communication

Brazilian researcher wins award for dance about kangaroos

Doctoral student’s music video sharing the results of his research in Australia won the international Dance Your Ph.D. competition

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Paleontology

Plentiful hunting in the rivers

Turtle fossil found in a mine in the Madeira River basin belonged to one of the largest species ever described

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Zoology

The smallest vertebrate in the world

Flea toad (Brachycephalus pulex), from Bahia, is the smallest known vertebrate

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Paleontology

Fossil lineage found in Rio Grande do Sul survived the world’s biggest extinction event

Predator lived 252 million years ago and had relatives in the region of present-day Eastern Europe, in what is now Russia

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Zoology

Wildcats from the Andes and Central America differ to those found in Brazil

Complex that includes Leopardus tigrinus and L. guttulus gains new species, L. pardinoides, all in danger of extinction

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Epidemiology

Thousands of dead pups

Outbreak of the H5N1 avian flu virus devastates southern elephant seal populations

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Ecology

The economic value of wildlife

Wildlife investment index in Africa encourages environmental conservation and ecotourism

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Zoology

Unique fauna at Pico da Neblina

Scientists discover two new families of frogs at Pico da Neblina

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Zoology

Guide to Amazon snakes launched at the Butantan Institute

Illustrated panels provide information and teach visitors how to recognize 160 species that inhabit the biome

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Zoology

Egg-laying mammal rediscovered

Rare species of mammal that lays eggs is found in a forest in Indonesia

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Zoology

No flash photography, please

Flash photography by tourists can cause stress to caimans in the Amazon

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Ecology

Parasites that turn spiders into zombies

Infected by fungi, invertebrates climb higher to die

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Biology

A snake that squeaks

Snake found by students makes a sound like a chirp when defending itself

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Zoology

The monkey that crossed the Atlantic

Extinct 230-gram monkey sparks new discussions about the origin of South American primates

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RESEARCH ITINERARIES

Art that imitates life

Biologist and taxidermist Paulo César Balduíno has spent almost 40 years preparing animals for scientific collections and museum exhibitions

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EVOLUTION

The long history of bees

The pollinating insects are estimated to have appeared 120 million years ago on the Western Gondwana supercontinent, formed by what is currently South America and Africa

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ECOLOGY

Orchid uses trick to trap pollinators

Specialized structures guide flies through passages where the insect exchanges pollen between flowers

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ECOLOGY

Humans prey on more species than 19 other large carnivores

Almost 15,000 vertebrates are impacted by human activity through hunting, fishing, or capture for breeding in captivity

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Zoology

A bigger brain in the wild

Mink that escape from captivity and become wild can regain brain volume

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Acknowledgment

Three awards for Brazilian scientists

Biologist, parasitologist, mechanical engineer, and computer scientist receive the Bunge Foundation Award

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BIOLOGY

First expedition to the Imeri Mountains

Researchers have identified animals and plants isolated by altitude, which may help explain the relationships between species from high areas in northern South America

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INTERVIEW

Maria Esther Maciel: In counterpoint to the mechanization of life

The acclaimed writer and researcher has completed a trilogy on the place of animals in contemporary society

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EPIDEMIOLOGY

Brazilian spotted fever not a threat

Combating the tick-borne disease requires an understanding of its underlying ecology and effective clinical diagnostics

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Biology

Mimicking smell key to survival

Similar smell prevents fighting between termites of different species within the same termite mound

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Biology

Devastating invasion of the Brazilian sea

Lionfish are spreading along the Brazilian coast, having a harmful effect on fishing and the survival of native species

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GENOMICS

Primate genetic material could contribute to precision medicine

International project is sequencing the DNA of more than 200 species in pursuit of tools to predict human propensity to diseases

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