Blogs Posts in General Information category; 268 blog posts

Fifth of mammal species at risk

The destruction that mankind is inflicting on the natural world is continuing at an ever-increasing rate, a new survey has shown. According to the “red list” compiled annually by the International Union for the Conservation of N [...]

Posted On : Nov, 06 2009 | Comments : 1

Paleontologists Discover New Fossil Mammal

Paleontologists in the U.S. and China have discovered a new species of mammal that lived 123 million years ago in what is now the Liaoning Province in China. The newly discovered chipmunk-sized animal, named Maotherium asiaticus, was found [...]

Posted On : Oct, 31 2009 | Comments : 0

UK mammals have 'Celtic fringe'

Voles, shrews, mice and stoats in northern and western areas have different DNA from their counterparts in other parts of the British Isles. The paper, in Proceedings B journal, says the different populations arrived at the end of the last [...]

Posted On : Oct, 02 2009 | Comments : 0

Dozens of Aussie mammals 'under threat'

One in five species of Australian mammals are at risk of extinction, a new report says. Of the 388 species of mammals found naturally in Australia, 78 are listed as vulnerable, endangered or extinct in the wild. In addition, nearly 14 per [...]

Posted On : Sep, 30 2009 | Comments : 0

Genes, not environment determined sex of sea reptiles in pas...

Ancient sea reptiles gave birth to live offspring, and their genes, not their environment, determined the offspring's sex, researchers in the U.S. and U.K. say. The research means that the gender of these extinct reptiles — mosasaurs, [...]

Posted On : Sep, 18 2009 | Comments : 0

One in six Mediterranean mammals face extinction

One in six Mediterranean mammals is threatened with extinction at the regional level, mainly due to the destruction of their habitat from urbanization, agriculture and climate change, nature body IUCN said Tuesday in a new study. Of the 32 [...]

Posted On : Sep, 16 2009 | Comments : 0

Zoo won't release elephant birth video

Animal rights activists have urged a Salt Lake City zoo to release a video of an elephant giving birth, suggesting it shows cruel treatment. The video shows the elephant, Christy, chained by her front legs with two trainers standing nearby [...]

Posted On : Aug, 27 2009 | Comments : 0

Dogs on barbies not pets

Professor of Pacific at Auckland's Massey University, Sitaleki Finau, says in Tongan culture dogs are not viewed as companions, but as another source of meat, and the boundaries do not cross. "People [Tongans] who look after animals do [...]

Posted On : Aug, 18 2009 | Comments : 0

Zoo Coping With Budget Cuts

Even Zoo Director Mary Healy can’t pin down just one favorite. “I really like the red pandas. But every time I walk by the zebras I think they’re just gorgeous animals.” Healy’s been the zoo director for 10 yea [...]

Posted On : Aug, 10 2009 | Comments : 0

Mammals have to contend with shrinking genomes too

After the dinosaurs, mammals too have to contend with a shrinking genome, according to evidence buried in the chromosomes of animals and plants. There was a shrinking in the genomes of the dinosaurs before they went extinct. This trend cont [...]

Posted On : Jul, 29 2009 | Comments : 0

350-Pound Seal Gets New Home

The 9-year-old seal, named Isaac, is the first male resident of the Aquarium's New Balance Foundation Marine Mammal Center. He will join Cordova, Ursula and JD, all females, who opened the new center earlier this month. Isaac actually arri [...]

Posted On : Jul, 24 2009 | Comments : 0

Dolphins And Animal Assisted Therapy

Some scientists who work with dolphins believe that these sea-dwellers show a sense to the disability and physical trauma associated with function and pain in humans, therefore making the cranio-sacral therapy possible. Dolphins, with their [...]

Posted On : Jul, 21 2009 | Comments : 0

Bloodsicles and frozen grapes help zoomates keep cool

It's a record-breaking 103 degrees and Omar doesn't want to leave the shade. But after some coaxing from Head Zookeeper Sara King, the Austin Zoo tiger meanders over to the pool and gingerly lowers himself, hind legs first, into the cool [...]

Posted On : Jul, 15 2009 | Comments : 0

A guide to birds and mammals

In India, as everywhere else, the animals of greatest popular interest are the mammals and birds. But there are few regional field guides to the birds of India, and even fewer books on the mammals of specific regions. These are the books to [...]