A tiny flatworm has provided scientists with the first evidence that species may be able to adapt to a rapidly changing climate in a relatively short period of time. Over the past 100 years the flatworm has adapted to survive in different sea water conditions – developing a new tolerance to lower salinities caused by … Read more
Penguins first evolved almost 22 million years ago in Australia and New Zealand and NOT in Antarctica Researchers analysed the genomes of 18 different species of the aquatic birds They found penguins did not colonise the Antarctic until 2–9 million years ago Changes in the ocean current around Antarctica likely triggered this movement Penguins also adapted to … Read more
Rodentia (gnawing mammals) Includes mountain beavers, chipmunks, squirrels, marmots, field mice, lemmings, muskrats, hamsters, gerbils, Old World mice, rats, geomyidae (gophers), and Dipodidae (jerboas). 1,700 species, the largest mammalian order. Chiroptera (bats) There are two suborders of bats, the only mammals that can fly. Suborder Megachiroptera contains one family, the Pteropodidae (flying foxes, Old Worm … Read more
Human teeth ‘first evolved 400 million years ago’ in a bizarre armoured fish, according to new X-ray analysis of a fossil. Palaeontologists have used the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF), the strongest X-ray source in the world, to ‘digitally dissect’ the primitive jawed fish. The teeth, belonging to the extinct ‘acanthothoracid’ fish, were discovered near … Read more
A critically endangered nocturnal parrot that lives in the Australian outback ‘has not evolved to see in the dark’, putting it at risk of crashing into fences, a study found. The elusive Night Parrot’s eyesight is no better than that of its cousins that are active during the day, a scan of the bird’s skull … Read more
First four-legged vertebrates to leave the oceans may have evolved ribs to help them walk on land – which later enabled them to start drawing air into their lungs around 360 million years ago, study shows Researchers had different lizard species walk on a treadmill during a CT scan They looked at savannah monitor lizards … Read more
Men have evolved to grow beards in order to protect their jaws from incoming punches from foes, a study has found. Facial hair is the most evident manifestation of sexual dimorphism — physical differences between males and females — in humans. But its actual purpose has long remained an enigma, with some researchers claiming its purpose … Read more
You wouldn’t fancy that on a pizza: Prehistoric ANCHOVIES evolved terrifying fangs and an enormous sabre-tooth 66million years ago Two prehistoric species of anchovy were found in Belgium and Pakistan Analysis of the fossilised remains revealed the unusual dentition of the fish They had sharp fangs on the bottom jaw and a lone sabre-tooth on the top … Read more
Bird-brained: Parrots and crows have evolved ‘truly exceptional’ brain sizes while pigeons and emus have the same brain-to-body ratio as dinosaurs did 66 million years ago Birds and dinosaurs had similar brain sizes around 66million years ago After the mass extinction of the dinosaurs birds evolved relatively bigger brains Body size of some birds got … Read more
The novel coronavirus has mutated which could have very deadly complications for the pandemic, a new small study finds. A team of Chinese researchers from Zhejiang University say there are at least 30 strains of the virus, known as SARS-COV-2. Strains within China were some of the most dangerous and resembled ones that spread across … Read more