A parasitic haunting: When snakes are eaten from within
Amidst the sawgrass and cypress swamps of Everglades National Park, a 16-foot Burmese python slithers in search of its next meal. But something else is preying on the python from within......»»
Scientists believe disorienting the malaria parasite may prevent it from causing harm
With almost 250 million cases a year, 621,000 of them fatal, malaria remains a major public health problem, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Malaria is a parasitic disease transmitted by mosquitoes and caused by a microbe of the genus Plasmodium......»»
Snakes as therapy animals: Reptiles help heal in Brazil
A yellow-and-brown boa constrictor wraps itself around David de Oliveira Gomes's neck like a scarf, but the 15-year-old Brazilian with autism is fascinated, not afraid......»»
Discovery of a new animal parasitic euglenid species in rice fields
A detailed investigation has led to the discovery of a new species of parasitic euglenid found in ostracods and other creatures residing in rice fields. This euglenid has undergone a secondary loss of its photosynthetic capability. The infection rate.....»»
How a fungus sidesteps a plant"s defense mechanism
RIKEN scientists have discovered how a parasitic fungus renders harmless a powerful anti-fungal compound produced by some plants. As well as providing a fascinating glimpse into the ongoing arms race between plants and parasites, the finding could be.....»»
What mungee, the world"s largest mistletoe, can teach us about treading lightly
Noongar Country of southwestern Australia is home to the world's largest parasitic plant, a mighty mistletoe that blooms every December. That's why it's commonly known as WA's Christmas Tree. But it also goes by other names, mungee and moodjar. And i.....»»
Examining puppeteer fungus" targeted takeover of zombie flies
In a new study published in eLife, lead author Carolyn Elya, postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology at Harvard, reveals the molecular and cellular underpinnings behind the parasitic fungus, Entomophthora musc.....»»
Is it an ant? Is it a plant? No, it"s a spider combining camouflage and movement mimicry
A species of tiny, colorful jumping spider employs two lines of defense to avoid being eaten: camouflaging with plants and walking like an ant. Researchers report May 17 in the journal iScience that this combination of camouflage and movement mimicry.....»»
The Hunger Games prequel The Ballad Of Songbirds and Snakes gets first trailer
Head back to Panem and discover the origins of a young Coriolanus Snow in the first trailer for The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. .....»»
Snakes: Understand them, avoid them
Snakes, whether we like them or fear them, are becoming more active this time of year and activity will increase as spring temperatures climb......»»
How parasitic fungus hijacks nervous system of flies
The last thing Carolyn Elya expected to find in her backyard were zombies......»»
Most plastic eaten by city vultures comes straight from food outlets
Since the 1950s, humanity has produced an estimated 8.3 billion tons of plastic, adding a further 380 million tons to this amount each year. Only 9% of this gets recycled. The inevitable result is that plastic is everywhere, from the depths of the oc.....»»
Can some snakes do cartwheels to escape or startle predators?
In research published in Biotropica, investigators report that the Dwarf Reed Snake (Pseudorabdion longiceps) performs cartwheels when threatened. This is the first time such an active rolling motion has been documented in snakes, with images and a d.....»»
Why flexible franchises win in financial markets
If you've stayed at a brand-name hotel or eaten at a fast food restaurant recently, it's more likely than not that you've supported a franchised company. Franchising is a distribution strategy where a larger company, the franchisor, licenses the righ.....»»
Solving the paradox of how animals managed to evolve with bright colors without being eaten
A trio of evolutionary biologists, two with Carleton University, the other with Seoul National University, has apparently solved the paradox of aposematism—how animals managed to evolve with bright colors to warn predators of their toxic nature. In.....»»
Bacteria rely on cooperation and evolution to defend against predatory protists, finds study
Eating and being eaten is a normal process in nature. These predator–prey dynamics help to stabilize ecosystems. It ensures that individual species do not become too abundant, controls their populations, and prevents damage caused by overpopulation.....»»
Researchers discover unique way snakes replace their teeth
A new study, led by a researcher from the Centre for Oral, Clinical & Translational Sciences at King's College London, has identified key differences in tooth replacement between snakes and other reptiles, and identified the mechanism that allows sna.....»»
Snakes can hear more than you think
A University of Queensland-led study has found that as well as ground vibrations, snakes can hear and react to airborne sound......»»
Study shows need for closure can magnify emotional effect of ghosting
Odds are, you know someone who has been ghosted. And according to a new study from the University of Georgia, it can be a haunting experience......»»
Snakes are distributed in the Chaco in accordance with adaptations to environment, study shows
Despite similarities with other Neotropical biomes like the Caatinga (a mosaic of scrub with patches of seasonally dry forest in Northeast Brazil) and Cerrado (savanna in Central Brazil), the Gran Chaco, or simply Chaco, is globally unique. Located m.....»»
Study: Bright red pigment in red velvet mites protects them against harmful effects of UV radiation and heat
Living on the rugged landscape of rocks and concrete, the red velvet mite Balaustium murorum braves intense sunlight and ultraviolet radiation. These non-parasitic mites feed largely on pollen and emerge during spring from eggs that were laid during.....»»