Fish and Amphibians

High in the Three Sisters mountains of the Cascade Range in central Oregon, researchers had to hike—and then ski—to get to the quiet ephemeral pool. Strange-looking salamanders, and not much else, lived in the water. "I noticed right away that the [salamander] larvae were really skinny and big-headed," says Susan Walls, now a research biologist with the United States Geological Survey. When she looked closer, she could see that the heads and jaws of this population of long-toed salamanders were much bigger than normal. It turns out that these larger mouths served a very specific purpose: cannibalism. In one of the first research papers on this subject featuring salamanders, Walls had described how these larger jaws also held bigger vomerine teeth (which, in this species, are usually just small bumps behind the front row of teeth) that had grown resemble fangs. All the better to eat their brethren with—but why? The process of "shape shifting" under environmental pres...

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Whale watching in the Salish Sea is almost always a thrill. But a recent clash between two species of orcas presented a rare spectacle. Two distinct species of orcas feed and socialize in the waters of Puget Sound: fish-eating endangered southern resident killer whales and transient, or Bigg's, killer whales, which feed on marine mammals and are more common. They seldom mix. "Usually, when transients are within a mile or two of residents, they just turn around discreetly leave the scene, going somewhere else," says Howard Garrett, co-founder of Whidbey-Island based Orca Network, which has tracked the movements of these whales for 20 years. He says when transients hunt and eat their prey, it's a spectacle. Flesh and blood sometimes fly over the waves as the whales tear into seals and sea lions. But southern residents take their meals — mostly Chinook salmon — beneath the surface.   " We don't see them tearing fish apart, but they do. But we see the tr...

[unable to retrieve full-text content] Why have prices for Alaskan king crab, snow crab surged? Experts point to climate change    KOMO News

[unable to retrieve full-text content] Absurd Creature of the Week: This Toad Grows a Spiky Mustache and Stabs Rivals for the Ladies    Wired

Scaleless snakes may seem contradictory — scales are a defining feature of the animal, after all. And yet, snakes without scales have been found in the wild, are commonly bred in captivity, and are even trendy pets. When all is said and done, these creatures are not so different from their scale-covered counterparts. But there are some distinctions that make them a subject of interest for reptile fans and researchers alike. From their extra-bright colors to their smooth, marshmallow-like skin, scaleless snakes are curious animals. Here are eight facts about them. 1. Their Lack of Scales Is a Mutation It's understandable to think that a scaleless snake's lack of scales is a deformity — it does seem like a mistake. However, it is technically a mutation. The absence of scales is a recessive trait, best compared to albinism that appears in many animals (including snakes). As a result, it can be passed down, provided scaleless snakes mate with other scaleless s...

If you read many older dinosaur books, you will see T. rex and Brontosaurus portrayed as ponderous beasts that resemble overgrown lizards or crocodiles. It was once thought that dinosaurs had the same cold-blooded (ectothermic) metabolism as reptiles. In other words, they could not control their body temperatures internally, and so relied on their environment to heat themselves up. And because of this, they grew and moved slowly. However, in the late 1960s and 1970s, palaeontologists started to doubt this stereotype. The discovery of feisty, svelte bird-like species such as Deinonychus revealed that some dinosaurs were faster, smarter, more agile, more energetic and faster-growing than once assumed. Leading experts of this generation, such as John Ostrom and Robert Bakker, argued that dinosaurs were warm-blooded (endothermic), with...

Since season 1, the challenges given to bakers on The Great British Bake Off  ( The Great British Baking Show in North America) have gotten progressively more difficult, but there are some bakes from the show's history that viewers can recreate at home with relative ease. RELATED: 10 Actors That Could Thrive On The Great British Bake Off Whether one is in the mood for something sweet or savory, fans of the show can feel a part of the experience by making their own versions of these on-screen delights. Whether attempting a star-studded recipe from Mary Berry or Paul Hollywood themselves, or one of the creations from the many Star Bakers, ev...

Striped mud turtles ( Kinosternon baurii ) are found throughout Florida. (Image credit: FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 https://www.flickr.com/photos/myfwc/24233688722)) A Florida reptile dealer known as "The Lizard King" faces federal charges for illegally harvesting turtles from the wild to smuggle out of the United States and sell overseas. The 54-year-old Michael Van Nostrand owns the reptile wholesale store Strictly Reptiles, Inc. in Hollywood, Florida. The business sells a variety of reptiles, such as turtles, snakes , lizards and baby alligators, as well as assorted species of amphibians, large spiders, scorpions and "exotic mammals," according to the store website , and Van Nostrand earned his royal title after penning his memoir "The Lizard King" in 2008, The Associated Press (AP) reported . Documents filed in Miami federal district court show that Van Nostrand and his company established a network of so-called ...

[unable to retrieve full-text content] Do just one thing: tips for decorating, recycling    KPCnews.com

The bright colours of animals such as poison dart frogs act as a warning signal, telling predators that the humble creatures pack a noxious punch. Now, an analysis of the results of multiple scientific studies shows that the most eye-catching animals also tend to be the most toxic. Access options Access through your institution Change institution Buy or subscribe Subscribe to Journal Get full journal access for 1 year 199,00 € only 3,90 € per issue Subscribe Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout. Rent or Buy article ...