Fish and Amphibians

It turns out that the trick of mimicking its toxic neighbor is only one anti-predator strategy they have evolved over the millennia.  Some varieties of ensatinas along the California coast developed convincing camouflage to seamlessly blend in with their surroundings, while others in the Sierra Nevada mountain range adopted disruptive patterning — displaying high-contrast splotches of color to break up the outlines of their bodies against the forest floor. Spranger is collecting individuals like this one and housing them temporarily (before rereleasing them) at UC Santa Cruz's Coastal Science Campus. During COVID-19 times, the "army of undergraduates" that usually help out are not on campus, so she has been the only one caring for the animals, heading to the lab daily, dutifully tracking their complicated feeding and watering charts pasted to the doors of the climate-controlled rooms. Spranger, and her adviser, ecologist Barry Sinervo at UC Santa Cruz, are st...

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Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size For decades, seafood merchants have woken up before sunrise to converge at the Sydney Fish Market to buy and sell seafood in a daily auction bidding process that hasn't substantially changed in about 33 years. But a new app has brought this auction process online for the first time, under plans by chief executive Greg Dyer to cement the iconic institution's role as Australia's pre-eminent seafood trading marketplace and tourist destination and double sales to more than $300 million a year. Sydney Fish Market CEO Greg Dyer is behind the push to take the 70 year old fish market into the future. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer "It's a fundamental part of what we do," Dyer said of the live bidding. "But the product doesn't any longer have to come from Pyrmont for us to trade it." The online platform, SFMBlue, will effectively untether the Blackwattle Bay-based market's physical location from the tra...

An accumulation of scientific research suggests that there's a lot more to the social lives of lizards, snakes and related creatures. Ned and Sunny stretch out together on the warm sand. He rests his head on her back, and every so often he might give her an affectionate nudge with his nose. The pair is quiet and, like many long-term couples, they seem perfectly content just to be in each other's presence. The couple are monogamous, which is quite rare in the animal kingdom. But Sunny and Ned are a bit scalier than your typical lifelong mates — they are shingleback lizards that live at Melbourne Museum in Australia. In the wild, shinglebacks regularly form long-term bonds, returning to the same partner during mating season year after year. One lizard couple in a long-term study had been pairing up for 27 years and were still going strong when the study ended. In this way, the reptiles are more like some of the animal kingdom's most famous long-term couplers, such as albatros...

Located smack dab in the middle of Yale University's campus, Toad's Place was the sight of this past Thursday's headline show for alt-rock/punk band, The Wrecks . The venue sticks out like a sore thumb on the legendary Ivy League campus, almost like if they'd stuck The Bitter End onto a corner of Lincoln Center. The room is spacious and open, yet gives the feeling of being rustic, brooding, and grimy (in the best way possible). Whatever the vibe is, it's no joke. Kendrick Lamar, Bob Dylan, and Cardi B, among many others, have played the room. It feels like the dirty little secret everyone knows about, and is most definitely a spot for students to go and raise some hell when they need to before heading back home to hit the books.  The Wrecks, on tour in support of their new album, Sonder , brought the intensity and playful Halloween-themed energy to the stage that night, showcasing their collective passion for performing throughout the 80-minute set....

A sea snake was seen opposite the Maritime Museum in the Viaduct. Video / Supplied It plays host to superyachts and celebrities but the latest international visitor to Auckland's Viaduct Harbour has snuck in under the radar - and prompted a warning from authorities. A banded sea krait - a highly venomous sea snake from the Pacific - was spotted at the popular marina this morning by the crew of the Peretū. The boat, which offers cruises around the Hauraki Gulf for the Explore Group, was about to leave this morning when the interloper was spotted curling through the still water. A spokesperson for the Explore Group said it was the first time the crew had spotted a sea snake and the sighting was quickly reported to the Department of Conservation (DoC). Clinton Duffy, Technical Adviser Marine at DoC, told the Herald that banded sea kraits were "rare stragglers" to these islands but were considered a native species under the Wildlife Act 1953 because they arrive here na...

Glass frogs are named for their translucent skin, which helps display their internal organs from underneath (you can even watch their hearts beat). Although there are over 150 different glass frog species worldwide, scientists have only recently come to understand many of their characteristics and quirks. And due to their tiny size and elusive nature, new species are being discovered all the time. Here are 10 glass frog facts to help you get familiar with one of nature's most unique amphibians. Fast Facts Common Name : Glass frog Scientific Name : Centrolenidae Average Lifetime in the Wild : 10 to 14 years IUCN Red List Status : Least Concern to Critically Endangered, depending on species.  Current Population : Unknown 1. Glass Frogs Are Only Found in South and Central America Glass frog species live only in the humid montane rainforests and tropical lowland to mid-elevation mountain forests of South and Central America, including Mexico, B...

The endangered Chinese giant salamander. Photo credit: animals.sandiegozoo.org/ San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and conservation partners, including Ocean Park Hong Kong, are working to create a breeding group for the endangered Chinese giant salamander. The goal is eventually to re-establish depleted populations in the Chinese giant salamander's native range, in China's mountain river system, while at the same time educating the public about conservation of its habitat. The Chinese giant salamander is the largest living amphibian on the planet, with some measuring nearly 6 feet in length. However, their elusive nature has made it difficult for biologists to study their reproductive habits. Veterinary and wildlife care specialist teams at the San Diego Zoo conducted ultrasounds on three of the creatures in an effort to determine their sex and better understand their overall health. Establishing their sex is critical to the creation of a conservation breeding pla...

Closings: Cozy Union Square tapas bar Casa B , known for small plates and lush plant-lined walls, has said goodbye (253 Washington St.). "We regret to inform you that Casa B Restaurant is permanently closed. After almost 11 years, we have decided that the time has come to move on. We would like to thank everyone for all their support throughout the years. This includes employees, guests, friends, and family. We wish everyone the very best," they wrote in an online farewell. Coming soon: A happier development down the block is that Peruvian favorite Machu Chicken (25 Union Square) will reopen in 2023 after a hiatus. In suburban news, plant-based oasis Life Alive will open a café at Dedham's Legacy Place (680 Legacy Place) next year, offering noodle and grain bowls, smoothies, and salads — plus all-important free Wi-Fi. The Capital Grille steakhouse will also move in. A Tasty Burger. Kayana Szymczak for the Boston Globe/file Openings: Craving cheese fries in Cambridge...

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Wildlife SOS Rapid Response Unit carries out rescues from the most unexpected places, and of the most unusual species. They rescued over 300 reptiles from in and around Agra city in the months of September and October alone! Most commonly found reptiles include venomous snakes like the Spectacled cobra and Common kraits and non-venomous ones like the Indian Wolf snake and the Indian Rat snake. But here are some not-so-commonly-known snakes that our team has rescued over the years! Here are some uncommon snakes rescued by Wildlife SOS. [Photo (c) Wildlife SOS/Karthikeyan] Vipers One of the most dreaded reptiles, these venomous snakes occupy a variety of landscapes, including human-dominated regions. The Wildlife SOS Rapid Response team has rescued several viper species around the country — from the high-altitude areas of Jammu to the heat-stricken lands of Delhi NCR.  Levantine vipers are frequently rescued by our team in Jammu and Kashmir. [Phot...

Making the most of cooking crab starts with sourcing. Chef Jeremy Sewall advises buying live crabs that are in good shape. "Make sure the crabs are very lively," he says. The freshest crabs will still have spunk. There's plenty to know when buying crab, but one key rule is if they are barely moving, pass on them, and never buy dead raw crabs. When it comes to fresh crab, buying local is best. Crustaceans, like other sea creatures, have various species that live in different regions of the ocean. Sewall said he is "a big fan of sticking with local crab." Based in Boston, he loves to cook with fresh Jonah crab, which are from New England. Other regional specialties include Dungeness crab in California, king crab in Alaska, and blue crab in the Mid-Atlantic. If you don't live in a coastal area or want to try a species from a different region, there are plenty of online vendors that will ship you live crabs. Look for companies with quick product turnover a...