Fish and Amphibians

rhesus macaque :: Article Creator Male Rhesus Macaques Often Have Sex With Each Other, A Trait They Have Inherited In Part From Their Parents Homosexual behavior is not limited to humans. Biologists have reported homosexual behavior in many species of wild animal, ranging from bats and birds to dolphins and primates. When animals engage in homosexual behavior, one might assume that they invest less time and energy on reproduction. This suggests that there may be strong reproductive costs associated with such behavior, such as having fewer offspring. So it raises the question of how homosexual behavior manages to evolve and continue to exist within a population. The underlying presumption is that there is not only a cost associated with engaging in homosexual activity, but also that variation in such behavior is passed down from one generation to the next. Called heritability, this is essential for any evolution by natural selection to occur....

green snake :: Article Creator Invasive Green Anacondas Pose New Threat To Everglades Ecosystem Florida's Everglades have been home to various invasive species over the years, but a new concern is rising with the increasing sightings of green anacondas in the region since 2000. These enormous snakes, native to South America, have captured the attention of experts and sparked worries about their impact on the delicate ecosystem. Andrew Durso, a biology professor at FGCU, shed light on the green anacondas' characteristics, stating, "It's the world's heaviest snake. They're native to South America. They're a giant constrictor." The males can grow up to 15 feet and weigh over 100 pounds, while females can reach staggering lengths of up to 26 feet, with the maximum recorded weight being a jaw-dropping 440 pounds, according to Durso.  What sets green anacondas apart from other invasive snakes, like pythons, is...

cat shop :: Article Creator At The Pawffee Shop, Coffee, Cats, And Community Come Together For A Cause Prev Next At The Pawffee Shop, coffee, cats, and community come together for a cause APPLETON (NBC 26) — The Pawffee Shop, nestled in Appleton, is a place for cat lovers and coffee enthusiasts alike. According to co-owner Leah Enking, the Pawffee Shop was born out of a shared dream with Safe Haven Pet Sanctuary. "We both kind of had the dream that this is kind of what we want to do," said Enking. Popping up all over the country are places just like the Pawffee Shop. The shop has a full-service coffee bar, but the real magic happens on the other side of the coffee counter. Step into the cat lounge, and you'll find a sanctuary filled with adoptable cats from the Safe Haven Pet Sanctuary. Enking emphasized the importance of providing a cage-free and relaxed environment for the cats. "The cage-free envir...

rottweiler dog price :: Article Creator When Police Kill Dogs, Who Pays The Price? Pet Owners, Families And Taxpayers On the morning of June 10, 2018, Marianne Anniszkiewicz called Rochester Animal Services and police to report that a pit bull was loose on her strip of Belknap Street on the city's west side. As she recounted it, Animal Services officers arrived within a few minutes, picked up the dog, and took it away without incident. Anniszkiewicz went about her day, setting up a pool in her gated yard with her three grandchildren and her three dogs: Sampson, a black Tibetan Mastiff mix, Sunny, a lab mix, and Angel, a pit bull. About an hour later, though, Sampson would be dead, shot in the head by a police officer who responded to Anniszkiewicz's call and encountered the dog upon entering the gate to her house. "All of a sudden, my daughter in-law comes running into the house saying, they call me Mimi, 'Mimi, they shot Sa...

citrus bearded dragon :: Article Creator Naked Bearded Dragons Reveal Where Vertebrates Got Their Coats This story appears in the October 2017 issue of National Geographic magazine. From scales to feathers to fur, vertebrates clothe themselves in a dazzling variety of textures and hues. But scientists have shown that many of those coverings emerge from the same anatomical hardware. Biologists have long known that feathers and hairs both start as structures called placodes. In reptiles, however, biologists had found distinct skin areas that yielded scales but no placodes. The absence proved puzzling, since birds are more closely related to reptiles than to mammals. Had birds and mammals evolved placodes independently? Or had today's reptiles discarded them? Then University of Geneva biologist Michel Milinkovitch visited an Italian animal fair, found scaleless, "naked" bearded dragons for sale—and a third scenario emerged. When he c...

indoor dog park :: Article Creator Dog Walking 101 Taking your dog on walks is a great way for both of you to get daily exercise. Not only does your dog get a potty break and exercise, but they also get mental stimulation and an awareness for the neighborhood. However, if your dog is difficult to walk, it may make your daily strolls impossible. Luckily, there are methods you can use to train your dog and ensure a positive experience for everyone.  You should take your dog on a walk at least once a day. The breed and age of your dog will determine if your dog needs more exercise. It's best to try for five walks a week of at least 30 minutes or more. Regular walks are important to your dog's overall health.  Your dog may need to go out to potty 3 or more times a day. Don't rush their potty breaks: deciding where to go is a big part of how your dog communicates with the world. Sniffing around also alleviates anxiety and helps them exp...

sable animal :: Article Creator Seals Of Sable Sable Island, Nova Scotia, is a remote, almost mythical landscape in the northwest Atlantic that's famous for its wild horses. But what many people don't know is that it's also home to the largest breeding colony of grey seals in the world. Every winter, tens of thousands of female seals head to Sable to give birth. In 2016 alone, more than 80,000 pups were born. Huge males arrive too, ready to fight for the right to breed with their chosen female. The winter pupping and breeding season also signals the arrival of the seal researchers, including a diverse team of scientists led by biologist Nell den Heyer from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO). It's a race against the clock for the researchers; they only have a short time to find and record data from roughly a thousand marked seals along with their pups. They've followed many of these animals for more than 30 years. On...