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Facts About Mammals
Sat, 28 Apr 2012 18:51:22 +0000
Did you know there are 21 groups of mammals? Or that there are nearly 5,000 species of mammals? Find out these facts and more in this article about mammals.
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All About Amphibians
Sat, 28 Apr 2012 18:50:03 +0000
Amphibians are a group of animals that includes newts, salamanders, caecilians, frogs and toads. There are between 5,000 and 6,000 species of amphibians alive today. The following articles will introduce ... Read Full Post
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Monotremes
Sat, 28 Apr 2012 16:46:06 +0000
Monotremes are a unique group of mammals. Unlike placental mammals and marsupials, monotremes lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young. Monotremes consist of two subgroups, the echidnas ... Read Full Post
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Pinnipeds
Sat, 28 Apr 2012 10:50:07 +0000
Pinnipeds are marine mammals that include three groups, the eared seals (also known as the fur seals), the true seals, and the walrus. This group of mammals are sell suited ... Read Full Post
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Study Reveals Jellyfish on Rise
Fri, 27 Apr 2012 12:07:29 +0000
 Jellyfish numbers are on the rise worldwide according to a global study conducted by scientists from the University of British Columbia. The research team examined data for several species of jellyfish and found that jellyfish populations were increasing in 62 percent of the locations they analyzed. Areas with booming jellyfish populations included the coastal waters of East Asia, the Black Sea, the Northeastern United States, Hawaii and Antarctica.
This study represents the first of its kind done on global scale. Plenty of anecdotal evidence exists for increasing jellyfish populations but this is the first survey that quantifies the trend.
Jellyfish impact humans in a number of ways. They pose a threat to swimmers (their stings can be very painful and depending on the species can even be life threatening). They also clog water intakes for power plants and interfere with commercial fishing.
Photo © Casper Tybjerg.
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New Fishing Technology Reduces Threat to Seabirds
Fri, 27 Apr 2012 11:34:12 +0000
 Conservationists have introduced a new fishing technology that will help to reduce the threat of bycatch to critically endangered waved albatrosses. The technology, dubbed the Medina System, is aimed at making small-vessel bottom-set longline fishing safer for birds.
Current technology poses the greatest threat to seabirds when it is being set and when it is being hauled in. Birds attempt to grab bait and in doing so become ensnared on the line. They often die due to drowning or injury.
By helping to sink lines and bait more quickly, the new fishing technology reduces the chance for seabirds to grab onto bait and become hooked. Since the new aparatus does not weigh much and creates minimal drag, the lines are still easy for fishing boats to haul out of the water.
The new fishing technology was developed through the joint efforts of the American Bird Conservancy and their Ecuadorian Partner, Equilibrio Azul.
Photo © Dan Lebbin / American Bird Conservancy.
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Rare Parrot Receives Increased Protection
Fri, 27 Apr 2012 11:12:50 +0000
 The critically endangered Fuertes's parrot is to recieve additional protection thanks to the combined efforts of Fundacion ProAves, World Lands Trust, the American Bird Conservancy and several other conservation organizations. These organizations recently acquired more than 350 acres of habitat critical to the Fuertes's parrot and eleven other threatened species of birds, mammals and amphibians.
Colombia's Fuertes's parrot is among the world's most endangered birds. The species consists of a population of fewer than 250 individuals. The bird is so rare that it was thought to have been extinct for 90 years. It was rediscovered in 2002 by ProAves biologists working under an American Bird Conservancy grant. The ProAves biologists discoverd a small population of about a dozen birds surviing in the high-elevation cloud forest of the Colombian Andes.
Gold mining and deforestation pose the greatest threat to the Fuertes's parrots and their habitat. To protect the rare birds requires constant funding and commitment on the part of conservation organizations. Their efforts have resulted in the establishment of the Threatened Parrot Corridor, a collection of reserves that blend both municiple and private reserves. The corridor covers some 18,000 acres of crucial habitat and now protects about 70 percent of the Fuertes's Parrot population.
Photo © Fundación ProAves.
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Komodo Dragon
Fri, 30 Mar 2012 15:31:22 +0000
Komodo dragons are the largest lizards in the world. These giant reptiles are dull brown, dark grey, or reddish in color, while juveniles are green with yellow and black stripes. ... Read Full Post
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Red Fox
Fri, 30 Mar 2012 11:27:21 +0000
The red fox is a charismatic carnivore that inhabits a widespread range throughout the Northern Hemisphere. This canine occurs as far north as the Arctic Circle and as far south ... Read Full Post
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Newts and Salamanders
Thu, 29 Mar 2012 13:57:33 +0000
Newts and salamanders are a group of amphibians that include about 10 families that include some 470 species. All salamanders and newts are carnivorous. They feed on small invertebrates ... Read Full Post
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