bleimanb | October 10, 2007Scientists working in Yellowstone National Park have shown how pregnant and new mother moose use humans to help ward off potential predators.
Why did the moose cross the road?
The scientists tracked a number of moose starting in the year 1995 to study their movements over time. They found, to their surprise, that mother moose in around Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks move an average of 400 feet closer to roads around the time they give birth.
In this article on BBC.com, Dr. Joel Berger calls the behavior, "using human infrastructure as a shield." He adds, "The study's results…
zooillogix | October 10, 2007The Qatar National History Group, a Qatari (Qatarian, Qatarese?), nature outing group, recently discovered what is believed to be a new species of sea slug. The pictures of the colorful critter were reviewed by Dr. Bill Rudman, head of the Sea Slug Forum, and he believes it bears resemblance to a sea slug last seen in Pakistan a century ago. Perhaps more even more interesting, was Zooillogix's discovery of the existence of the Sea Slug Forum, which has an exhaustive collection sea slug pictures and aqua-slug related links. Spend a few minutes perusing this awesome collection and make your…
zooillogix | October 8, 2007The Maman sculpture inspired some American Mountain Dew drinkers to share their motorized spider vehicle with us. Well our Belgian friend, LonelyFatGuy, has answered in typically understated Flemish fashion and politely pointed us towards Theo Jansen, a remarkable Dutch artist who creates incredible mobile, wind-powered, animal-inspired sculptures. The first video gives you a taste of Jansen's work (remember this is wind power) but we definitely suggest sitting through the much longer second video...
Second video below the fold...
bleimanb | October 5, 2007In a breakthrough heralded by some as "a major advancement toward the annihilation of the human species," a military contractor known as the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (Darpa) is utilizing robotic hybrid insects for surveillance and intel gathering. Using microelectromechanical systems or (MEMS), researchers are able to control the movements and flight of insects with a remote control and a GPS system.
Big Mothra is watching...
Darpa is funding four research groups at various universities for a four-phased development/deployment strategy. The third phase is the demonstration…
zooillogix | October 5, 2007Credit where credit is due. We got this cordial heads-up from the Mondo Spider team in the comments section of the Tate Gallery Spider post:
"Big deal. A spider that sits there and does nothing... We built a 1500Lb mechanical spider that we can drive." That they did.
More here as well as on YouTube
zooillogix | October 4, 2007Famed artist, Louise Bourgeois, clearly had an interesting relationship with her mother. Her new installation at the Tate Modern, Maman (1999) is a giant 30ft sculpture made of bronze, steel and marble and was intended as an "ode to my mother" according to Bourgeois. Inside of the spider's immense cage-like body, lies a clutch of eggs. While the Tate describes it is a strong and warm representation of motherhood, "A female spider, this spectacular arachnid alludes to the strength of the mother with metaphors of spinning, weaving, nuture and protection", the Guggenheim Bilbao, where the piece…
bleimanb | October 2, 2007Big Major Cay, an island in the Exuma Chain of the Bahamas is home to some very determined pigs. There are various theories about the origins of these once domestic pigs, but whether abandoned there by a farmer or dumped overboard during a storm, there they remain, alone in piggy paradise.
The pigs claim to fame stems from their enthusiasm for handouts. While they prefer humans to disembark and feed them on the beach, the impatient pigs will trudge into the water and swim out to your vessel if you wait a few minutes.
They are a big hit with tourists and children. There are also rumors that…
bleimanb | October 1, 2007Have you ever noticed that your friends who make out with giant poisonous lizards never have diabetes? Now we know why!
As it turns out, gila monsters, a type of large, carnivorous, poisonous lizard native to the Southern U.S. and Northern Mexico have a kind of hormone in their salivary glands called Exendin-4, which causes humans and gila monsters alike to produce extra insulin in response to a rise in blood sugar. The hormone is very similar to a human hormone called GLP-1, only it lasts longer.
Come on in a little closer, baby. I don't bite...
The new drug, a synthetic version of…
zooillogix | September 30, 2007With water on tap and plentiful food pellets, hamsters live seemingly carefree lives... But there is a darker side to the hamster experience: hamster obesity. The first step is admitting to yourself that your hamster is a fat-ass and should be ashamed of her appearance. The second step is purchasing this awesome Japanese hamster-wheel pedometer. Now when you get home from work and little ScrapScrap claims to have gone to the gym, you can check the pedometer and make sure she's telling the truth.
If you read Japanese, maybe you can figure out how to buy one here...
If she's lying, a good…
bleimanb | September 28, 2007Birds have the ability to sense the Earth's magnetic field, and now scientists believe that they may actually "see" it with their eyes. According to a study posted on PLoS, a molecule known to be in birds' eyes that is sensitive to magnetic fields is directly linked to a part of birds' brains where visual information is processed.
I see London. I see France...
As the study puts it, "In garden warblers, Sylvia borin, the cryptochrome-expressing retinal ganglion cells and a neuronal cluster located in posterolateral regions of both forebrain hemispheres ("Cluster N") show high, sensory-driven…
zooillogix | September 27, 2007Those crazy Japanese have done it again! By combining two types of recessive genes that cause frogs to be pale, they have created a frog with almost transparent skin. Unfortunately for the frogs, the advantages to testing on a see-through critter are numerous. For example, "You can see through the skin how organs grow, how cancer starts and develops," explained the lead researcher Masayuki Sumida, professor at the Institute for Amphibian Biology of state-run Hiroshima University. "You can watch organs of the same frog over its entire life as you don't have to dissect it. The researcher can…
zooillogix | September 27, 2007So they are not actually real but this might be the next lava lamp. The "tank" contains three somewhat realistic jellyfish that swim about in all of their plastic glory. Six LEDs illuminate the critters and change color in order to "change your mood..." Soon to be available for £25, Zooillogix advises purchasing this ridiculous item but strongly warns against investing in the company that produces it.
You can pre-order here.
Is being stoned a "mood"???
zooillogix | September 27, 2007Undated, unidentified giant lobster picture from the crazy Russian news.
bleimanb | September 26, 2007Researchers have discovered that bat bugs, an African insect, have developed an interesting evolutionary trait to protect themselves from....themselves. According to this article on nationalgeographic.com, bat bugs--a relative and fellow blood sucker to bed bugs--have a pretty gruesome mating ritual. Male bat bugs do not perform their coital duties like gentleman. Rather, they prefer to use their sharp, pointed members to stab their female partners right through their exoskeletons, injecting sperm directly into the bloodstream. As an evolutionary response to this, female bat bugs have…
bleimanb | September 25, 2007Ok, so there isn't much scientific merit to this, but who cares? Bats are my (Benny's) favorite animals! This shot of an insectivorous bat won the prestigious British Visions of Science and Technology award. Keep reading for some more sweet zoological shots from the competition's "Short List," and definitely check out their website.
Said bat's lovable claw.
A vicious Weddell seal
Female Garden Spider (Araneus diadematus)
zooillogix | September 22, 2007This extremely rare and beautiful "pink dolphin" was spotted and photographed by Capt. Erik Rue of Calcasieu Charter Service on June 24th, 2007 during a charter fishing trip on Calcasieu Lake south of Lake Charles, LA.
An albino dolphin, with reddish eyes and glossy pink skin, the critter was smaller than its companions suggesting that it was immature. These pictures are apparently of the albino traveling with its mother.
Apparently these photos were circulating back in June but they just made their way to us, so we decided to share.
zooillogix | September 20, 2007These come from photographer Igor Siwanowicz. Absolutely spectacular. Check out tons of his incredible work here.
Idolomantis diabolica
Unidentified
Idolomantis diabolica
Pnigomantis
bleimanb | September 20, 2007Tired of sneezing all the time? Just inject a bunch of parasitic worms into your system and say goodbye to those pesky allergies.
How can you stay mad at this face?
Scientists are looking at the possibility of using hookworms to combat hay fever, asthma and even Crohn's disease. The worms grow to approximately a half an inch long, feeding on...
...nutrients in the intestines of their hosts.
Researchers have long noted that humans in tropical areas known to be hookworm hotbeds have much lower rates of allergies. Recent research also suggests that hookworms may indeed prevent allergy attacks…
zooillogix | September 17, 2007Benny and I love almost all living things even if we have to squish those things from time to time. The one distinct exception to this rule is the earwig. This is the common name for the insect order Dermaptera, which frequently have an abdomen that ends in forceps-like cerci or, in other words, pinchers!
Earwig in a typical threatening posture
The earwig was the bane of our existence growing up. Gathering en masse in damp, dark places, they were particularly fond of the area where the fence gate met the first post, which divided our front and back yard. Such was our extreme fear of these…
zooillogix | September 13, 2007Probably my favorite SNL commercial of all time.
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Video [via Myspace]
More classic SNL animal vids below the fold
Dissing Your Dog
Alright, I'm going Crazy with these old SNL commercials. So good... I'll stop now.
Action Cats
actiekattenUploaded by filiafloep