zoology

Brains Versus Brawn Amongst Wild Canids

Posted 8 April 2013 by Anne-Marie Hodge

Continuing the theme from my last post, I'm going to cover a new study involving some of the carnivores that I'm observing and studying out here in Kenya. Last time we talked about mongoose, and this time we'll move on to one of my favorite mammalian families: the Canidae. Few things are more important for a carnivore's survival than having a lethal bite. The critical mechanics underlying bite force have significantly influenced carnivore evolution--they determine morphology, hunting behavior, and prey... Read more

Posted in carnivores, ecology, evolution, mammals, physiology, Uncategorized, zoology |

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How do “fish of a feather” shoal together?

Posted 8 February 2013 by Anne-Marie Hodge

“Birds of a feather flock together,” as the old saying goes, and that simple axiom raises many fascinating questions. Do animals really choose to associate with conspecifics that closely resemble themselves? If so, how do they even determine, without the either aid of mirrors or cognitive abilities that enable self-recognition, who is “of a feather” and who is not? Why would once choose to be “just a face in the crowd,” or even a member of a crowd at all?... Read more

Posted in animal communication, ecology, evolution, physiology, zoology |

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Shake Your Tailfeathers, Cretaceous Style

Posted 5 January 2013 by Anne-Marie Hodge

When it comes to fancy courtship displays, birds rule the roost: their outlandish antics have been the subject of endless fascination, nature documentaries, and YouTube videos. The feathered creatures make moves that seem to be unparalleled in the natural world. (No, Michael Jackson concerts don’t count as the “natural world). It is important to keep in mind, however, that modern birds are not the only feathered creatures to have ever walked—or, perhaps, danced—the earth. There is now abundant evidence that... Read more

Posted in animal communication, evolution, physiology, zoology |

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Humpbacks Multitask for Mates

Posted 31 December 2012 by Anne-Marie Hodge

The trade-offs between rewards involved in either foraging or courting mates have likely plagued animals for millennia. The need to feed often competes with the requirement to reproduce . . . and yet one cannot successfully secure a mate and raise offspring without adequate resources. This dilemma means that animals must carefully balance the time and energy they allocate to each endeavor. Humans may be able to cruise for dates in the grocery store, but few other animals are so... Read more

Posted in animal communication, ecology, mammals, marine biology, marine mammals, zoology |

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From “You are What You Eat” to “You See What You Eat”: Shedding Light on Ecologically Attuned Vision

Posted 25 November 2012 by Anne-Marie Hodge

If you have ever been temporarily blinded by sunlight after emerging from a building, or have stubbed a toe in the middle of the night, then you realize first-hand that sensitivity to light is a key element of success in one's environment. Animals vary dramatically in their visual abilities under different light conditions: birds and bees use UV vision to see colors that we cannot even perceive, some cave animals forgo vision completely, and the rest of us fall somewhere... Read more

Posted in ecology, evolution, mammals, physiology, zoology |

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Dolphins Remain Alert for Weeks Without Sleep

Posted 24 October 2012 by Anne-Marie Hodge

Modern society seems to wage a constant battle with the biological need to sleep. We have arrays of caffeinated beverages, 24-hour stores at our disposal, and technology the provides round-the-clock entertainment sources. If you have ever been a shift worker, a new parent, a desperate student during finals week, or have traveled across multiple time zones, it’s likely that you have experienced just how mentally and physically overwhelming it can feel to be in a state of sleep deprivation. Although... Read more

Posted in mammals, Uncategorized, zoology |

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“The Redder the Better” . . . Sometimes

Posted 26 July 2012 by Anne-Marie Hodge

Nature is a wonder of color: flowering plants are the kaleidoscopes of many landscapes, and animals ranging from flatworms to parrots display a rainbow of shades and hues. Color is often appreciated for its aesthetic value alone, but in reality it often carries great functional significance. An animal’s hues and patterns may help it to hide from predators, attract mates, or signal that it wields a toxin or sting that potential attackers would be wise to avoid. Two recent studies,... Read more

Posted in ecology, mammals, zoology |

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Iriomote’s Endemic Cat

Posted 29 May 2011 by Anne-Marie Hodge

Although islands are known for the high degree of endemism found amongst their flora and fauna, there are relatively few examples of endemic carnivores. This is largely because islands tend to be depauperate of large mammalian predators in general, much less exclusive endemics (although see my recent Scientific American guest post for an intriguing exception to the rule about carnivore diversity on islands). The long-term prognosis for an endemic species is usually cloudy; extinction rates for these organisms are high,... Read more

Posted in carnivores, conservation, endangered species, mammals, zoology |

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Lost Wolves of Japan

Posted 27 September 2010 by Anne-Marie Hodge

Although the gray wolf, Canis lupus, has managed to escape extinction within the United States and Europe, thanks to extensive conservation efforts, and currently appears to be experiencing a population comeback, many are unaware that some highly distinctive populations and subspecies of wolf have indeed been lost over the past 100-200 years. Two of these subspecies, sometimes lumped together as the Japanese wolf and sometimes designated the Hokkaido wolf ( C. l. hattai ) and Honsho wolf ( C. l.... Read more

Posted in conservation, zoology |

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Of Bears, Berries, and Hoofed Invaders

Posted 6 June 2010 by Anne-Marie Hodge

There are few images more fearsome than that of an angry bear, with teeth bared and claws flashing. It is intriguing, then, to consider a community in which a population of mighty ursids was driven to extinction by a diminutive prey species: the deer. Who knew Bambi had a bad streak? This surprising story hails from reseach conducted by Dr. Steeve Côté on Anticosti Island. This 8,000 sq km island is about 35 km off the stretch of coastal Quebec... Read more

Posted in competition, ecology, zoology |

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