‘Bumbling, mumbling’ tidiers of our world: the unexpected superpowers of the common woodlouse

‘Bumbling, mumbling’ tidiers of our world: the unexpected superpowers of the common woodlouse

Chucky pig. Slater. Monkey pea. Roly-poly. Boat-builder. Butchy boy. Cheeselog. Hobbling Andrew. Wood pig. If there were a prize for the range and joyfulness of a creature’s English-language names, the humble woodlouse would undoubtedly triumph over its million-plus invertebrate rivals. Over centuries of easy cohabitation with humans, it has acquired more than 300 regional names in Britain […]

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What’s the biggest, heaviest eagle in the world? Meet the contenders – including a giant with a monster 3-metre wingspan

What’s the biggest, heaviest eagle in the world? Meet the contenders – including a giant with a monster 3-metre wingspan

Today the biggest eagle in the world is often claimed to be the Steller’s sea eagle, a fish-eating species from North-East Asia. Steller’s sea eagles are one of the rarest raptors in the world. Birdlife International estimate there’s 3600-4670 mature individuals in the wild and say”it is suspected that it will decline at a rate of 20-30% […]

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“It feeds on your blood for a week before you even notice – and then leaves behind a rare and life-threatening disease…”

“It feeds on your blood for a week before you even notice – and then leaves behind a rare and life-threatening disease…”

A  whopping 31 million Americans are bitten by ticks each year – and the number is on the rise. According to a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report from April this year, weekly rates of ER visits for tick bites are the highest for this time of year since 2017 in all parts of the US, apart from […]

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“Rushing past like a freight train.” Diver films unusual manta chain in Great Barrier Reef

“Rushing past like a freight train.” Diver films unusual manta chain in Great Barrier Reef

A  wildlife photographer in the southern Great Barrier Reef was delighted when a manta ray courtship ritual unfolded right before his eyes. Keelan Priscott visited Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort in the middle of manta ray season, saying “there are mating chains everywhere.” In one video shared on Instagram, Priscott filmed four manta rays twirling around each other in an elegant […]

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