Canada may not have existed as we know it today if it wasn’t for the beaver, and certainly wouldn’t have been explored by Europeans as quickly, says Christian Dunn. From the mid-16th century, beaver pelts were brought from North America to Europe primarily for making hats, and this continued – to varying degrees – into […]
Tag: mammals
What’s the world’s smallest cat? Meet the tiny felines barely larger than a ruler
Vying for first place in the smallest cat in the world category are the rusty-spotted cat (Prionailurus rubiginosus) and black-footed cat (Felis nigripes), which are very close in size, measuring 35-48cm and 35-52cm in length respectively. The smallest cats in the world Each cat is the smallest species on its continent – the rusty-spotted cat […]
“Its venom disrupts the blood-clotting system, causing haemorrhage and kidney failure. Without prompt treatment bites can be fatal…”
This little desert hunter may not look especially imposing, but its bite can be deadly, and in India it is one of the “Big Four” snakes thought to be jointly responsible for around 58,000 mortalities per year. Those that encounter the saw-scaled viper would do well to heed the rasping warning sound it emits before […]
“More than 60% of females gave birth on the same night.” Why do some animals give birth en masse?
In some species, offspring are born (or hatch) at roughly the same time. This is called synchronous reproduction: an evolutionary strategy to give offspring the best possible chance of survival. One of the main drivers of synchronised reproduction is predator satiation. Predators tend to target young animals because they are easy prey. If young are […]
Drones aid dugong conservation as threats mount across their range
Drone technology is providing important new insights into the lives of dugongs, while also revealing the vital role they play in managing seagrass meadows, one of the ocean’s most important carbon sinks. Often referred to as sea cows, dugongs (Dugong dugon) are marine herbivores that can grow up to 3 meters (10 feet) long and […]
“It can chew through coconuts with its razor-sharp teeth.” 6 weirdest rats in the world, including one deadly enough to kill an elephant…
The rat world is full of surprises – with some that contains enough poison to kill an elephant and others that can remain fertile for 30 years. From coconut-cracking rats in the Solomon Islands to rats with surprisingly long pubic hair in Indonesia, these are some of the weirdest – and most interesting – rats in the world. The weirdest […]
What’s the fastest land mammal in the Americas? Meet the speed demon that could outrun a cheetah in a long-distance race
The Americas, which encompasses North, Central and South America and the Caribbean, has a huge variety of landscapes – and therefore animals. From imposing mountains to desert plains and tropical beaches, these habitats provide a home for all sorts of creatures. But have you ever wondered what the fastest land mammal in the Americas is? […]
German mayors call for night-time ban on robot lawnmowers to protect hedgehogs
German mayors have called for a nationwide ban on night-time use of robot lawnmowers to protect hedgehogs and other small nocturnal animals from being killed or maimed in the dark. Recent studies have highlighted the threat lawnmower blades pose to wildlife active between dusk and dawn, prompting growing calls for regulation. Hedgehogs also tend to […]