New Bird Species Discovered in South America

New Bird Species Discovered in South America

Aphrastura is a small genus of terrestrial passerine birds in the ovenbird family Furnariidae. Commonly known as rayaditos, these birds are endemic to southwestern South America. Aphrastura includes two previously-known species: the thorn-tailed rayadito (Aphrastura spinicauda) and the Masafuera rayadito (Aphrastura masafuerae). The former species inhabits the temperate forest biome of the South American continent, […]

Read More

Red Panda is Being Driven Closer to Extinction, New Study Shows

Red Panda is Being Driven Closer to Extinction, New Study Shows

Using GPS telemetry, scientists from the University of Queensland, the University of Southern Queensland and the Red Panda Network have monitored 10 red pandas (Ailurus fulgens) and documented disturbances using camera trapping for 12 months in eastern Nepal. They’ve found that human impact is causing the mammal to restrict its movements which is further fragmenting […]

Read More

Secrets of California’s skydiving salamanders revealed by researchers

Secrets of California’s skydiving salamanders revealed by researchers

A new study is shedding fresh light into the incredible world of California’s temperate forests, and the daring survival techniques of one of its inhabitants: parachuting salamanders. The study, published on Monday in the journal Current Biology, shows how salamanders living in the canopy are able to parachute consistently, slowing their speed and controlling their […]

Read More