Here be dragons: Analysis reveals new species in Smaug lizard group
Smaug, the deadly dragon in J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit,” has a few living relatives. With dense, alligator-like armor, these small,…
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Skulls gone wild: How and why some frogs evolved extreme heads
Many frogs look like a water balloon with legs, but don’t be fooled. Beneath slick skin, some species sport spines,…
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Bulb size matters: Uncovering the evolution of the plant kingdom’s doomsday preppers
Botanist Cody Coyotee Howard compares bulbs to living bunkers. With an underground stockpile of resources, bulbs can hunker down during…
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How bird flocks with multiple species behave like K-pop groups
Birds of a feather don’t always flock together: Peer into a forest canopy, and you will likely spot multiple bird…
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Hungry for hutia? Our taste for Bahamas’ ‘most peaceable rodent’ shaped its diversity
The Bahamian hutia, a large Caribbean rodent with a blissed-out disposition, presents a curious case study in how human food…
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Butterflies’ ‘secret’ to keeping cool hidden in wings
A butterfly’s wings are more than just eye-catching flight gear. A new study reveals microscopic structures that give butterflies their…
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Shark attacks remained low in 2019 – but bites from the elusive cookiecutter were up
Shark attacks were unusually low for the second year running, with 64 unprovoked bites in 2019, according to the University…
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Study puts the ‘Carib’ in ‘Caribbean,’ boosting credibility of Columbus’ cannibal claims
Christopher Columbus’ accounts of the Caribbean include harrowing descriptions of fierce raiders who abducted women and cannibalized men – stories…
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Fish switch: Identity of mystery invader in Florida waters corrected after 20 years
Sometimes scientists make mistakes. Case in point is the chanchita, a South American freshwater fish that has been swimming in…
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Mission accessible: Florida’s historic Spanish missions go digital
Researchers, educators, students and the curious can explore the history of Florida’s Spanish missions via a new online database. Launched…
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