DNA sampling exposes nine 'yeti specimens' as eight bears and a dog Although it has not revealed the existence of the abominable snowman, DNA analysis has shed light on the evolutionary ‘family tree’ of bears, scientists say View more sharing options Shares 145 Comments 154 Nicola Davis Wednesday 29 November 2017 07.15 GMT Huge, ape-like and hairy, the yeti has roamed its way into legend, tantalising explorers, mountaineers and locals with curious footprints and fleeting appearances. Now researchers say the elusive inhabitant of the Himalayas and Tibetan plateau has been unmasked. Scientists studying nine samples – including hair and teeth – supposedly from yetis, say the samples are not from a huge hominin but in fact mostly belonged to bears. Yeti DNA: has the mystery really been solved? Read more Just one sample, taken from a curious stuffed “yeti”, bucked the trend – the creature turned out to be a taxidermy mash-up boasting the hair of a bear and the teeth of a dog. Advertisement “It demonstrates that modern science can really try and tackle some of these mysteries and unsolved questions that we have,” said Dr Charlotte Lindqvist, an expert on bear genomics and co-author of the research from the University at Buffalo. The study is not the first time it has been suggest the yeti might be more ursine than abominable. A recent study, based on genetic analysis from samples purportedly from yeti-like creatures the world over, found that while most of the samples came from known animals, two from Bhutan and the Indian Himalayas were more mysterious. The team suggested they might be from an unknown species of bear, or a descendant from a hybrid of a polar and brown bear. A footprint purporting to be that of the abominable snowman, taken near Mount Everest in 1951. Photograph: Topical Press Agency/Getty Images But Lindqvist was unconvinced, pointing out there was too little data to rule out a more mundane explanation. “I just didn’t trust these claims,” she said. Lindqvist and colleagues examined nine samples gathered by a company shooting a film on the topic. Sources included mummified animals found in monasteries, hair collected by nomadic herdsmen, bone from a spiritual healer and a stuffed “yeti” from the Messner Mountain Museum. The team also analysed 15 other samples from zoos, national parks and museums, the majority of which were known to be from Himalayan brown bears. The analysis, which was based on sequences of DNA from the energy powerhouses of the cell known as mitochondria, involved a comparison of all of the samples with genetic data from a large international database. “Of those nine samples, eight of them matched local bears that are found in the region today,” said Lindqvist, adding that the ninth sample was the dog tooth from the stuffed yeti. “The purported yetis from the Tibetan plateau matched Tibetan brown bears, the ones from the western Himalayan mountains matched the Himalayan brown bear and then, at possibly slightly lower altitude were Asian black bears.” The yeti hunter Read more Lindqvist added that the finding produced mixed emotions. “That was obviously very interesting to me, perhaps slightly disappointing to the film company,” she said, adding that the new samples also helped the team to gain new insights into the evolutionary “family tree” of bears. But Lindqvist says she doubts the study will be the final word on the yeti. “I am sure, though, that the legend and the myth will live on,” she said. “You can never for sure prove that there is nothing out there.” The results, published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, are likely to disappoint cryptozoologists. Jonathan Downes, director of the Centre for Fortean Zoology, said that while he applauded the scientific work and agreed that many samples are obviously from bears, he believes the mystery is not yet solved. “I think there is still a possibility that there are unknown species of higher primate which are still awaiting discovery in what used to be Soviet central Asia,” he said. Since you’re here … … we have a small favour to ask. More people are reading the Guardian than ever but advertising revenues across the media are falling fast. And unlike many news organisations, we haven’t put up a paywall – we want to keep our journalism as open as we can. So you can see why we need to ask for your help. The Guardian’s independent, investigative journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce. But we do it because we believe our perspective matters – because it might well be your perspective, too. I appreciate there not being a paywall: it is more democratic for the media to be available for all and not a commodity to be purchased by a few. I’m happy to make a contribution so others with less means still have access to information. Thomasine F-R. If everyone who reads our reporting, who likes it, helps fund it, our future would be much more secure.
Wednesday 29 November 2017
Sunday 26 November 2017
Holsworthy mark show Duncan Jones marine discovery penzance
I published my new episode Holsworthy mark show Duncan Jones marine discovery penzance, please check it out.
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Holsworthy mark show interview with Richard thorns
I published my new episode Holsworthy mark show talks to Richard thorns, please check it out.
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Saturday 25 November 2017
A screen record of my new podcast show Holsworthy mark show please follow ty
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Holsworthy mark show old interview with Jonathan downes of cfz fame
I published my new episode Holsworthy mark show interview with Jonathan downes of cfz fame, please check it out.
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New species can develop in as little as TWO generations, according to a study of Darwin's finches
A new species of bird has arisen on the Galapagos Islands within just two generations of breeding, a new study has found.
In a case of history repeating itself, scientists made the discovery by observing Darwin's finches, named for their influence on the work of the evolutionary biologist.
Researchers discovered a 'newcomer' finch on the small island of Daphne Major 36 years ago, which bred with native birds to result in the new 'big bird' species.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-5111895/New-species-develop-little-two-generations.html#ixzz4zS2sX0N2
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Brilliant blue tarantula among potentially new species discovered in Guyana
- n the forests of the Potaro plateau of Guyana, scientists have discovered a bright blue tarantula that is likely new to science.
- The discovery was part of a larger biodiversity assessment survey of the Kaieteur Plateau and Upper Potaro area of Guyana, within the Pakaraima Mountains range.
- Overall, the team uncovered more than 30 species that are potentially new to science, and found several species that are known only from the Kaieteur Plateau-Upper Potaro region and nowhere else.
While walking through the forests of Guyana’s Potaro Plateau one night in 2014, herpetologist Andrew Snyder noticed a flash of bright cobalt blue peeking out of hole in a rotting tree stump. When Snyder took a closer look, he noticed that his flashlight had illuminated a small tarantula’s blue legs. The tree stump had numerous small holes, and nearly every hole housed a similar blue tarantula.
“I have spent years conducting surveys in Guyana … and I immediately knew that this one was unlike any species I have encountered before,” Snyder wrote recently. “Prior to this, I had only ever encountered individual tarantulas, either outside of a burrow like with the Goliath Bird-eaters, walking through the leaf-litter, or clinging to the =read more
New Mammal Species Found in Costa Rica
A new species of mammal was found in Costa Rica, the discovery of the “bush dog” in Costa Rican territory (Carnivora: Canidae) was confirmed by the Neotropical Biology and Conservation website.
The species was first spotted through camera-traps located in the protected zone of Las Tablas in Coto Brus, Puntarenas in May of 2016, however, it was not until September that it was confirmed following the respective investigation.
Up until now, it was believed that this species was only found from Argentina to western Panama, however, its presence in Costa Rica changed this extension and the characteristics of the areas where they are found, since prior to this registry, the highest zone where they’d been spotted was of 600 meters above sea level, but in Costa Rica it was located at 1,700 meters above sea level.
“Bush dog, Speothos venaticus (Lund, 1842), is a rare Neotropical canid occurring from Eastern Mesoamerica, south to Argentina and Paraguay (DeMatteo et al., 2011). Despite its considerable large distribution, it is considered one of the rarest and least known canids in the continent (DeMatteo and Loiselle, 2008). Most of basic ecological and biological aspects of S. venaticus remain unknown, and most of the knowledge is still derived from occasional and sporadic observations”,explains the publication in the Neotropical Biology and Conservation website.
The record of this species in the country increases the number of confirmed carnivores in the country to 25.
“Given the extensive deforestation of the Talamanca range, especially on the Pacific slopes where our records were obtained, and that most of the habitat in the range is located above 1,500 m, (González-Maya et al., 2014; González-Maya et al., 2012; González-Maya et al., 2015), there is likely not many areas within Costa Rica where the bush dogs could occur. Hunting and deforestation can still be significant threats to the species, unless direct actions related with hunting control and connectivity are taken in the area. More focused and species-specific research seems warranted to further estimate the extent of occurrence of the species across this shared ecoregion. Conservation actions should be directed mostly considering the rareness and potential vulnerability of the bush dog in both countries”, concludes the publication.
TVA biologist, Yale professor find new fish found only in Tennessee
the Tennessee Valley Authority is a federally owned electricity corporation. An act of Congress established the company in 1933 to help the Tennessee Valley overcome environmental and economic problems. Now TVA provides power for the entire state of Tennessee and parts of six bordering states. The corporation also provides flood control, navigation and management for the Tennessee River System. The company has a diverse power plant portfolio that includes nuclear, fossil, diesel, hydroelectric, natural gas, solar and wind energy. The corporation funds its own operations by the sale of its electricity to power distributors. Wochit
Behold the Tennessee Logperch.
The fish, a darter, can grow to be 6 inches long. It has flattened little splotches on its flanks. That the splotches are flattened is important; those are what first led TVA aquatic biologist Jeff Simmons and Yale professor Tom Near to suspect they had discovered a new fish.
Simmons explains that finding a new species of fish in the 21st century is more a =read more
New Jaguar Frog Discovered on Abandoned Highway
Scientists have discovered a new species of tree frog in an unusual place—a stretch of abandoned highway in Brazil.
When herpetologists first heard male frogs calling in the Amazon rain forest, they suspected the unknown sound came from a species completely new to science. Rafael de Fraga, a herpetologist at the National Institute of Research of the Amazon, and colleagues later confirmed it via genetic analysis.
Exotic' tick species discovered in New Jersey
New Jersey officials have found an "exotic" East Asian tick in the state that could be a threat to livestock, pets and humans. The state's department of agriculture said Tuesday they discovered the tick, known as the longhorned tick or bush tick, on a farm in Hunterdon County on Nov. 9. The tick isn't native to the United States, but the species has been found on animals and materials presented for entry into the country in the past. The species are dark brown and small, only getting to the size of a pea when fully engorged. According to officials, the tick is a "serious pest to livestock," particularly in New Zealand. While the Hunterdon farm has been treated to eliminate the species, New Jersey farmers are being asked to be on the lookout for decreased growth rates or signs of anemia in the animals. The species is known to cause Theileriosis in cattle, a disease that can lead to severe anemia and even death. While Theileriosis does cause any food safety or human health risks, the ticks could cause the spread of other bacterial and viral diseases in humans and animals. Agriculture officials are currently investigating whether the locally found ticks are carrying any pathogens that may impact human or animal health. Officials reminded residents to take the following steps to try and avoid ticks:=READ MORE
Small but distinct differences among species mark evolution of human brain
Date: November 24, 2017 Source: Yale University Summary: The most dramatic divergence between humans and other primates can be found in the brain, the primary organ that gives our species its identity. However, all regions of the human brain have molecular signatures very similar to those of our primate relatives, yet some regions contain distinctly human patterns of gene activity that mark the brain's evolution and may contribute to our cognitive abilities, a new study has found.The most dramatic divergence between humans and other primates can be found in the brain, the primary organ that gives our species its identity. However, all regions of the human brain have molecular signatures very similar to those of our primate relatives, yet some regions contain distinctly human patterns of gene activity that mark the brain's evolution and may contribute to our cognitive abilities, a new Yale-led study has found. The massive analysis of human, chimpanzee, and monkey tissue published Nov. 23 in the journal Science shows that the human brain is not only a larger version of the ancestral primate brain but also one filled with distinct and surprising differences. "Our brains are three times larger, have many more cells and therefore more processing power than chimpanzee or monkey," said Andre M.M. Sousa, a postdoctoral researcher in the lab of neuroscientist Nenad Sestan and co-lead author of the study. "Yet there are also distinct small differences between the species in how individual cells function and form connections."=read more
Sunday 19 November 2017
Salt and vinegar chips' spinifex one of eight new plant species discovered by finger-licking scientists
West Australian researchers have found and identified eight new species of spinifex, including one they say has the flavour of salt and vinegar-flavoured chips.
University of WA research scientist Matthew Barrett and PhD student Ben Anderson made the surprising discovery by accident while working late one night in Perth.
"We were doing late night experiments … handling specimens of that species," Dr Barrett said.
"Someone licked their hand at some point and tasted that flavour."
Dr Barrett said the distinctive tang comes from tiny drops of liquid that 'sparkle' in the sunlight.
"It looks pretty inconspicuous when you first get to it, but if you look at it very closely it has very, very minute sparkling droplets on the stems," he said.
"When you lick them, they taste like salt and vinegar chips.=read more
Dog owners lowers early death risk, study finds
Dog owners have a lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease or other causes, a study of 3.4 million Swedes has found.
The team analysed national registries for people aged 40 to 80, and compared them to dog ownership registers.
They found there was a lower risk of cardiovascular disease in owners of dogs, particularly of hunting breeds.
While owning a dog may help physical activity, researchers said it may be active people who choose to own dogs.
They also said owning a dog may protect people from cardiovascular disease by increasing their social contact or wellbeing, or by changing the owner's bacterial microbiome.
The microbiome is the collection of microscopic species that live in the gut. It's thought a dog may influence its owner's microbiomes as dogs change the dirt in home environments, exposing people to bacteria they may not have encountered otherwise.=read more
critter of the week great horned owl
Species: Great horned owl
Scientific name: Bubo virgianus
Nicknames: Hoot owl
Claim to fame: The great horned owl is the best-known and most common species of owl found in this area. This species has feathered tufts on its head, a flecked brownish color, the large head and all the other characteristics people associate with owls. In late November and December is when males begin to hoot, signaling that courtship and mating for these birds have begun.
Species status: Of the eight species of owls that either are year-round residents of Missouri or seasonal visitors to this state, the great horned owl is the species whose population is most stable in this region. These owls can be found in both rural and urban environments.
First discovered: The first scientific description of the great horned owl was written by the German naturalist Johann Friedrich Gmelin in 1788.=read more
Saturday 11 November 2017
Terrifying species of shark with 300 teeth that dates back 80 MILLION years to the 'age of the dinosaurs' is caught off the coast of Portugal
Scientists working on a project off the Algarve coast were in for a surprise when they caught a prehistoric shark this week.
The bizarre creature, known as a frilled shark, dates back around 80 million years, making it one of the oldest species still around today.
Little is known about the shark, which has a long, snake-like body, and circular arrangement of 300 teeth.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-5070161/Terrifying-shark-dates-age-dinosaurs-caught.html#ixzz4xTHH9tm6
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New species of peacock spider discovered in Albany in WA’s Great Southern region
A new species of peacock spider has been discovered in Albany.
The unnamed spider was found last month by Jurgen Otto, a Sydney biologist who travels Australia in search of new species.
He spent three weeks in the Great Southern before finding the new species.
“When I first saw it, I wasn’t sure if I had discovered anything new,” he said. “When I realised I had found another new species, my mood changed instantly. Because I am partially colour blind, this new species didn’t at first seem terribly attractive to me, but since I posted some photographs on Facebook and Flickr and saw the reaction to it, I realised there is more to it than my eyes can see.”
It is not the first time Mr Otto has found a new peacock spider species in the Great Southern. He and colleague David Knowles found two species near Denm=read more and see video
Extinct wolf-sized otter had powerful bite
A giant otter that roamed southwestern China six million years ago had a surprisingly strong bite and could have been a top predator, say scientists.
Studies of the animal's fossilised skull reveal that it had the chewing ability of a bear.
Unlike its living relatives, which feed on fish and shellfish, the otter may have eaten a wide range of prey.
It was capable of crushing big mollusc shells or the bones of birds and rodents, according to a new study.
The research, published in the journal, Scientific Reports, provides insight into the life of this oversized otter.
Known as Siamogale melilutra, it weighed more than 50kg and was the size of a wolf.
Not only was it larger than living otters, but its jaws were more powerful.
"We conducted a series of engineering simulations on the jaw models of fossil otters as well as ten living otter species and what we found was that the fossil otter had a jaw that was six times as strong as expected, based on what we see in living =read more
Saturday 4 November 2017
Scientists Uncover Kleptopredation: An Entirely New Form Of Predation
hunting is the way of life for many organisms in the world, both past and present. Once, humans were only hunters and gatherers as we moved around to follow and chase our prey. While that aspect of ourselves is no longer necessary, it is still there. We see many animals in the wild exhibit a wide variety of predation as they employ their own skills and methods to take down a prey. Some slowly watch and creep up on their prey and pounce when the moment is right. Others chase their prey at high speeds until one or the other cannot go further. There are those that build traps for the unsuspected and when triggered, their fate is decided. There are numerous ways in which predators hunt their preys. Recently, marine scientist have discovered a new method of predation that has never been seen before. They came across this method while they were examining nudibranchs in their natural habitats below the waters.
What Are Nudibranchs?
Nudibranchs, commonly referred to as sea slugs, are a group of over 3,000 marine species that are soft-bodied and shed their shells after their larval stage. They are among the many different gastropod species, which includes things like snails and slugs. While they are called sea slugs, nudibranchs are not all sea slugs and not all sea slugs are nudibranchs. Sea slugs come from many different taxonomic groups. They are found all over the world in many different saltwater areas and are even found in shallow or deep depths. This is owed to the fact that there is such a large amount of variety in this group and so there are numerous adaptations to these different environments across the species. Nudibranchs are referred to as benthic animals because they
Lost' Salamander Rediscovered After 42 Years
A lost species of salamander has been rediscovered alive and well in Guatemala.
The Jackson's Climbing Salamander (Bolitoglossa jacksoni), a brilliant yellow-and-black amphibian, was last seen in 1975 and feared extinct. But this month, a guard at the Finca San Isidro Amphibian Reserve (also called the Yal Unin Yul Witz Reserve) in the Cuchumatanes Mountains spotted a juvenile of the species while out on patrol. The guard, Ramos León, snapped a photo and sent it to Carlos Vasquez, a curator of herpetology at USAC University in Guatemala, who confirmed its identity.
Vasquez himself had spent more than 3,000 hours hunting for the salamander since 2005, and trained León and his fellow guards on how to search for it.=read more
Ancient Fossil Offers a New European Ancestor to Giraffes
A near-perfect fossil unearthed close to Madrid appears to be an ancient European ancestor of giraffes, representing a new species in the family and one that had two sets of bony bumps on its head rather than the single set of modern giraffes.
Older fossils in the family known as giraffids have been found before, but none in such pristine condition, said Ari Grossman, an associate professor of anatomy at Midwestern University in Glendale, Ariz., who was not involved in the finding but said the whole field would benefit from it.
“It’s something most paleontologists dream of and very rarely find,” Dr. Grossman said. “The discovery in and of itself was breathtaking.”
Fossils of three other animals of the same species named Decennatherium rex by the researchers were also found, according to a new study in the journal PLOS One. They were not as complete, but all are about nine million years old and provide evidence that ancestors in the giraffe family lived deep inside Europe much earlier than had been suspected. The fossils =read more
One of the largest animals to fly: Fearsome pterosaur
The 70-million-year-old remains of an enormous flying predator that feasted on baby dinosaurs have been discovered in Mongolia.
The flesh-eating reptile, which was the size of a small plane with a wingspan stretching 11 metres (36ft), was likely one of the largest animals ever to fly.
It could have walked on all fours using its wings as front limbs to stalk prey on the ground, researchers said, and would have stood as tall as a giraffe.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-5039613/Flying-predator-size-plane-discovered-Mongolia.html#ixzz4xTJWDlNe
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7 New Giant Bug Species Are Extremely Aggressive
Seven new species of katydids are among the largest and bulkiest insectsin the world, a new study says.
Found only on the island of Madagascar, the bugs have the "biceps" of a bodybuilder and can be very aggressive—both surprising traits for katydids.=read more
New species of orangutan discovered in Sumatra – and is already endangered
A new species of great ape has been discovered, according to scientists studying a small population of orangutans in northern Sumatra.
Among the great apes – a group that also includes humans, gorillas, chimpanzees and bonobos – orangutans are our most distant relative. Since 2001, two distinct species have been recognised: the Bornean (Pongo pygmaeus) and Sumatran (Pongo abelii) orangutans. Now, it seems, there is a third.
“It is incredibly exciting to describe a new species of ape,” said Serge Wich, professor in primate biology at Liverpool John Moores University and a co-author of the research. Wich also noted that it was a shock to find such a distinct population given Sumatran orangutans are found just 100km away.
But how long the new species will survive is a moot point: fewer than 800 =read more and see video
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