The Asiatic lions are spread across ~30000 km2 in the Saurashtra region of the Gujarat state in India, collectively known as the Asiatic Lion Landscape. The landscape includes five protected areas (Gir National Park, Gir Wildlife Sanctuary, Paniya Wildlife Sanctuary, Mitiyala Wildlife Sanctuary, and Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary) and other natural forest patches. Thanks to the effective conservation measures in the […]
The internal anatomy of an aye-aye plucking its nose is depicted. Réné BoistelHave you ever wondered whether animals other than humans pick their noses and consume their own snot? I was shooting an aye-aye at the Duke Lemur Centre when I noticed this behaviour, which is when I originally thought of this question. As I watched Kali (let’s call her […]
Bats are an incredibly ecologically diverse radiation of mammals that inhabit a wide array of ecosystems, have a variety of locomotor and navigational strategies, and consume many different types of food. We expect teeth and jaws to be shaped by diet because they are directly used to consume food. Bats, however, have furthered their dietary specializations to include their flight […]
Weakly electric fish are the definition of all that is strange and amazing about the natural world. They have a special sensibility that we don’t have. To navigate, forage, and communicate in their dark, aquatic surroundings, these fish produce and sense low voltage electric fields. The Gymnotiformes from the Neotropics and the Mormyriformes from Africa are two lineages that have […]
It can be startling to see the phrase “unhealthy air quality for sensitive groups” in your weather app, but this small nugget of knowledge could actually save a life. This air quality notice refers to “code orange” days, or days when the pollution level in the area outside your door may be risky for young children, the elderly, and people […]
Vitamin D is an essential nutrient for health. Along with vitamins A, E, and K, vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, which means the digestive tract absorbs the vitamin with dietary fats to send into the bloodstream. From there, vitamin D is stored in the liver and fatty tissues for later use. This key nutrient supports your nerve, muscle, and […]
Tart cherry juice is made from Montmorency cherries (Prunus cerasus), also known as sour cherries. As the name suggests, tart cherry juice is more sour than black cherry juice, which is made from sweet cherries. When consumed regularly, tart cherry juice may help improve heart health, promote deep sleep, and alleviate muscle soreness—thanks to the fruit’s abundance of antioxidants and […]
New research has found that coffee drinkers take more steps, and also get less sleep, than individuals who do not drink coffee each day.1 While there have been many claims about how coffee can benefit and negatively affect people’s health, a small study published in the New England Journal of Medicine suggests there are both upsides and downsides to consuming your favorite cappuccino or […]