The Japanese macaque (Macaca fuscata) are often referred to as “snow monkeys” due to their habitation in snowy regions of Japan. They reside in matrilineal groups, meaning that the fema…

Valentine’s Day is approaching, which means science media is going to once again be filled with awww-inducing images of penguins standing shoulder-to-shoulder and seahorses delicately entwining the…

Anna’s hummingbird (Calypte anna) is known for its striking iridescent pink throat and crown. The males have a classic mating ritual where they perform a “shuttle” behavior where …

Light bulb tunicates (Clavelina huntsmani), named for their bands of pink internal organs that resemble light bulb filaments, are a social species of tunicate (or more adorably known as “sea …

There are butterflies floating in the oceans all around the world. Usually only about a centimeter long, these beautiful, tiny creatures are actually snails that live their whole lives as plankton …

Think of a wolf: pack-living, broad-ranging, adept at taking down large prey cooperatively. Then give even the adults the playfulness, charisma, and expressive face of a puppy. Paint this creature’…

Raccoons are versatile mammals that can adapt to both city and wilderness settings. Contrary to their “trash panda” perception, rural raccoons are cunning foragers, seeking out seasonal…

Beef cattle (bos taurus) display individual differences in grazing behavior on rangelands such as those in California. Even same-breed cattle can exhibit a variety of grazing patterns, such as trav…

Australia’s veterinary medicine regulator has approved a vaccine to protect koalas from chlamydia, one of the leading causes of koala infertility and death. Researchers found the single-dose vaccine…

Imagine a young boy combing the shores of Charleston, South Carolina, gathering seashells, his mind buzzing with questions about marine biology. That boy would grow up to be Ernest Everett Just, on…

Global urbanization and advancements in technology have led to a disconnect between people and the natural environments around them [1,2]. This lack of interaction with nature has contributed to ri…

To consume hard-shelled food such as mussels or clams, sea otters utilize rocks as tools to break them open. They have specific rocks that they repeatedly use for this purpose. Art and fact by Kris…

UC Davis researchers find cats could help us learn about long COVID. They've found a new cell therapy boosts immune systems in cats with severe coronavirus.

Scarus psittacus, commonly known as parrotfish, is named for its parrot-like beak, which it uses to bite off chunks of coral that it crushes and digests. Most of the sediment found on white sandy b…

Tiger beetles are known for being both ferocious predators and extremely fast runners, capable of reaching speeds of up to 9 km/h (5.6 mph; 2.5 m/s). They run so fast that they can’t visually…

The animal I study (the kinkajou, Potos flavus) is arboreal and nocturnal. This means that to watch one, I have to run through the Panamanian rainforest at night. While looking up. To manage this, …

Have you ever met someone with a really strong trait? For instance, a friend of mine is extremely active–always jogging here and there, to and fro. I went on vacation with her, and although she was…

Argentinian wildlife Creature Feature, Part 1: The elusive, savvy, cat of the monte

Common Ravens (Corvus corax) are famously smart, adaptable and opportunistic, and while these traits serve them well, they can often get them into trouble, too. What kind of trouble do you think th…

What are cell membranes? Every human is composed of billions of cells. Cells perform a multitude of important activities, like making energy, digesting nutrients, and managing our immune system. To…

In the Field “There aren’t any sharks out there” is something I commonly hear from people in Oregon and Washington. Truth is—there are definitely sharks out there. We just don’t know anything about…

Coyotes (Canis latrans) are one of North America’s most iconic tricksters. Their species name, which means “barking dog” in Latin, might come from their nighttime vocalizing. They’ve had a powerful…

There are two species of lizard with specialized venom in North America: the Mexican beaded lizard and the Gila monster. These lethal lizards contain venom in their saliva, and administer it into t…

The Sierra Nevada red fox has been listed as endangered since 2021, and as of 2023, it may disappear from the Yosemite area without conservation efforts. These foxes are well-adapted to cold, high-…

The unique combination of color bands on this Spotted Sandpiper’s leg indicate his identity and allow researchers to track his whereabouts and behavior by observing him in the natural environ…

These tiny fish, only a few days old, are newly hatched salmon. They still have their yolk sacs (bright orange in this photo) and are called “alevins.”

Did you know? In honor of groundhog day, here’s an animal that can really predict the weather! Sensing drops in barometric pressure, as well as other changes in the environment, a honeybee hi…

Some of the greatest discoveries of how honey bee colonies work have been made using observation hives: glass-walled hives that allow scientists to monitor the activities of the colony. Setting up …

Earlier this week, I stumbled upon a small surprise in the middle of a busy downtown walkway: a baby bird, alone looking up at me, smaller than the palm of my hand. I wasn’t sure what to do at firs…

Check out this cool creature named after a Disney movie!

This week, we conclude our series on ecotourism. This time, we are featuring opportunities that are a little closer to home. Whether they know it or not, many people in the United States engage in …

What comes to mind when you hear the word, “boa?” Perhaps you are envisioning a three-meter-long snake in the Amazon Rainforest – a formidable predator that eats sweet little monkeys and hapless po…

An unlikely creature for the hottest place on Earth

In peacock spiders, to initiate reproduction, male spiders perform a mating dance for the females, wiggling around and displaying vibrant colors on their bodies during the dance. In response, femal…

Did you know that different species of mosquito have different tastes in blood? The species pictured above, Culex tarsalis, is native to California and prefers to bite birds, though it will also bi…

White’s tree frogs are type of frog you can keep as a pet. They are typically green in color and can turn brown or grey when they are cold, sick, or stressed. Males have a breeding call, whic…

From the humor they provide in funny pet videos to the physical comfort of waking up next to a furry friend in the morning, your ordinary housecat is probably a source of  great joy in your li…