Vampire Bats Lose Bitter Taste

Once though essential to every animal species as a caution against ingesting toxins, three species of vampire bats have significantly fewer taste receptors for bitter compounds due to their evolutionary specialization for an all-blood diet.

New Dolphin Species Discovered

Scientists have discovered a species of river dolphin previously unknown to science in the Araguaia River of Brazil, only the fifth such freshwater species known and the first discovered since 1918.

Orca Undergo Menopause

Researchers have found that female killer whales (Orcinus orca) undergo menopause as they age, along with humans and pilot whales one of only three species known to do so, living 50 to 60 years past their reproductive age presumably as an evolutionary advantage to increase the survival rates of young males and their offspring.

New Carnivore Species Discovered

Scientists have identified a previously unknown species of carnivorous mammal, the olinguito (Bassaricyon neblina), living in the cloud forests of Colombia and Ecuador, an extremely rare discovery as a new member of the family Procyonidae and order Carnivora.

Shrew's Bizarre Strong Backbone

Scientists have discovered a previously unknown species of hero shrew (Scutisorex thori) in central Africa that possesses an unusually shaped backbone of 10 to 11 interlocking vertebrae unique in the mammalian world, providing the animal with extraordinary and disproportionate structural strength for reasons yet unknown.

Cheetahs Faster than Ferraris

Using lightweight, solar-powered collars with GPS and intertial-measurement devices, scientists found surprising results of the movements of cheetahs in the wild where, instead of record top speeds, the animals displayed agility and acceleration greater than high-performance sports cars and energy absorption when stopping three times greater than polo horses.

Well-Preserved Mammoth Found

Scientists have excavated a female woolly mammoth carcass from sub-freezing temperatures in Siberia between 10,000 and 15,000 years old that is well-preserved enough to have flowing liquid blood and muscle tissue the color of fresh meat, provoking theories that the species' blood possessed cryoprotective properties.

Seals as Filter Feeders

Although normally preying on penguins and smaller seals, researchers have found the leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx) can feed on tiny krill like a whale by filtering them through specialized teeth, allowing this species to feed from both the top and the bottom of the Antarctic food web.

Bears Count as Well as Primates

Researchers studying captive black bears at Alabama's Mobile Zoo have found the animals could discriminate between different numbers of grouped items, showing for the first time other animal species can exhibit cognitive counting abilities on a par with primates.

Shrews Warm Up Before Dive

Scientists have found the American water shrew rapidly elevates its body temperature moments before diving into icy waters for its prey, an unexpected attribute and contrary to other aquatic animals whose body temperature drops to slow oxygen consumption while underwater.