Can Animals Be Friends with Species Other than their Own?

Although many of us have been indoctrinated that some animals, particularly cats dogs, or cats and mice, cannot live in peace together, there are far too many examples of animals forging bonds with other animal species. Animals are capable of overriding their normal biological drives and bonding with other species, especially if social contact is started early. For instance, cats don’t know that they’re cats when raised at an early age with dogs.

Examples of inter-species bonds are the central focus of the PBS documentary Animal Odd Couples, which shows a dog and cheetah seemingly hanging out together as best buds. The documentary explains how the two animals were raised together at Busch Gardens, turning into a special attraction at the theme park. The unlikely companions often surprise guests by racing out of the fence at 20 mph—much like kids do when playing tag.

According to Busch Gardens curator of behavioral husbandry, Tim Smith, the cheetah and dog were raised together as infants after being born in 2011. Kasi, a male cheetah, was the only survivor of a surprise birth from what had been thought to be a post-reproductive female. Since no cheetahs were available after Kasi’s birth, the cub was paired with Mtani, a female Labrador mix.

As with any sibling relationship between animals, there have been growing pains, as Smith notes. For instance, if Mtani wants time away from Kasi, she will bare her teeth or make a low growl. The curator points out that it’s all part of the learning process of what to do and what not do between these animals.

Read the full story at Slate.

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Baby dinosaur skeleton found intact in Alberta

An extremely well-preserved baby dinosaur skeleton has been discovered in Dinosaur Provincial Park in Alberta.

The fossil is extremely rare, as it’s the smallest intact skeleton ever found from a group of horned plant-eating dinosaurs known as ceratopsids — a group that includes the iconic triceratops.

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Cats recognise their owners' voices but never evolved to care, says study

Any cat owner will tell you that although they are sometimes kept as pets, felines are beholden to no one.

A new study from the University of Japan has confirmed this, showing that although pet cats are more than capable of recognising their owner’s voice they choose to ignore them - for reasons that are perhaps rooted in the evolutionary history of the animal.

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A New Species of Wild Cat Found Prowling Brazilian Forests and Grasslands

Wild cats are charismatic creatures, so you’d think we’d know them all pretty well by now. Just how little we understand—at least in some cases—is reflected in the identification of a new species of cat known as a tigrina in northeastern Brazil.

Scientists have discovered that two populations of tigrina previously thought to be one species do not, in fact, interbreed and thus are distinct, according to results published today in Current Biology.

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Seahorses stalk their prey by stealth

Seahorses may appear slow and awkward but they are ferocious and ingenious predators, according to a new study.

The beautiful creatures are famously bad swimmers, but they have a secret weapon to sneak up on their prey.

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Mysteriously Intact T. Rex Tissue Finally Explained

The controversial discovery of 68-million-year-old soft tissue from the bones of a Tyrannosaurus rex finally has a physical explanation. According to new research, iron in the dinosaur's body preserved the tissue before it could decay.

The research, headed by Mary Schweitzer, a molecular paleontologist at North Carolina State University, explains how proteins — and possibly even DNA — can survive millennia. Schweitzer and her colleagues first raised this question in 2005, when they found the seemingly impossible: soft tissue preserved inside the leg of an adolescent T. rex unearthed in Montana.

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The Best Holiday Gifts for Cats – A Laser Pointer

Cats are, by nature, hunters, borne with instincts that are – simply put – sharp.

As such, the idea of giving a laser pointer as a gift for cats doesn’t really come as strange, considering the “test” laser pointers impose on their hunting skills.

A Laser Pointer

 There was a time when laser pointers were viewed as premium electronic items, only made available to those who actually had need of them, apart from having the necessary funds to buy them.

With those days now behind all of us, the relative affordability and availability of laser pointers anywhere where office supplies are sold makes them ideal as holiday gifts for cats.

Though there really is no record about who or when laser pointers became ideal as kitty toys, their overall purpose for being is not overt – obvious to anyone, cat lover or not. Compact in size and essentially easy to maintain, some varieties even come with rechargeable batteries, while others come as “self rigged” as dedicated toys for felines.

Regardless of the type one would opt to get, countless hours of fun are sure to be with laser pointers and kitty playtime. Some specialized kitty toy laser pointers even come with game varieties, varieties where their human companions can actually take part in the fun.

For cat owners who aren’t all that sure about what to give to their furry buddies this year, a laser pointer, as simple as it is, is novel enough to sate the hunting instincts of even the most focused and dedicated of cats.

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The Best Holiday Gifts for Cats – Toy Mice

For cat owners who wish to give their furry wards something special this year, the diverse range of toy mice available in the market stands to be a solid avenue where precious holiday gifts can be found.

From remote controlled mice to battery-operated toys, the range of toy mice types are as varied as the different cat personality types and quirks, making them perfect as holiday gifts for cats.

Toy Mice

While giving kitty a real mouse to chase around the house is sure to be a real treat, it’s a safe bet that responsible cat owners aren’t all that keen on giving in to their cat’s whims just like that.

A worthy alternative can be found in toy mice instead.

Practically available anywhere where pet supplies are sold, cat owners in search for toy mice gifts are not liable to have any problems in finding the perfect item for their furry pals.

From the colorful to the more life-like, toy mice varieties that double as “catnip dispensers” are also available in the market, often spotted in pet stores and pet specialty venues.

Remote control varieties that are meant to mimic the actual motions and movements of mice as also quite popular as toy mice options, along with advanced versions that can actually emulate the sounds made by real live mice.

Not only will toy mice capture the fancies of cats, having them around also affords cats a means of regular exercise, apart from honing their hunting instincts and skills in being top notch mousers.

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The Best Holiday Gifts for Cats - A Mobile

Contrary to most assumptions, mobiles are not only toys intended for babies.

Mobile varieties for pets, ranging from cats to dogs, are also known to be, standing out as one of the top holiday gifts pet owners give to their furry buds.

Mobiles for Cats

The nifty thing about getting a mobile for cats is that they almost always come as dual purpose items: they also double as scratching posts, making their purchase a good deal.

Available in different sizes and configurable to work with a wide assortment of kitty toys and accessories, kitty mobiles are often viewed as “all in one” toys for cats, considering the different conventions and functions they are designed for.

First there’s the “tether toy” aspect of mobiles, where it affords cats with a virtual playmate with whom they can be evenly challenged and tested. Another takes shape in the removable toy aspect of mobiles, one that can be maximized in testing a cat’s ability to solve puzzles and challenges.

Some kitty mobiles are even rigged as food dispensers, though the amount of food they dispense can’t hardly be viewed as meal worthy.

The last takes shape in its “scratching post” aspect, a kitty mobile aspect that doesn’t just afford cats with a plaything, but also a means for them to stay clear from the living room furniture.

Though they are generally considered as the most pricy of kitty toys, kitty mobiles are essentially great as holiday gift items for cats of different breeds, size and/or age.

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The Best Holiday Gifts for Cats - A Ball of Yarn

With the range of kitty toys, toy accessories and treats available in the market today, cat owners can just about pick whatever they want to give as their kitty’s holiday gift – from the elementally simple to the exorbitantly frivolous.

For those who like to keep things basic and simple, a ball of yarn as a gift for kitty goes a long way.

The Simplicity inherent in a Ball of Yarn

There’s a long running affinity between kittens and a ball of yarn (not necessarily a red one), one that isn’t just borne from shoddy marketing tricks or advertising gimmicks.

Simply put, cats of all ages can’t resist the “playtime” value inherent in a ball of yarn, regardless of color or size, making it perfect as a gift for kitty – not just for the holidays but for practically any occasion.

What’s more, since playtime with a ball of yarn requires responsible pet owner supervision, giving your cat a ball of yarn as a gift isn’t just about him or her having countless hours of fun, but also involves you being in the fray of all the happenings and goings on.

Reasonably priced, finding a ball of yarn as a gift for kitty isn’t going to be as challenging as finding cat breed specific toys or treats. Available in department stores and in general stores, a golden gift for cats can be found in a simple ball of yarn, one that is simply not just for your cat but for you as well.

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The Best Holiday Gifts for Cats – A Scratching Post

With the holiday season well on its well, countless cat owners from different walks of life are busy jotting down gift lists, keen on covering the different toys and treats they’ll be giving to their furry wards.

From cat-sized beds to kitty nibble treats, scratching posts stand to be one of the top holiday gifts often picked out by cat lovers, year in and year out.

Why a scratching post?

Giving your cat a new scratching post isn’t just a gift that’s meant for your cat – it is also for you, since a new scratching post means no more furniture problems in the days ahead.

Available in different shapes, sizes and colors, scratching posts are practically available anywhere where pet supplies and accessories are sold, making the search for one quick, easy and convenient.

What’s more, having a scratching post handy means that your cat would have an “alternate” venue upon which he or she could “mark”, considering the fact that kitty scratching isn’t just about sharpening their claws, but also marking their territory.

While just getting one scratching post could be an issue for cats with multiple households, instances of kitty wars happening over the use of a post isn’t exactly commonplace, nor is it a cause for serious concern.

In fact, kitty wars are known to have been readily sated with a scratching post being around, making it an ideal holiday gift responsible cat owners could opt to give as a gift to one’s cat (or cats) this year.

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This is What Happens if You Breed a Chicken with a Penguin!

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Taking Guard Dog to a Whole New Level!

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Long Distance Relationships are Hard Even for Cats!

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Cute Cat Rushing to Poop!

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The Cat that Strides!

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This amazing fruit fly evolved to have pictures of ants on its wing

This is unbelievable, but the fruit fly G tridens has somehow evolved to have what looks like pictures of ants on its wings. Seriously, its transparent wings have an ant design on them complete with "six legs, two antennae, a head, thorax and tapered abdomen." It's nature's evolutionary art painted on a fly's wings.

Recently spotted by the New York Times, the fruit fly is just incredible. Other flies in its family of 5,000 species have other type of markings on its wings but it's the G tridens that has something so intricate and so specific.

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SeaWorld Orlando returns bottlenose dolphin to lagoon after months of care

On Tuesday, SeaWorld rescuers returned to the wild what may be the sole survivor of a mysterious die-off that has killed at least 74 bottlenose dolphins in the Indian River Lagoon this year.

The male dolphin swam to freedom from Melbourne Causeway, after almost five months of care at SeaWorld Orlando, 140 pounds heavier than when biologists rescued him.

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What's Causing Early Bird Migrations? Global Warming A ‘Key Part’ of Understanding Population Declines

Scientists have previously documented how bird migrations around the world are happening earlier every year. Recently, researchers from the University of East Anglia’s Schools of Biological Sciences in the U.K. fingered climate change as the culprit for early godwit migrations in Europe.

“We have known that birds are migrating earlier and earlier each year – particularly those that migrate over shorter distances,”  Jenny Gill, a biologist from the University of East Anglia and one of the authors of a bird migration study, said in a statement, according to Red Orbit. “But the reason why has puzzled bird experts for years. It’s a particularly important question because the species that are not migrating earlier are declining in numbers.”

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Rare Saola, Dubbed “Asian Unicorn,” Sighted for First Time in 21st Century

Ghosting through the forests of Laos and Vietnam, the saola—a large ox that looks like an antelope—eluded researchers and their cameras for nearly 14 years.

But camera traps set out by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the Vietnamese government in the central Annamite Mountains in Vietnam captured grainy black and white photographs of the extremely rare mammal in September of this year, the group announced this week.

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1st-Century Roots of 'Little Red Riding Hood' Found

The oldest big cat fossils ever found - from a previously unknown species "similar to a snow leopard" - have been unearthed in the Himalayas.

The skull fragments of the newly-named Panthera blytheae have been dated between 4.1 and 5.95 million years old.

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Giant Platypus Found, Shakes Up Evolutionary Tree

What's cooler than a venomous, duck-billed mammal that lays eggs? A giant one—and that's just what researchers have found.

A newly discovered species of three-foot-long (one-meter-long) platypus, dubbed Obdurodon tharalkooschild, swam through freshwater pools in Australian forests about 5 to 15 million years ago, according to a new study. That's a much bigger critter than a modern-day platypus, which at 15 inches (38 centimeters) long is about the size of a small domestic cat.

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Early Mammals Shrank – Twice – During Global Warming in Paleogene Era

DURHAM, N.H. – When the Earth heated up about 50 million years ago in a series of extreme global warming events, early mammals shrank in response. While this mammalian dwarfism had been previously linked to the largest of these events, University of New Hampshire doctoral student Abigail D’Ambrosia and colleagues connected this dwarfism to a second, smaller so-called hyperthermal, indicating an important pattern that could inform our understanding of current human-caused climate change.

D’Ambrosia presented the team’s findings today at the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology’s annual meeting in Los Angeles.

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Does your dog wag left or right? It matters.

Tail wagging could convey more meaning among dogs than previously thought.

Dogs have different emotional responses to their peers depending on the direction of a tail wag, a new study found. Seeing a fellow dog swing its tail to the right keeps canines relaxed, while a wag to the left seems to induce stress, the researchers say.


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ASU scientists discover that ants, like humans, can change their priorities

All animals have to make decisions every day. Where will they live and what will they eat? How will they protect themselves? They often have to make these decisions as a group, too, turning what may seem like a simple choice into a far more nuanced process. So, how do animals know what’s best for their survival?

For the first time, Arizona State University researchers have discovered that at least in ants, animals can change their decision-making strategies based on experience. They can also use that experience to weigh different options.

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New hammerhead shark species found off South Carolina

A team of South Carolina researchers had made a startling discovery: a new species of hammerhead shark.

While new species aren't rare these days, a find this large is. And especially in an area as well-known as the waters off South Carolina.

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New species found: walking catfish, Beelzebub bat and two-legged lizard

From a devilish-looking bat to a frog that sings like a bird, scientists have identified 126 new species in the Greater Mekong area, the WWF said in a new report detailing discoveries in 2011.

But threats to the region's biodiversity mean many of the new species are already struggling to survive, the conservation group warned. "The good news is new discoveries. The bad news is that it is getting harder and harder in the world of conservation and environmental sustainability," Nick Cox, manager of WWF-Greater Mekong's Species Programme, said.

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Predatory 'king of gore' dinosaur discovered

A new super-predator dinosaur that roamed the Earth 80 million years ago has been discovered in southern Utah.

It was closely related to its slightly larger relative, Tyrannosaurus rex, but lived earlier, making it the largest living land predator of its time.

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Giant Ant Colony Excavated, You won’t believe what they build underground!

This abandoned ant colony revealed how genius these tiny creatures are. Ants live underground – we usually see a relatively small exit on the surface. But you won’t believe the structures they build below. A group of researchers, armed with tons of cement, will show you.

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