First Land-Walking Fish Looks Like It Had 'All-Wheel Drive'

A creature that lived 375 million years ago and is thought to have been the first fish to have made the transition to land sported large pelvic bones in addition to its leg-like front fins, new research shows, suggesting that it was a more efficient walker than previously thought.

Tiktaalik roseae, discovered in 2004 on Ellesmere Island in Nunavit, Canada, is a key transitional fossil that links lobe-finned fishes and tetrapods, the first four-limbed vertebrates at the end of the Devonian period.

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Animals Burn More Calories but Humans Live Longer

Keith Barlow/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) -- Non-primate animals have got it made, at least in one important sense.

A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reveals that humans and their primate cousins burn 50 percent fewer calories daily than other animals, explaining why you might never see a fat crow.  However, the same can't be said for elephants.

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On Pets and New Year Resolutions: Organic Diets

Like human beings, animals also have their own ideal body mass index tables, tables that delve into the ideally healthy animal age and weight correlations.

As a means of gauging how healthy a pet’s weight and dietary needs are, responsible pet owners are well aware of how controlling the feeding habits of their pets helps keep their frames in tip top shape.

But apart from simply controlling a pet’s food consumption, taking an active stance in providing pets with healthy meals should be something pet owners should also be doing.

In this regard, the act of imposing an organic diet on one’s pet being a smart move – and should be included in a pet’s set of New Year’s resolutions, should it be applicable.

Organic Diets for pets, at a glance – At its core, an organic diet is defined by meals made without the use of chemically processed ingredients, made with the least or no use of chemical preservatives, fillers and flavoring.

Just like organic diets for human beings, organic diets for pets promotes better and healthier constitutions, considering the fact that the meals and ingredients involved in organic diets are free of chemicals and other unhealthy processed food items.

Though generally more costly when compared to their mass produced counterparts, organic diets for pets are essentially rich in nutrients and minerals, with some even formulated for the specific dietary needs of certain types of pets.

For pet owners whose wards have been showing signs of malnutrition even though they are regularly being fed, opting for a new organic diet this year proves to be a smart move, considering the possibility that processed mass produced pet food tends to carry little nutritional content when compared against their organic counterparts.

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The 6 Best Dogs for Adventure: The Weimaraner

For thousands of years, dogs and humans have journeyed around the world, sharing adventures and handling duties like no man and animal combination can do. If you want a dog to join you in your adventures in the outside world, here’s a look at one of 6 great dog breeds for the job.

The Weimariner

On the outside, the Weimaraner  may look like a sad and lonesome dog, but don’t let its appearance fool you. The Weimariner is a smart and energetic dog that loves being part of the family, ready for just about any adventure in the outdoors.

These muscular dogs trace their ancestry to Germany, where they were originally bred to help hunt large

game, like boars, deer, and bears. This breed is known for its characteristic silver goat, as well as their unique eyes, which start out as blue during birth and slowly turn amber as they grow older. As such, the

Weimariner is nicknamed the “the gray ghost,” which doesn’t help its perception of being a sad dog at all.

The Weimariner was perhaps made famous thanks to William Wegment, a photographer who shared images of his dogs to the world, who later on, also made cameos on television shows like “Saturday Night Live” and “Sesame Street.”

With their excellent sense of smell and outstanding athleticism, the Weimariner isn’t just a great hunting dog, but a perfect companion for adventures in the great outdoors. But be warned, these dogs have incredible stamina, so expect them to tire you out.

Read the full story on Discovery News.

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The 6 Best Dogs for Adventure: The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

Dogs. Adventure. The two seemingly go hand in hand, but if you want a good idea on what breed of dog to best bring you with to the great outdoors, here’s a guide on one of the best six dogs for adventure.

The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is the perfect furry companion if you want a pooch that’s adventurous, but not too big or muscular to keep safely around the house. Bearing the distinction of being the smallest canine of the retriever breeds, the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, as its name suggests, traces its origins to Nova Scotia, Canada, where it was first bred for its willingness to go into the water, helping hunt and retrieve ducks and geese.

Though small, these athletic dogs are more than happy to accompany you outdoors. They look like foxes, only furrier, with white markings and fluffy tails, from which the breed gets its name. These dogs use their tails to toll, or lure, ducks and geese within a hunter’s shooting range. After the game is shot, the Tolling Retriever takes the carcass back to the hunter.

As is common in the line of retriever dogs, the Toller is characterized for being intelligent, alert, and eager to please. These dogs have a happy disposition, and are perfect hiking, hunting, and swimming companions. 

If you want an animal companion that’s playful and happy to chase down a ball in the lake and bring it back to you, you can’t go wrong with the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever.

Read the full story on Discovery News.

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On Pets and New Year Resolutions: Regular Checkups

Even the most responsible pet owner has, at one point in time, failed to comply with regular checkups required by their pet’s vet.

 This year, if you’ve been careless in looking into your pet’s general health and well-being, consider adding regular trips to the vet as part of your ward’s New Year resolution.

The Value of Regular Checkups – Talking about the upsides and benefits of regularly bringing one’s pet to the vet can be described as pointless, considering how readily explainable the act is: with regular checkups, pet owners are given real time information about the health and well-being of their pets.

Though “regular” is a highly relative term, responsible pet owners should take the time in proactively bringing their pets to the vet on regular intervals, not only when they are showing signs of being sick or after they succumb to injuries.

Doing so does not only help pets get accustomed to trips and visits to veterinary clinics, but also helps them get acquainted with their health-care professionals.

The move also affords pet owners with relevant and timely information covering their pet’s health and dietary needs, apart from giving them insight on the different danger signs of stress, fatigue and more.

Pet owners whose wards are known to have genetic disorders can also greatly benefit from regular checkups, giving them a “heads up” on what to expect regarding gene-related joint issues, eye problems, teeth and gum disorders and more.

Bottom line, if you missed out in bringing your pet to his or her regular checkup sessions, there’s no reason you can’t regularly do so this year.

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On Pets and New Year Resolutions: More Quality Time

If you’ve already added entries like “more exercise routines”, “better checkup regimens” and “healthier diet menus” as part of your pet’s New Year resolutions this year, there’s one more entry you shouldn’t fail to include: more quality time.

Regardless of how busy you are with work or with your household chores, spending more quality time with your pet is just as important as seeing to his or her overall health and well-being.

On the value of quality time – While it is true that not all animals in the world are sociable, allocating more interactive time with your pet proves to be highly beneficial for everyone concerned.

In the case of dogs, more quality times spent in regular exercise routines and playtime sessions strengthens the bond between dog and master, apart from thoroughly immersing one’s dog with different people, thereby providing him or her with valuable experience in how to behave in the company of others.

For cats – who are notorious for being anti-social at times – more interactive times spent playing with them or simply lounging with them reinforces their natural affectionate natures, further strengthening a cat’s relationship with his or her master, along with everyone else present in the household.

Long story short, while looking into dietary considerations and veterinary care requirements of pets are important, allocating ample time with them is just as valuable in seeing to their healthy well-being, thus the reason why you can’t fail to include “spending more quality time” into your pet’s New Year’s resolutions list.

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Dancing Animals With Some Serious Moves

So, you think you can dance?

Animals dance, too. They don’t all do it quite the same way we do, but they often shake their stuff for the same reasons (showing off for the opposite sex) and sometimes for vastly more complex ones. See our list of animals with smooth moves.

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Monkeys Stay Away from Mean People

When does a monkey turn down a free treat? When it is offered by a selfish person, apparently.

Given the choice between accepting goodies from helpful, neutral or unhelpful people, capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella) tend to avoid individuals who refuse aid to others, according to a study published today in Nature Communications.

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Clumsy clown of the seabed

Have you ever heard of the spiny lumpsucker? No? You’re not alone.

 Marine biologists working in the north Atlantic and Arctic waters might be expected to have heard of them, but until recently they knew so little that they confused males and females as two different species.

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