- by Ogawa, M., Podolskiy, E. A.Direct observations of narwhals are scarce but needed for understanding this ecologically and culturally important species. Here, we describe the first boat-based observations of narwhals in their key summering ground in Greenland (Inglefield Bredning), collected during an Inuit hunt and enhanced by drone air support. During 3-8 August 2024, 506 narwhal observations were made from a semi-stationary boat at the head of the fjord, of which 58 were filmed with a drone. Boat observations near the north side of the […]
- by Casadei-Ferreira, A., Billen, J., Busse, S., Katzke, J., Mizuno, R., Richter, A., Economo, E.The internal structure of the insect stinger plays a central role in venom delivery, yet critical components in this process remain poorly understood. Of these, the valvilli, a pair of articulated structures within the valve chamber that act as flaps, have often been overlooked or described only superficially. Here, we use high-resolution micro-computed tomography (micro-CT), histological sectioning, and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) to characterize the fine morphology and material composition of the cuticle of ant valvilli. We report structural […]
- by Nguyen, U., Alfieri, F., Veneziano, A., Licht, A., Nyakatura, J. A.ObjectivesThe intricate trabecular architecture of long-bone epiphyses underpins functional adaptations for diverse mammalian locomotion. Despite extensive study in other mammals, tamarin trabecular structure and fine-grained differences among leaping taxa remain poorly characterized. Materials and MethodsWe examined humeral and tibial trabecular networks in four tamarin species representing short- and long-distance leapers using {micro}CT-scans and a whole-epiphysis approach. We quantified network complexity with topological indices (node density, tortuosity, trabecular length, fractal dimension) alongside traditional metrics (degree of anisotropy [DA], bone volume fraction […]
- by Ichizawa, S., Caspers, J., Uenoyama, R., Morisasa, M., Goto-Inoue, N., Miyazaki, T., Suzuki, Y., Nakanishi, N., Endo, Y., Izawa, M., Yamashita, T., Schulz, S., Miyazaki, M.Domestic cats uniquely accumulate lipid droplets (LDs) in renal proximal tubular epithelial cells, but their chemical composition and biological functions remain unknown. Here, we identify a distinctive renal specialization in felids: lipid droplets enriched in branched-chain fatty acids (BFAs). These BFAs accumulate as triglyceride components and are excreted in urine as free fatty acids with stable and individually distinctive profiles. Behavioral assays show that cats discriminate urine samples based on BFA composition, even against complex volatile backgrounds, suggesting BFAs as […]
- by Machani, M. G., Rund, S. S. C., Hawaria, D., Yan, G.Anopheles stephensi is rapidly expanding across Africa, posing new challenges for malaria control. Its biting time patterns, however, remain poorly characterized, raising uncertainty about the effectiveness of bed nets against this invasive vector. To address this gap, we investigated diel biting activity, feeding propensity, and flight behavior using complementary behavioral assays on females reared from wild-caught larvae in Hawassa City, southern Ethiopia. Flight monitoring assays revealed that An. stephensi exhibited pronounced activity at dusk, beginning between 18:00 and 19:00 with […]
- by Baelo, P., Fourchault, L., Laurent, N., Mande, C., Laudisoit, A., Amundala, N., Saliu, G. T., Gembu, G.-C., Marien, J., Gryseels, S., Huselmans, J., Verheyen, E.The diversity, taxonomy, distribution and ecology of sub-Saharan tree squirrels remain under-researched. This study aims to elucidate the diversity and distribution of rope squirrels, genus Funisciurus Trouessart 1880, in the Congo Basin. We assembled the most comprehensive genetic and morphometric data set to date, on a significant portion of the geographical and taxonomic range of these squirrels (470 specimens from seven provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo). We identified six main taxa: a previously undescribed Funisciurus species (here, Fx), […]
- by Arenas Gutierrez, B. I., Munoz, C. P.Camponotus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) is one of the most diverse ant genera in the world (>1000 species); however, only six species have been described in Chile, with the last description being in 1935. Recently, various specimens have been collected that do not match the descriptions of known species, suggesting the existence of new species that need to be described. In the present study, two new species are proposed for Chile. Descriptions, diagnoses, and photographs are included for the new taxa. With […]
- by Yao, A., Noguchi, F., Kohtsuka, H., Miura, T.Many teleost fishes are capable of sex change, and some species possess intersex gonads known as ovotestes, which contain both ovarian and testicular tissues. Uncovering the developmental processes in ovotestis formation is critical for elucidating the mechanisms of intersexuality in vertebrates. However, such developmental processes have been described in only a limited number of species. In this study, we examined the histological structure of juvenile gonads in the harlequin sandsmelt (Parapercis pulchella), a female-to-male sex-change fish in which mature females […]
- by Bommerer, M.A voucher-backed adult male specimen of Achelous hastatus (Linnaeus, 1767) was collected on 6 August 2025 during a night dive at 6 m depth off Granadilla, Tenerife, Canary Islands. The specimen was subjected to comprehensive morphometric analysis and documented with high-resolution imagery under controlled laboratory conditions. Morphological features–including a broadly hexagonal carapace with nine anterolateral teeth (ninth markedly elongate), a four-lobed frontal margin, robust chelipeds with slender fingers, and a natatory fifth pereiopod–matched diagnostic descriptions from comparative literature. Field observations […]
- by Sam, K., Korejs, K., Jeppy, S., Koane, B.The Wanang Conservation Area in Papua New Guinea represents a large, community operated protected lowland rainforests. Based on surveys conducted in both the wet (November) and dry (July) seasons between 2010 and 2011, we report a total of 147 bird species known in the area around Swire station. Based on these surveys, we provide abundances of 120 bird species recorded during the standardized point-counts and mist-netting. Further, we add notes on the observations of another 27 bird species which we […]
- by Calatayud, N. E., Jacobs, L., Upton, R., Chancellor, S., Durrant, B., Shier, D. M.Amphibians are among the most threatened vertebrates yet assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) remain underutilized in their conservation. We developed and evaluated a biologically optimized, non-lethal sperm collection protocol for Rana muscosa, a critically endangered frog in a long-term conservation breeding program. Thirteen hormone treatments were tested across six post-injection time points, and sperm quality was assessed via concentration, motility, osmolality, and pH. Generalized linear mixed models revealed that gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRHa) alone significantly outperformed hCG-based regimens. The 3 {micro}g/g GnRHa […]
- by Boettner, T., Hessel, L., Ortmann, R., Kirchner, W. H., Herlitze, S., Huhn, M.Marine anthropogenic noise pollution has risen in recent decades, driving interest in its ecological effects. While research has focused on mammals and fish, marine invertebrates remain largely understudied despite their ecological importance. This study explored sound perception in the benthic ascidian Halocynthia papillosa, assessing whether it detects acoustic signals via waterborne pressure waves or substrate vibrations. Field and laboratory experiments exposed H. papillosa to frequencies from 50-1500 Hz. Contraction responses occurred at 100 Hz, 200 Hz, and 600 Hz when […]
- by Morishita, T., Nawa, T., Nozaki, T.Parthenogenetic species that reproduce solely by females are pivotal for understanding the evolution and diversity of reproductive strategies. Rare males, often resulting from developmental errors, including chromosomal abnormalities, offer valuable insights into reproductive reversibility, although their rarity limits data on morphology, behavior, and fertility. Stick insects (Phasmatodea), with numerous parthenogenetic species, are key taxa for studying these phenomena; however, detailed analyses of rare males remain scarce. In this study, we investigated the spontaneous appearance of male and sexual mosaics within […]
- by Sharma, A., Mangaly, P. A., Singha Deo, S. K., D, S., Sinha, A.Polyrhachis Smith, 1857 is a genus of ants, found widely across the Old-World tropics, with significant diversity across South Asia. Known to have diverse nesting habits, ranging from subterranean to arboreal, the genus is arguably one of the most taxonomically and ecologically diverse ant genera globally. The genus is, however, characterised by a unique morphology that includes prominent spines on the mesosoma and petiole, thick integuments, and brightly coloured pubescence in some species. With over 700 described species and 82 […]
- by Adreani, N. M., Morales Latorre, V., Mentesana, L.In the animal kingdom, nests are essential structures and textbook examples of extended phenotypes. However, the relationship between builders, nest traits, and the nest site remains poorly understood. We indirectly examine whether external components in the nest site influence nest building behavior, specifically focusing on their effect on nest architecture. We hypothesized that pre-existing structures at the nest site of horneros (Aves: Furnarius rufus) could influence nest construction, thereby affecting the nests architecture. To test this, we investigated the relationship […]
- by Hyde, E., Godfrey, S. S., Borkin, K. M.Bat activity generally increases with temperature, so bat surveys are considered more effective in summer. Less is known about survey effectiveness at low temperatures and whether activity ceases under certain thresholds. Literature provides piecemeal information on winter activity of threatened New Zealand lesser short-tailed bats (Mystacina tuberculata) and long-tailed bats (Chalinolobus tuberculatus), no data exist on lower temperature thresholds below which activity is halted in some regions. We recorded bat echolocation calls over seven nights in winter 2021 to determine […]
- by Kennedy, D. W. G., Hall, K. C., Donatelli, C. M., Lucas, K. N.Chimaeras – an ancient group of cartilaginous fishes – swim by flapping their pectoral fins in a distinctive locomotory mode, termed flapping flight, that induces an undulatory wave traveling from the leading edge to the trailing edge of the fin. Recent work on bony fishes has shown that fins with internal structure (fin rays) may behave differently than models made of a single material. Our goal was to understand the potential significance of internal structure for the swimming kinematics of […]
- by Yap, M., Pueffel, F., Labonte, D.An integral component of musculoskeletal systems are elastic elements mechanically in-series with muscle. Although these in-series elastic elements–e. g. tendons in vertebrates, or apodemes in invertebrates–can neither generate force nor do work, they are thought to bring substantial benefits to musculoskeletal performance; the mechanical properties of tendons, crucial determinants of these benefits, have consequently been subject of a large body of work. In sharp contrast, scarce information exists on the mechanical properties of apodemes. The little data that do exist […]
- by Gonzalez, M., Palacios-Rodriguez, P., Carazzone, C.Poison frogs (Dendrobatoidea) are characterized by the great diversity of alkaloids discovered in their skin. However, most of these alkaloids have been found in brightly colored species and there is a wide lack of knowledge of alkaloid profiles in the less colorful species. Previous finding of paralytic tetrodotoxins (TTXs) in only two cryptically colored species from the genus Colostethus, establishes the unique occurrence of hydrophilic alkaloids in the superfamily Dendrobatoidea. Unpublished results using extracts from Colostethus imbricolus, demonstrated that this […]
- by Bousses, P., Marie, J., Kengne, P., Mathieu-Daude, F., Manzanilla, V., Lardeux, F.Aedes (Aedimorphus) vexans (Meigen, 1830) is a globally distributed mosquito species commonly associated with temporary flooded habitats, including those in the South Pacific region. While its presence has been documented in several Pacific archipelagos, its occurrence on Tahiti island had remained unconfirmed. A retrospective examination of historical mosquito collections held at the Institut de Recherche pour le Developpement (IRD, France) and the Institut Louis Malarde (ILM, Tahiti) revealed evidence of Ae. vexans on Tahiti dating back as early as 1993. […]
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