Land Mammals, features and articles | Educational Science

Nov 30, 2004

The Undiscovered Monkey: Researchers Identify New Species of Macaque

Scientists in India have found what they believe to be a new species of macaque monkey. The simian was first observed on Aug. 19, 2003, in the extreme northeastern area of India's Arunachal Pradesh territory, and is believed to be a different Macaque taxon, or group biologists identify as being...

Oct 31, 2004

Alaska's Lone Elephant Getting Treadmill

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) -- Animal handlers agonized over the issue for more than a year: the wisdom of moving Alaska's only elephant away from the only home she has ever known. Nine elephant experts were consulted from zoos and animal parks in the United States and Canada, and a decision...

Oct 31, 2004

The Secret of Fast Horses

The secret behind the fastest thoroughbreds doesn't make a lot of horse sense. A great racehorse is more than just quick footed -- it must also be rather average. A horse's leg resembles a pogo stick that uses energy stored in the muscles and tendons to propel the animal forwards...

Oct 31, 2005

Monkey Math Mirrors Our Own

If you show someone a mouse and a cat and ask which is smaller, they'll quickly reply, the mouse. Ask which is bigger, and it takes most people slightly longer to respond. Conversely, if the two animals are large, such as a cow and an elephant, the typical person will...

Aug 31, 2005

Gorillas Photographed Using Tools

Wild gorillas use tools every day, but scientists never had lasting proof until two tool-using apes were recently caught on film. While all other great apes – such as chimpanzees and orangutans – have been observed using tools in the wild, these photographs provide the first evidence of tool-savvy wild...

Jul 31, 2005

Gambling Monkeys Compelled by Winner's High

When given a choice between steady rewards and the chance for more, monkeys will gamble, a new study found. And they'll keep taking risks as the stakes rise and dry spells get longer. The research, in which scientists also pinpointed brain activity during the gambling, could provide insight into the...

Jul 31, 2005

Elusive Cheetahs Caught on Film

Wildlife researchers in Iran have captured images of an entire family of extremely rare Asiatic cheetahs. The pictures show an adult female and four young cubs resting in the shade of a tree. The researchers used hidden cameras, though at one point a cheetah approached the camera and nuzzled it...

Jun 30, 2005

Elephant Mimics Truck Sounds

Mlaika is a 10-year-old adolescent female African elephant living in Kenya in a group of semi-captive elephants. During the day she makes sounds you might expect. But she moonlights as a truck. When she is with the other elephants, she makes normal elephant sounds, says Stephanie Watwood of Woods Hole...

Jun 30, 2005

Moral Debate: Procedure Risks Making Monkeys More Humanlike

The insertion of human stem cells into monkey brains runs a real risk of altering the animals' abilities in ways that might make them more like us, scientists said today. A panel of 22 experts — including primatologists, stem cell researchers, lawyers and philosophers — debated the possible consequences of...

May 31, 2005

Insomnia Mania: Newborn Mammals Don't Sleep for a Month

Insomnia takes on a whole new meaning with the discovery that newborn dolphins and killer whales can forego sleep for their entire first month. Hard to believe? Just ask their mothers. The research finds both species of mammals can stay active 24/7 for weeks after birth. Mom gets minimal z's,...

Apr 30, 2005

New Monkey Species is First in Africa for 20 Years

The highland mangabey could elude scientists for only so long. This secretive monkey was recently found in the trees of Tanzania, becoming the first new species of monkey discovered in Africa in over 20 years. The find was announced today. Its body is about three feet long and covered with...

Mar 31, 2005

Mystery of Churchill's WWII Monkeys Solved

If you've ever been to Gibraltar, the Mediterranean rock run by the British, you know about the monkeys. Some 200 of them run wild on the tiny peninsula, and they're the only free-ranging monkeys in Europe. They love to climb on tourists' heads and will gladly accept a snack. What...

Feb 28, 2005

Big Dog Robot Now in Puppy Stage

The Defense Advanced Research Project Authority (DARPA) Learning Locomotion project seeks to create algorithms that help multi-legged platforms learn to walk in varied terrain. DARPA will be handing out a series of $600,000-$800,000 research grants to teach 6.6-pound, 10-inch Little Dogs to walk. During the 15-month first phase of the...

Jan 31, 2005

Name that Monkey: Auction for Right to Name New Species

Newfound species have historically been named for royalty, patrons of science, and sometimes the explorers who find them. Now it's your turn. If you've got the money. An auction later this month will let anyone bid for the right to name a new species of monkey. The brown-and-orange primate (pictured...

Dec 31, 2004

Monkeys Pay to See Female Monkey Bottoms

Would you pay to see a monkey's backside? I hope not. Monkeys will, and I guess that's okay, though it sounds awfully close to the sort of thing that lands guys in jail here in the human realm. A new study found that male monkeys will give up their juice...