Scientists have discovered a previously unknown extinct toad species hidden for nearly a century inside the collections of Los Angeles’ famous La Brea Tar Pits. The tiny amphibian, named Spea labreae after the tar pits, represents the first extinct Ice Age amphibian ever identified from Los Angeles and only the second known extinct Pleistocene amphibian from North … [Read more...] about Extinct toad from the ice age discovered at Los Angeles’ La Brea Tar Pits
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This Rare Turtle Can Breathe Through Its Rear — And Scientists Say It’s One of Earth’s Most Extraordinary Reptiles
Deep in Australia's Mary River lives one of the world's most unusual reptiles—a turtle with a remarkable survival ability that has fascinated scientists for decades. Known as the Mary River turtle, this endangered species can absorb oxygen through its cloaca, allowing it to remain underwater for extended periods without surfacing for air. The cloaca is a single opening used … [Read more...] about This Rare Turtle Can Breathe Through Its Rear — And Scientists Say It’s One of Earth’s Most Extraordinary Reptiles
Kiwis: The Birds with the Largest Eggs in the World
The kiwi, a small, flightless bird native to New Zealand, may seem like an unlikely candidate for having a giant cousin. However, recent scientific discoveries have revealed a surprising link between the kiwi and the extinct elephant bird of Madagascar. The Kiwi's Giant Cousin DNA analysis has shown that the elephant bird, a massive flightless bird that once roamed … [Read more...] about Kiwis: The Birds with the Largest Eggs in the World