The rotifers were even able to reproduce after emerging from cryptobiosis. The bdelloid rotifer, a minute, multicellular animal, has shown capable of living under Siberian permafrost for at least 24,000 years. The finding has given some optimism that people may one day be placed in deep freeze and resurrected — but don't expect it anytime soon. To live in hostile … [Read more...] about Microscopic Organisms Have been Resurrected After 24,000 Years in Permafrost
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Puppies of the Rare Black Seal have been Spotted in an English Nature Reserve
When wildlife inspectors spotted ten extremely unusual black seal pups in England's largest grey seal colony on the north Norfolk coast, they were taken aback. Puppies of grey seals have a white coat that sheds in two to three weeks, revealing a grey coat beneath the white skin. According to the National Trust, about one out of every 400 grey seals has a velvety black … [Read more...] about Puppies of the Rare Black Seal have been Spotted in an English Nature Reserve
This Extremely Rare Jellyfish Has Only Been Spotted on Camera Once
It’s not every day that you come across something truly unique and mysterious. But that’s precisely what happened when a diver captured an incredibly rare jellyfish on camera off the coast of Australia. The jellyfish in question is a Chirodectes maculatus, also known as the spotted box jellyfish. The specimen is so rare that it’s only been seen twice, with this video being … [Read more...] about This Extremely Rare Jellyfish Has Only Been Spotted on Camera Once
The World’s Smallest Chameleon Has Been Found, And It Is “Surprisingly” Endowed
Camouflage is a useful trait for both predators and prey, but it may be a pain in the neck for field biologists trying to increase their taxonomic contributions. When you're dealing with an animal the size of your fingertip, like the chameleon detailed in a new study published in Scientific Reports, finding new species becomes much more challenging. So, where does one look … [Read more...] about The World’s Smallest Chameleon Has Been Found, And It Is “Surprisingly” Endowed
For The First Time, Leprosy in Wild Chimps Has Been Confirmed
Scientists have verified the first occurrences of leprosy in wild chimpanzees, a bacterial illness that usually affects humans. Although it's unclear how the chimps contracted the virus, experts believe the findings indicate that leprosy is considerably more prevalent in chimps and other wild animals than previously thought. The findings were published in the journal … [Read more...] about For The First Time, Leprosy in Wild Chimps Has Been Confirmed