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Jet ants mark their trails with hindgut secretions that contain a special blend of pheromones. Large numbers of foraging ants commute on these trails, transporting honeydew collected from aphids and other insects in their social stomachs, or crops. One particular species of sap. . . Read More

The deep sea covers around 65% of the planet’s surface, making it the largest habitat on Earth. Yet, this vast area remains largely unknown. The remoteness of the deep sea, which lies below 200 m, makes traditional ecological data collection methods extremely difficult. As a. . . Read More

Male cuttlefish compete over females with a dazzling color change show. Scientists have tested and characterized the mating behavior of the common European cuttlefish, Sepia officinalis, in the lab, but no one had seen these behaviors in the wild before. That is, until a team of. . . Read More

Birds do it. Mammals do it. Even caterpillars do it. Whistling is widespread in the animal kingdom. Animals use various means to produce whistles and use their whistles for many different purposes, from warning of predators to calling to a friend. In my latest piece for National. . . Read More

Scientists have discovered a new snail species that’s pretty special: It shoots slime, lives on shipwrecks, and could have major implications for coral reef restoration. Known as the Vandy snail to its discoverers, it’s named after the only place it’s ever been found:. . . Read More