Vampire Bat Friendships
Mutual grooming and blood regurgitation form the basis of vampire bat friendships, which can last for years. And new research shows that relationships forged in captivity can persist once bats are back in the wild.
Read my latest Animal Minds post: Vampire Bat Friendships Persist from the Lab to the Wild.
These Fish Navigate with Electricity
In my latest Animal Minds post, I take a look at some research with the African elephant-nose fish - an animal that uses self-generated electricity to navigate.
Read the article here: These Fish Navigate with Electricity.
Ants Discriminate Snake Friends and Foes
In Madagascar, there is an ant with two very different relationships to two kinds of snake. These ants open their nests up to one of the snakes, which may help protect them from the other.
Read my latest Animal Minds post for the whole story: Ants Discriminate Snake Friends and Foes.
Saving the Hellbender
The giant salamander is a crown jewel of Appalachia, but many populations are in decline. Scientists are working to find out why, before it's too late.
Read more at The Scientist: Saving the Hellbender, a Giant Salamander Under Threat.
Eavesdropping Squirrels
Eastern gray squirrels listen in to birds’ conversations for cues about nearby predator risk, according to a new study from Oberlin College. Researchers found that hearing casual bird chatter after a predator call signals safety to squirrels.
Read more on my Animal Minds blog: Squirrels Eavesdrop on Bird Chatter as Sign of Safety.