Face pareidolia is an illusion that involves perceiving a face when one is not there, such as in a pattern of clouds or the scorch marks on a piece of toast. It’s a common feature of the human face-detection system and a near-universal human experience. But do other species also perceive this illusion?

Check out my latest Animal Minds blog post for the answer: Are Humans Unique in Seeing Faces Everywhere?

My Animal Minds blog post about the possible reason that shark bites occur has been adapted for the Psychology Today August print issue! Check it out on newsstands or here: The Real Reason Sharks Might Bite You.

In a new study, researchers at the University of Sussex investigated the cognitive abilities that have allowed herring gulls to succeed in urban environments. They found the gulls are attentive to human behavior and able to apply what they observe to their own foraging choices.

Read more at my Animal Minds blog: That Seagull Will Have What You’re Having.

If you spend a lot of time with certain frogs, you’ll probably notice a behavior called toe-tapping: a rapid up-and-down movement of the middle toes of the hind legs. People have known about toe-tapping for a long time, but despite being so widely observed, there have been very few experimental investigations of the phenomenon, and its function is hardly clear.

Read more at my Animal Minds blog: Why Do These Frogs Tap Dance?

How are armadillos, the leprosy bacterium, and organ regeneration connected? In a recent study, researchers found that leprosy infection causes armadillo livers to grow, offering clues to organ regeneration.

Read more at The Science Journal for Kids: Can armadillos show us how to regrow a liver?