Archive | July, 2009

A clouded leopard cub, a Przewalski’s horse and a red panda cub were all recently born at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo

A clouded leopard cub, a Przewalski’s horse and a red panda cub were all recently born at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo

As you read here In a 24-hour-period between July 9 and 10, 2009 a clouded leopard cub, a Przewalski's horse, and a red panda cub were all born at Smithsonian's National Zoo's Conservation and Research Center in Front Royal, Virginia. [...more]

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Smithsonian scientist discovers two new bat species hiding in museum collections for more than 150 years

Smithsonian scientist discovers two new bat species hiding in museum collections for more than 150 years

While studying bats recently at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, Smithsonian mammalogist Kristofer Helgen discovered a new species of flying fox bat from Samoa in the Academy’s collections that had been preserved in alcohol since 1856. That discovery inspired him to study early Samoan collections in other museums more closely, leading Helgen to discover [...] [...more]

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DNA evidence is rearranging the branches of the avian family tree

DNA evidence is rearranging the branches of the avian family tree

When songwriter Oscar Hammerstein penned the lyrics “fish gotta swim, birds gotta fly,” he clearly did not have the ratites in mind. Large flightless birds, the ratites include ostriches, emus, rheas and cassowaries, along with kiwis and several extinct species. [...more]

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Fossil teeth of 15-million-year-old browsing horse found in Panama Canal excavations.

Fossil teeth of 15-million-year-old browsing horse found in Panama Canal excavations.

The fossil teeth of a 15- to 18-million-year-old three-toed browsing horse, Anchitherium clarencei, were recently discovered by scientists from the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute and the University of Florida. They found the teeth during excavations of  newly exposed rock in the earthworks of the Panama Canal. Bruce MacFadden, curator of vertebrate paleontology at the Florida Museum [...] [...more]

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Astrophysical Observatory scientists are monitoring the mysterious movements of glaciers

Astrophysical Observatory scientists are monitoring the mysterious movements of glaciers

In southeastern Greenland, two rivers of ice named Helheim and Kangerdlugssuaq flow in spurts and starts toward the coast. They are much like any other glacier, except each carries a network of scientific instruments that monitor their movements to the millimeter. Geodesist James Davis, of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, in Cambridge, Mass., and his colleagues have [...] [...more]

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Baby Boom of Endangered Species at Smithsonian’s National Zoo’s Conservation and Research Center

Baby Boom of Endangered Species at Smithsonian’s National Zoo’s Conservation and Research Center

It was an exciting and busy 24 hours at the National Zoo’s Conservation and Research Center in Front Royal, Va., last week as three births took place just hours apart. On the evening of July 9, a clouded leopard cub was born, followed by a Przewalski’s horse foal and a red panda cub. [...more]

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Scientists Determine Geese Involved in Hudson River Plane Crash Were Migratory

Scientists Determine Geese Involved in Hudson River Plane Crash Were Migratory

Scientists at the Smithsonian Institution examined the feather remains from the Jan. 15, 2009, US Airways Flight 1549 bird strike to determine not only the species, but also that the Canada geese involved were from a migratory, rather than resident, population. This knowledge is essential for wildlife professionals to develop policies and techniques that will reduce the risk of future collisions. The team’s findings were published in the journal “Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment” in June. [...more]

conservation biology Comments (1)

Baby Elephant Shrews at the National Zoo

Baby Elephant Shrews at the National Zoo

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Science Spotlight

Kiwis come to National Zoo. The Smithsonian’s National Zoo will be using a new kiwi pair donated by the New Zealand Embassy to establish a breeding science center. Both birds came from the Ngati Hine people in New Zealand. Adding these animals to the genetic pool in North America is a rare and valuable opportunity. This pair came with another pair that will continue on to Germany and one bird that went to the San Diego Zoo. Kiwis are native to New Zealand and have been there for more than 60 million years, making them New Zealand’s most ancient bird. (Photo by Mehgan Murphy)

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