Archive | zoology

Captive colony of Virginia big-eared bats providing valuable lessons in battle against deadly white-nose syndrome

Captive colony of Virginia big-eared bats providing valuable lessons in battle against deadly white-nose syndrome

Eleven bats remain in the National Zoo’s colony. The initial challenge the team faced was how to feed the animals. Virginia big-eared bats, which are a subspecies of the Townsend’s big-eared bat (Corynorhinuss townsendii), eat while flying. [...more]

Featured, conservation biology, zoology Comments (23)

New study sees mother’s milk as a communications link that shapes infant temperament

New study sees mother’s milk as a communications link that shapes infant temperament

The study found that infants whose mothers had higher levels of available milk energy soon after their birth, coped more effectively (moved around more, explored more, ate and drank) and showed greater confidence (were more playful, exploratory, curious and active) with this novel situation. [...more]

Featured, anthropology, zoology Comments (1)

Leafcutter ants—first in agiculture and antibiotics

Leafcutter ants—first in agiculture and antibiotics

Leafcutter Ants—an amazing species that has been employing agriculture and antibiotics for some 50 million years. [...more]

Video, zoology Comments (0)

Clouded leopard cubs born at National Zoo’s Front Royal campus on Valentine’s Day

Clouded leopard cubs born at National Zoo’s Front Royal campus on Valentine’s Day

Staff had been on a pregnancy watch focused on the 3 1/2-year-old clouded leopard Jao Chu (JOW-chew) for four days. Jao Chu gave birth to the first cub at 6:04 p.m. and the second cub at 6:20 p.m. [...more]

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Laboratory tests reveal precise way to measure vertical lift in bumblebees and other small insects and birds

Laboratory tests reveal precise way to measure vertical lift in bumblebees and other small insects and birds

Birds do it. Bees do it. And in a laboratory in northern California, scientists using bumblebees recently figured out the best way to measure it--vertical lift! [...more]

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NEW ACQUISITION: From the Bay of Bengal, a dinoflagellate makes its way to the Smithsonian

NEW ACQUISITION: From the Bay of Bengal, a dinoflagellate makes its way to the Smithsonian

It’s not an exaggeration to say Hedrick was ecstatic when she peered into her inverted phase contrast microscope and found "Amphisolenia quadrispina" floating in her sample. “For 20 years I’ve been hoping to see something like this,” she says. [...more]

New Acquisitions, zoology Comments (0)

Smithsonian scientists give giant pandas a helping hand at reproduction

Smithsonian scientists give giant pandas a helping hand at reproduction

Timing was critical because female giant pandas ovulate only once a year. A short period of two to three days around ovulation is the only time she is able to conceive. Gestation typically lasts from 90 to 185 days. [...more]

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For first time, scientists prove locusts use vision to place their legs when walking

For first time, scientists prove locusts use vision to place their legs when walking

In their laboratory, scientists from the University of Cambridge, the University of Southampton and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama, observed as a number of adult locusts walked along a horizontal ladder. After covering the right or left eye of an insect, the scientists observed a significant increase in the error rate of rungs missed by the front leg on the side of the covered eye. [...more]

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Meet our Scientists—Videos!

Caught on camera!

This short video of an ocelot was taken by Smithsonian scientists during a recent camera-trap survey of these animals in the Peruvian Amazon. [...more]

(Courtesy of Joseph Kolowski)

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