Smithsonian Science

For a dentist, the narwhal’s smile is a mystery of evolution

Incredibly, the narwhale’s only visible tooth is outside of its mouth. Its tusk, in fact, is a giant canine tooth—that can grow as long as 9 feet! [...more]

zoology Comments (2)

New exhibition looks at fishes from the “Inside Out”

"X-Ray Vision: Fish Inside Out," is a new exhibition of striking x-rays that reveal the complex bone structure of fishes in the collections of the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History. [...more]

conservation biology, zoology Comments (0)

Bryan’s shearwater, new Hawaiian seabird species, discovered

For the first time in decades, researchers have found a new bird species in the United States. Based on a specimen collected in 1963 on Midway Atoll, Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, biologists have described a new species of seabird, Bryan’s shearwater [...more]

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Marquesas Islands in French Polynesia yield 18 new species of rare ferns and flowering plants

Recent botanical exploration efforts in the rugged Marquesas Islands (French Polynesia) have increased the known flora of the archipelago by an impressive 20 percent. Field research and collecting in conjunction with the Vascular Flora of the Marquesas Islands and Flore de la Polynesie française projects have yielded 62 new species of ferns and flowering plants bringing the total native species to 360, of which 18 are newly described and illustrated in a special issue of PhytoKeys. [...more]

Research Topics, zoology Comments (0)

New study reveals desert tortoise is actually two distinct species

A new study shows that the desert tortoise, thought to be a single species for the last 150 years, is in fact two separate and distinct species, based on DNA evidence and biological and geographical distinctions. [...more]

conservation biology, zoology Comments (2)

Fossil skull of an extinct toothed whale excavated from Panamanian sediments

A scientist from the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute uses a pick to dislodge the fossil skull of an extinct toothed whale from sediments on the Panamanian Coast near the town of Piña. Researchers from STRI and the Smithsonian’s Museum of Natural History encased the skull in a plaster cast to protect it before removal. The [...] [...more]

Science Spotlight, paleontology Comments (0)

Learn about the National Zoo’s flamingo flock with keeper Sara Hallager

[...more]

Video, zoology Comments (0)

National Zoo scientists successfully grow two species of anemones in aquarium tanks

The anemones—both of which are commonly called Tealia red anemones under the species of Urticina—spawned in late April and early May, just days apart. Henley collected the eggs and sperm from the more than 2,000-gallon tank and put them together in smaller tanks to increase the chances of fertilization. After fertilization, the larvae settled and metamorphosed into a polyp. [...more]

Tag Archive | "collections"

For a dentist, the narwhal’s smile is a mystery of evolution

zoology Comments (2)

New exhibition looks at fishes from the “Inside Out”

conservation biology, zoology Comments (0)

Bryan’s shearwater, new Hawaiian seabird species, discovered

Featured, zoology Comments (0)

Marquesas Islands in French Polynesia yield 18 new species of rare ferns and flowering plants

Research Topics, zoology Comments (0)

New study reveals desert tortoise is actually two distinct species

conservation biology, zoology Comments (2)

Fossil skull of an extinct toothed whale excavated from Panamanian sediments

Science Spotlight, paleontology Comments (0)

Learn about the National Zoo’s flamingo flock with keeper Sara Hallager

Video, zoology Comments (0)

National Zoo scientists successfully grow two species of anemones in aquarium tanks

Featured, conservation biology, zoology Comments (0)

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