MetaFilter posts tagged with animals and evolution

Flying Fish

rageagainsttherobots — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 10:50:44 -0800

The longer the fish can stay out of the water the less likely a predator will catch it. Flying fish are showing up all over the world.

Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered (EDGE) species

homunculus — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 10:14:38 -0800

Saving the world’s weirdest creatures. The EDGE of Existence programme, a project of the Zoological Society of London, aims to conserve the world's most Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered (EDGE) species by implementing the research and conservation actions needed to secure their future. [Via MoFi.]

Nature gone Wild

ewkpates — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 10:06:40 -0800

Birds that rap and cows with accents. The big picture is urban adaptation, which is pretty cool. (...and the egg wins.)

The Cute Factor

shivohum — Sat, 07 Jan 2006 21:03:18 -0800

The Cute Factor: "Cute cues are those that indicate extreme youth, vulnerability, harmlessness and need, scientists say..." (NY Times registration req'd)

Life in the Undergrowth

0bvious — Wed, 23 Nov 2005 07:22:56 -0800

Mating Leopard Slugs entwine - one of the untold wonders of the animal kingdom captured on video.... The BBC gets up close and personal with Life in the Undergrowth in their new wildlife documentary. A must see for any animal, insect or David Attenborough fan... (If the main vid link doesn't work for you try it from here - realplayer needed)

Challenging Darwin: Is sex really all about the genes?

dnash — Thu, 15 Apr 2004 07:49:23 -0800

Author challenges Darwin's theory of "sexual selection." To Darwin, mutations that don't enhance survival, like peacocks' tails, must be aids to attracting mates to pass on genes. Homosexuality, therefore, is to Darwin and the Christian-right both an unnatural aberration. But with ever growing evidence of homsexual behavior in animals, from bonobos to penguins, isn't it time that Darwin's theory get replaced?

Evolution continues

hipnerd — Tue, 31 Dec 2002 14:52:52 -0800

Evolution is a process that hasn't stopped just because humans now rule the planet. What will animals look like in 200,000 years? The Discovery Channel's Animal Planet asks experts to predict the future of life on Earth.

cell divide — Wed, 19 Sep 2001 13:06:29 -0800

Interesting News Out of Pakistan: Whales Lived on Land Whales evolved from strange wolf-sized creatures that lived on land in modern-day India and Pakistan more than 50 million years ago, and their closest relatives today are cows, camels and giraffes, experts say.

lagado — Sun, 10 Dec 2000 20:47:56 -0800

Birds are not descended from Dinosaurs. The latest in the ongoing debate about the origin of birds and whether they evolved from dinosaurs or from a earlier common ancestor. Chinese scientists report the discovery of a 120 million year old bird fossil that had feathers and could clearly fly.