A new member of a peculiar group of dinosaurs, the alvarezsaurids, with long legs and short arms, is 63 million years older than the rest of its "relatives", as published today in the journal Science. Its discoverers claim that it is an important primitive member of the lineage that includes birds and their closest theropod relatives.
The divorce of a pair of swans has surprised the curators of the Slimbridge bird sanctuary, located in Gloucestershire (United Kingdom), who had not seen such a case in the last forty years.
Penguins are the most anthropomorphic animals. Everyone identifies with them. Why do we respond so emotionally? Perhaps because they stand on two legs and walk upright. Or because they are a caricature of human life: they like company, but they fight with their neighbors. Until now, no one had thought that penguins could be in trouble.
There were always classes, even in birds. A new study reveals that female Mandarin diamonds are looking for a male of the same "level," so that those who are of low quality - in metabolism, attractiveness or longevity - choose a bad singer.
The theory that birds descend from theropods is commonly accepted. But how did the 5-fingered hands of those dinosaurs turn into wings? Limusaurus inextricabilis remains found in the Gobi desert may have the answer.
When stalking a predator, the Siberian jay uses more than a dozen different call tones and around 25 different vocalizations, thus managing to "explain" the level of danger and category of the predator to the rest of its group.
Last week, an Airbus A320 crash landed in the icy waters of the Hudson River. The accident, which did not claim victims, was caused by the impact with a flock of birds. Authorities believe they are Canadian geese (Branta canadensis interior).
Migrating from one end of the planet to the other, flapping your wings, is expensive in energy terms. And even more so when climate change causes stronger winds and atmospheric instability, according to a study published in the journal PLoS ONE.
Danni Büchner is invited to Sam Dylan's Halloween party. But the "Goodbye Germany" emigrant has no desire for many other party guests. And find clear words.
