Animals, features and articles | Educational Science

Jan 24, 2014

Exotic Animal Trader Arrested After Smuggling Komodo Dragons, Baby Apes

Some people smuggle drugs. Others, dragons. Indonesian authorities cuffed a wildlife trader who allegedly trafficked komodo dragons, endangered baby primates and other live animals, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) announced. The trader, whose name was not released, was apparently linked to smuggling rings in Russia, Singapore, Thailand and Cyprus. He...

Jan 30, 2014

Color-Changing 'Sea Chameleons' Could Inspire New Military Camouflage

Cuttlefish are sometimes known as the chameleons of the sea, for their ability to change colors rapidly and blend in to their surroundings. Now, researchers have uncovered the three types of light makers on the skin that enable this sophisticated camouflage system. The results could lead to better protective gear...

Mar 4, 2014

Iguanas Have Oldest Reptilian Sex Chromosome

Iguanas have the oldest known sex chromosomes in the reptilian world, according to a new report. Sex chromosomes are the gene-carrying structures in cells that determine the sex of an organism. Some groups of animals, such as mammals and birds, pass down their sex chromosomes within evolutionary lineages and do...

May 28, 2014

Ancient 'Fish Lizard' Graveyard Discovered Beneath Melting Glacier

Dozens of nearly complete skeletons of prehistoric marine reptiles have been uncovered near a melting glacier in southern Chile. Scientists found 46 specimens from four different species of extinct ichthyosaurs. These creatures, whose Greek name means fish lizards, were a group of large, fast-swimming marine reptiles that lived during the...

Aug 12, 2014

Geckos' Sticky Secret? They Hang by Toe Hairs

Geckos are famous for their ability to scale vertical walls and even hang upside down, and now scientists understand more about how the expert climbers can pull off these gravity-defying feats: Geckos can quickly turn the stickiness of their feet on and off, a new study finds. Gecko toes are...

Oct 17, 2014

Komodo Dragon Facts

Komodo dragons are the largest living lizards in the world. They are identified by their massive size, flat heads, bowed legs and long, thick tails. The name comes from rumors that a dragon-like creature lived on the Indonesian island of Komodo. No Western scientists had seen a Komodo dragon until...

Nov 5, 2014

Ancient Reptile Is Smallest and Oldest-Known 'Fish Lizard'

A 248-million-year-old fossil of an ancient reptile found in China is the oldest known member of a well-known group of marine reptiles, and may have lived both on land and in the sea. The specimen is a primitive type of ichthyopterygian, a group related to ichthyosaurs, which are large marine...

Nov 12, 2014

New Nocturnal Gecko Species Discovered in Madagascar

A new species of gecko has been found living among the crumbling remains of an old French fort in northern Madagascar. The gecko, nocturnal by nature, is a master of camouflage and seamlessly blends in with the surrounding rocks and fortress ruins, according to a new study. Although researchers first...

Jan 8, 2015

Lizard Penises Evolve at Super-Speed

A lizard's penis evolves six times faster than any of its other parts, a new study finds. The study is the first to directly measure the evolution rate of the penis of any species, though researchers have long suspected that the male genitalia evolve faster than other body parts, said...

Feb 6, 2015

Rare Case of Conjoined Lizard Twins Reported at Zoo

In a first-of-its-kind case, a pair of conjoined lizards called Quince monitor lizards were discovered at a German zoo, according to a new report. The lizards were dead when they were discovered. The animals were found in June 2009 in a clutch deposited in a terrarium at the Cologne Zoo,...

Mar 10, 2015

Photos: How Chameleons Change Color

Countless scientists, including the ancient philosopher Aristotle, have wondered how the chameleon changes color. Now, researchers have uncovered the lizard's secret: The reptile has two layers of special cells, the top of which can relax or excite itself to create different visible colors, the researchers found. Check out these eye-catching...

Mar 10, 2015

Chameleons' Color-Changing Secret Revealed

The chameleon's uncanny ability to change color has long mystified people, but now the lizard's secret is out: Chameleons can rapidly change color by adjusting a layer of special cells nestled within their skin, a new study finds. Unlike other animals that change color, such as the squid and octopus,...

Mar 25, 2015

6 Crazy Skills That Prove Geckos Are Amazing

Geckos can hang by their toe hairs, scamper up walls and regrow their tails. They've even gone to space. Geckos are amazing creatures with a toolbox full of tricks that science is continuing to uncover. Here's a look at six of their super skills and the science behind them. 1....

Apr 6, 2015

Here Be Dragons: 3 Spiky Lizard Species Found in Andes

Colorful, spiky and only a few inches long, three new lizard species discovered in the Andes may be the cutest dragon stand-ins on Earth. Woodlizards are often described as miniature dragons because of their probing eyes, richly patterned skin and rows of spikelike scales. Until now, only 12 species of...

May 27, 2015

Colorful Find: Madagascar Chameleon Actually 11 Distinct Species

The color-changing panther chameleon has long fascinated scientists, but there's more to the reptile than meets the eye: What was once considered to be one species is actually 11 distinct species of chameleon, a new study finds. The colorful finding is the result of a long road trip around the...