The Green Elephant

Animal :: Plant Exceptionalism

The wild horses of the Outer Banks won't evacuate. They have a special trick to survive hurricanes A bunch of majestic horses that spend their days frolicking on the beach in North Carolina's Outer Banks will not be evacuated.

112-year-old fish has broken a longevity record — National GeographicAccording to radiocarbon dating, when the bigmouth buffalo was born, World War I had not yet broken out in Europe.

Study finds parrots weigh up probabilities to make decisionsResearchers say it is the first time such skill has been shown outside of humans and great apes

The secret life of plants: how they memorise, communicate, problem solve and socialiseStefano Mancuso studies what was once considered laughable – the intelligence and behaviour of plants. His work is contentious, he says, because it calls into question the superiority of humans

Trees are bringing me joy in lockdown – and here’s how I’m learning to identify them | Adrian Chiles

How Animals Communicate — GizmodoHumans and other animals are quite alike—we all just speak different languages. For humans, it’s about the spoken word. With animals, the language may have nothing to do with the auditory sense. It could be gorgeous, like Caribbean reef squid that communicate through color patterns. Other times it’s tactile, like the way that slugs leave a slime trail with different chemicals in it to communicate something.

These 11 kinds of animals had a pivotal 2021Each of them teaches a lesson for us to carry into 2022.

The superpowers of the world of plants; get acquainted with strange plants that have extraordinary abilities — SteemitThere are many movies and animations about humans and animals with extravagant powers, but in the world of plants… by mahdiyar

What scientific idea is ready for retirement?Each year edge.org, an internet forum for the world's most brilliant minds, asks one question. This year's drew responses from Richard Dawkins, Ian McEwan and Alan Alda

Bird 'backpacks' help scientists discover the longest oversea migrationBy fitting it with tiny geolocators, scientists have proven that the blackpoll warbler completes the longest known oversea journey for any land bird

Migrating Birds Avoid Bad Weather — Which Makes Their Paths PredictableScientists have developed a forecast model for predicting mass bird migrations, based in part on weather patterns.

Animal intelligence: the smartest animal species in the worldThe animal intelligence is the combination of skills and abilities that allow animals to live and adapt to their specific environments.

Why Birds Are the World’s Best EngineersA nest is “a disordered stick bomb,” resilient in ways that humans have hardly begun to understand, much less emulate.

Warrior, trickster, messenger, god: the raven is the best of all birds | Van BadhamHere’s why you should build a shrine in your home and offer tribute to this local hero

The secret call of the wild: how animals teach each other to surviveCultural knowledge, passed from animal to animal, is key to how species adapt to change in the world around them

Snakes have friends tooThe study is the latest in a growing body of evidence that animals form tight bonds—suggesting that they’re more like us than we thought.

Is Plant 'Intelligence' Just a Human Fantasy?Although plants make up over 80% of the biomass on Earth, for centuries they have been thought of as inanimate and passive things. Researchers even coined the term “plant blindness” to refer to a cognitive bias that literally makes our brains zone out plants in our view and underestimate their importance.

Animal Vision: The Light Spectrum and Colors that some animals can see - that we can't

The Visible and Non-visible Light Spectrum

Can animals see in colour?Find out how your pet sees the world and how this can have an effect on their behaviour.

5 things you didn't know about how animals see colorHow do animals see color? From ultraviolet patterns to thermal sensing to night vision, Jennifer Levine explores the amazing world of animal eyesight.

Hummingbirds see colors we can’t even imagine — National GeographicThe tiny birds’ ability to see colors outside the rainbow is “one of the most exciting things I’ve ever witnessed,” one scientist says.

Mantis Shrimp Can See Better Than Humans. This Part Of Their Brain Is One Reason WhyMantis shrimps have a highly complex visual system that allows them to see multiple wavelengths of light -- scientists have now discovered a region of their brain that allows them to store it all.

The Recently Discover Secret Language of Elephants

Animal Hearing Abilities | hear.comAnimal hearing abilities are truly remarkable. Learn which animals have the best hearing abilities. Dolphins, bats, household pets and more.

'SECRET LANGUAGE' FOUND IN ELEPHANTS

Fun Facts About Hearing: Animal and Insect Edition - Signia HearingAnimal and insect ears, as well as their hearing abilities can be very impressive. Here are some interesting facts about their hearing.

One of the Greatest Events in Nature: Monarch Migration

Why Milkweed?Milkweed for Butterflies Monarch caterpillars ONLY eat milkweed. In fact, the monarch butterfly is also known as the “milkweed butterfly.” The milkweed plant provides all the nourishment the...

Monarch Butterfly's Genes Reveal the Key to Its Long-Distance MigrationGene maps of monarch butterflies and related species suggest that an ice age shift explains their migrations, a study team suggests.

How Your Backyard Can Save ButterfliesDan Ashe has devoted his career to conservation. He’s currently focused on saving the monarch butterfly—an effort that can take flight with help from a little strategic gardening.

Milkweed for MonarchsMonarch caterpillars feed exclusively on the leaves of milkweed, the only host plant for this iconic butterfly species. As such, milkweed is critical for the survival of monarchs. Without it, they cannot complete their life cycle and their populations decline.

Forests Falling Fast to Make Way for Mexican Avocado | Global Forest Watch BlogBy Xiomara Nataly Dominguez Caballero and Gabriela Giovana Barrera Flores Lee en Español aqui. In 2016, the expansion of agricultural frontiers accounted for 98 percent of deforestation in Mexico. While the booming production of avocado (often referred to as Mexico’s “green-gold”) has contributed to the country’s economic growth, it has also caused deforestation and degradation …

Monarch Butterflies Hit New Low; "Worrisome" TrendThe king of butterflies is in a steady decline due to loss of habitat and extreme weather, a new report says.

Monarch butterfly population wintering in Mexico increases 144%Monarch production will not be replicated next year, experts warn, as above average temperatures will cause problems

Warrior, trickster, messenger, god: the raven is the best of all birds | Van BadhamHere’s why you should build a shrine in your home and offer tribute to this local hero

WATCH ANIMAL MIGRATION IN MOTION

MIGRATIONS IN MOTION

A fascinating interactive look at migratory animals migratory patterns

Mammals
Birds
Amphibians

Bird 'backpacks' help scientists discover the longest oversea migrationBy fitting it with tiny geolocators, scientists have proven that the blackpoll warbler completes the longest known oversea journey for any land bird

MIGRATIONS IN MOTION

As climate change alters habitats and disrupts ecosystems, where will animals move to survive? And will human development prevent them from getting there?
This map shows the average direction mammals, birds, and amphibians need to move to track hospitable climates as they shift across the landscape.

maps.tnc.org/migrations-in-motion/#4/43.20/-111.93

Octo-Smartie

Is it wrong to keep octopuses in captivity?Cephalopod experts worry that trade is putting pressure on some alluring species.

The Case Against Octopus Farming | Issues in Science and TechnologyFor ethical and environmental reasons, raising octopuses in captivity for food is a bad idea.

Why scientists are making the case against octopus farmingA new study argues that industrial-scale octopus farms could leave wild populations untouched while depleting stocks of other ocean animals they rely on for food.

Scientists Have Warned That We Absolutely Must Not Farm OctopusesThere's no denying that keeping livestock has deeply benefited humanity over the millennia. But, while sheep and cows may have adapted well to farm life, there's one animal humans like to eat that would fare poorly in farms.

Do you care about animals? Then you really shouldn't eat octopus | Elle HuntThey may be delicious and sure, there are lots of them, but next time you’re chomping down on your barbecued octopus, just remember they were the first intelligent beings on Earth and have more genes than you do

The Crow Knows

Can Crows Make Mental Pictures of Tools?New Caledonian crows were trained to seek rewards by tearing paper of a certain size, demonstrating what researchers say is quite advanced toolmaking.

Do Crows Hold Funerals for Their Dead?The highly intelligent birds gather around their fallen comrades, but why might surprise you.

Watch Clever Birds Solve a Challenge From Aesop's FablesA bird not previously known to be brainy, the great-tailed grackle, is extremely nimble at solving new puzzles, a new study shows.

Ravens Hold Grudges Against CheatersThe canny corvids remember people who give them unfair deals, scientists have discovered.

PLANT INTELLIGENCE

Are plants intelligent? New book says yesJeremy Hance: A new book, Brilliant Green, argues that not only are plants intelligent and sentient, but that we should consider their rights, especially in the midst of the Sixth Mass Extinction

The largest living thing on Earth is a humongous fungusForget blue whales and giant redwood trees. The biggest living organism is over 2 miles across, and you'll hardly ever see it

‘We Need to Hear These Poor Trees Scream’: Unchecked Global Warming Means Big Trouble for ForestsNew studies show drought and heat waves will cause massive die-offs, killing most trees alive today.

A Mind Without A Brain: The Science Of Plant Intelligence Takes RootGagliano and other plant biologists have sparked a debate about our natural world that mirrors a contentious debate in artificial intelligence: can conscious intelligence be recognized outside the traditional model of a biological brain and nervous system?

The roots of plant intelligencePlants behave in some oddly intelligent ways: fighting predators, maximizing food opportunities ... But can we think of them as actually having a form of intelligence of their own? Italian botanist Stefano Mancuso presents intriguing evidence.

FUTURE SMARTS

What would happen if all animals were as smart as usIf every species on the planet were suddenly equally intelligent, would we cooperate or fight? Rachel Nuwer explores this hypothetical survival of the fittest scenario.

Spiderwebs and spider silk, explainedSpiders spin webs out of silk, but they also use their threads as slingshots, submarines, and hang-gliders.

Which Animal Will Develop Human-Level Intelligence in the Future?

Are tigers, lions and elephants going extinct because humans love them too much?Is Tony the Tiger helping or hurting real tigers?

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