Articles for tag: BehavioralEcology, Entomology, evolution, Insects, Mimicry

Jan Otte

Detailed macro shot of a housefly standing on a vibrant red surface, highlighting intricate details.

The Art of Disguise: Blow Fly Larvae’s Survival Tactics in Termite Nests

Scientists uncover how fly larvae use “Terminator” level mimicry to infiltrate and exploit termite societies, a biological heist 150 million years in the making. The Ultimate Infiltration: A Fly in Termite’s Clothing Deep within Moroccan termite mounds, researchers have discovered a masterclass in biological espionage: “This isn’t just mimicry, it’s a full identity theft operation,” ...

Jan Otte

Down to Earth: The Silent Shift of Mammals Before the Dino Extinction

New research reveals mammals were abandoning trees millions of years before the asteroid hit changing everything we know about their survival. The Great Mammal Migration: From Trees to Terrain For decades, scientists believed mammals only flourished after dinosaurs went extinct. But a groundbreaking 2025 study analyzing fragmentary limb bones from Late Cretaceous mammals reveals a ...

Jan Otte

a large whale with its mouth open in the water

Shape Shifters of the Reef: The Surprising Evolution of Plankton Eaters

New research shatters the myth of the “perfect” plankton-feeding fish revealing an astonishing diversity of forms defying evolutionary expectations. The Myth of the Perfect Planktivore For decades, marine biologists believed plankton-eating reef fish all evolved toward the same ideal body shape: But a groundbreaking 2025 study analyzing 299 species across 12 fish families reveals a ...

Annette Uy

white and black bird flying under white clouds during daytime

10 Times Nature Invented the Same Solution Twice: A Journey Through Convergent Evolution

Nature is a master inventor, constantly devising innovative solutions to the challenges of survival. Yet, in its vast creativity, it often stumbles upon the same answers in completely different environments. This phenomenon, known as convergent evolution, showcases how distinct lineages can independently evolve similar traits. These evolutionary echoes reveal the fascinating adaptability of life on ...

Annette Uy

Dolphins jumping out of water.

10 Animals That Use Tools (And What That Means for Evolution)

In the vast tapestry of life on Earth, the use of tools has often been considered a defining characteristic of human intelligence. However, nature frequently surprises us, and recent observations have revealed that humans are not alone in this sophisticated behavior. Various animal species have been seen using tools, challenging our understanding of intelligence and ...

Jan Otte

Primeval human exploring a cave.

A Look at Our Distant Past: How & When Mammals Evolved

The story of mammalian evolution is a tale of transformation, adaptation, and survival against the odds. It begins over 300 million years ago during the Late Carboniferous period, when the first amniotes emerged. Amniotes are a group of vertebrates characterized by having an egg equipped with an amnion, allowing them to reproduce on land. This ...