All Articles Tagged As: africa

Notorious 'man-eating' lions of Tsavo likely ate about 35 people - not 135, scientists say (11/6/2009)

The legendary "man-eating lions of Tsavo" that terrorized a railroad camp in Kenya more than a century ago likely consumed about 35 people -- far fewer than popular estimates of 135 victims, according to a new analysis led by researchers at the University of California, Santa Cruz. The study also yields surprises about the predatory behavior of lions. ...> Full Article

Scientists discover largest orb-weaving spider (10/23/2009)

Researchers have discovered a new, giant Nephila species (golden orb weaver spider) from Africa and Madagascar. They also reconstructed size evolution in the family Nephilidae to show that this new species, on average, is the largest orb weaver known. Only the females are giants with a body length of 1.5 inches (3.8 centimeters) and a leg span of 4-5 inches (10-12 centimeters); the males are tiny by comparison. ...> Full Article

Camera trap survey snaps cheetahs in Algeria (2/27/2009)

Photos a first for cheetahs in that country ...> Full Article

The more promiscuous the female, the speedier the sperm (1/24/2009)

Researchers use fish to settle a sperm competition debate ...> Full Article

Smithsonian scientists discover new bird species (8/16/2008)

Scientists have discovered a new species of bird in Gabon, Africa, that was, until now, unknown to the scientific community. ...> Full Article

Ivory poaching at critical levels: Elephants on path to extinction by 2020? (8/3/2008)

African elephants are being slaughtered for their ivory at a pace unseen since an international ban on the ivory trade took effect in 1989 ...> Full Article

When threatened, a few African frogs can morph toes into claws (6/25/2008)

Biologists have determined that some African frogs carry concealed weapons: When threatened, these species puncture their own skin with sharp bones in their toes, using the bones as claws capable of wounding predators. ...> Full Article

Freshwater Herring Had Salty Origin (4/28/2008)

Marine invasion which occurred in West Africa 25 to 50 million years ago, coincident with a major oceanic incursion into the region ...> Full Article

Female fish decide who floats or flounders on social scale (1/31/2008)

Aggression, testosterone and nepotism don't necessarily help one climb the social ladder, but the support of a good female can, according to new research on the social habits of an unusual African species of fish. ...> Full Article

Trees, Ants and Elephants: Balance Gone Bad (1/22/2008)

researchers in Africa have a riveting tale of natural balance gone bad, with an unhappy moral for other ecosystems: This could happen to you. ...> Full Article

Wildebeest or malaria parasite - same rules determine number of offspring (1/16/2008)

Wildebeest Whether you are dealing with the number of wildebeest on the Serengeti or the number of malaria parasites in the human body, new research shows the same ecological framework determines breeding numbers and population size. New research published today (15 January) in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences by a Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) Fellow shows that the same community ecology principles that determine how different animal species on the savannah affect each other's population sizes through competition for food and hunting by predators also affect parasite species interacting within the microcosm of a single host. ...> Full Article