An anthropologist explains some of the many ways animals use their tails, from balancing as they walk to attracting a mate.
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Articles on Animal behavior
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It is the oldest and most prolific cancer known in nature.
The recent goring of a tourist who approached within 10 feet of a bison in Yellowstone National Park is a reminder that wild animals can be dangerous and people should keep safe distances.
The miniature brains of honeybees were able to understand the concepts of odd and even, despite only having 960,000 neurons (compared to 86 billion in humans).
Researchers have discovered that great white sharks are more social than previously thought. Using specialized tags, they tracked six sharks and found that some stay close to each other when hunting.
These coordinated movements of a flock of starlings follow no plan or leader. Scientists used to think the animals must communicate via ESP to create these fast-moving blobs.
Birds will shriek and dive at each other over food, territory or mates, but only a small number of species sport actual weapons. The reason: Flying matters more for their survival than fighting.
African wild dogs are used to evading hyenas and lions. Genetic research suggests they are using the same strengths to get around human development as well.
A fundamental change in how North American zoos and aquariums are accredited supports their animal conservation and species survival work.
We discovered that the ability to be flexible and change behaviour in certain circumstances is just as important for birds as people.
Researchers were surprised to find two female condors had managed to hatch chicks that had no fathers. But virgin birth does not seem to produce healthy birds that could strengthen the population.
Capturing cow urine could allow us to reduce the amount of damaging nitrate and nitrous oxide that ends up in the environment.
How do squirrels leap through trees without falling? It takes strength, flexibility and finely tuned cognitive skills.
Outdoor recreation is booming across the US, but research shows that the presence of humans – or the trails they hike and ski on – can have harmful effects on wildlife at less-than-close range.
According to a veterinarian, the behavior some people call ‘kneading the dough’ or ‘making biscuits’ is a clue your cat feels comfortable around you.
By measuring how and when elephant seals sleep, researchers were able to figure out how elephant seals change their risk-taking behavior as they gain weight.
The noise from the lungs drowns out other species’ calls, letting the females hear potential mates.
Arctic foxes have a few special talents that help them sneak up on unseen prey and pounce.
A new study found some dogs learn the name of a new object after hearing it only four times.
A trace fossil of an iguana burrow was discovered on San Salvador Island in the Bahamas. Estimated to be 115,000 years old, it is the first known fossil of its kind.
Top contributors
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Emeritus Professor in Animal Behaviour, University of New England
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Lecturer in Zoology, Bangor University
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Professor Emeritus of Behavioral Pharmacology and Animal Behavior, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University
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Postdoctoral research fellow, Clemson University
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Affiliate Faculty in Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University
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Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Wyoming
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Jenny Graves is a Friend of The Conversation.
Distinguished Professor of Genetics and Vice Chancellor's Fellow, La Trobe University
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Professor, School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol
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Ecologist, Edinburgh Napier University
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Assistant Research Professor, Johns Hopkins University
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Professor of Practice, Emory University
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Senior Lecturer in Animal Science, Nottingham Trent University
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Professor of Environmental and Forest Biology, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry
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Assistant Professor of Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, UMass Chan Medical School
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PhD Candidate in Ecology in the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University
