Sacred apes
In India, the Hanuman langur is also known as the holy ape. The animal is named after the Hindu god Hanuman, which is depicted as a talking ape. Apenheul, a primate zoo in the Netherlands, now has Hanuman langurs on exhibit.
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Learning from nature
A horse in a pasture wearing a zebra blanket - that's an odd sight. Is it a joke (ha ha, zebras in a Dutch pasture)? No, there's more here than meets the eye. These blankets help keep horseflies at bay.
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Living walls
Traditionally, the Maasai people of East Africa make use of acacia thorns to protect their houses and their livestock. The prickly branches are placed around the huts in concentric circles. These ‘bomas’ function well, but the protection is lessened when the sun and heat dry out the thorns and ...
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The most dangerous snake?
Technically, that would be the inland taipan, a snake native to Australia. It has the most toxic venom and injects the greatest amount per bite. Other snakes, however, are more dangerous and claim more victims.
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Fun with your rabbit (or guinea pig)
This is the title of a short course started at De Ulebelt, a a so-called children's farm in the Netherlands. On this course, parents and children learn how to structure the life of their rabbit or guinea pig to be pleasurable and challenging.
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Herpetoduct
A 'herpetoduct' is a tunnel for reptiles. In 2009, RAVON and the province of Gelderland (the Netherlands) designed just such an underpass. Located near Elspeet, it appears well-suited to the various reptile species making use of it.
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Did you know that...
... a blanket with zebra stripes can protect a horse from horseflies?
... the Hanuman langur can jump 4 to 5 metres high?
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... the Hanuman langur can jump 4 to 5 metres high?
Does sugar content matter? Blood plasma glucose levels in an occasional and specialist avian nectarivore
Nectar composition within a plant pollinator group can be variable, and bird pollinated plants can be segregated into two groups based on their adaptations to either a specialist or an occasional bird pollination system.
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Carotenoid supplementation enhances reproductive success in captive strawberry poison frogs
Amphibians are currently experiencing the most severe declines in biodiversity of any vertebrate, and their requirements for successful reproduction are poorly understood. Here, we show that supplementing the diet of prey ...
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On the bookshelf
Fundamentals of Ornamental Fish Health
This book is a complete guide to ornamental fish health, based on thorough medical knowledge and packaged in short, very readable chapters.
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This book is a complete guide to ornamental fish health, based on thorough medical knowledge and packaged in short, very readable chapters.
Eating poison to get a date
Male animals can do some strange things to get the attention of females. Great bustards, for instance, knowingly eat poisonous beetles in order to impress potential mates. Especially during mating season, the males do this to ‘brag’ about being tough and enjoying good health.
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How crocodiles hunt
Crocodiles hunt in a team, as recently research has demonstrated. This makes them members of the elite club of approximately 20 animal species (including humans) with activities including sophisticated coordination among a number of individuals with different roles.
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