Wednesday, 16 June 2021
Tuesday, 15 June 2021
BBC: Isles of Scilly: Egyptian vulture seen in UK for first time in 150 years
An Egyptian vulture has been seen in the UK for the first time in what is believed to be more than 150 years.
Described as a "once-in-a-century" sighting, it is thought it may have come to the Isles of Scilly from Northern France.
If the "incredibly rare" sighting is confirmed to be a wild bird, it would be the first since 1868, say experts.
Birdwatchers are expected to flock to the isles for a chance to spot it before it moves on.
BBC: Secrets of tiny diving mammals revealed
Biologists have uncovered the genetic secrets of the world's smallest diving mammals - water shrews.
Using DNA samples to construct an evolutionary tree, scientists revealed that diving behaviour evolved five distinct times in this group of insect-eating mammals.
The ability of these tiny, warm-blooded animals to dive and hunt in freezing water seems to defy evolutionary logic.
The findings are published in the online journal eLife.
To track this surprising evolutionary journey, the scientists collected DNA samples from 71 different species all belonging to a large group of related, insect-eating mammals, collectively called Eulipotyphla.
That Latin term translates to "the truly fat and blind"; it is a group of mammals that includes hedgehogs, moles and shrews
Monday, 14 June 2021
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