Jurassic animal found on Skye 'fed milk to young'

Palaeontologists believe an animal that lived in what is now Skye 165 million years ago fed milk to its young.

Milk teeth have been discovered in the fossil jaw of a juvenile Wareolestes rex, a species of mammal from the Middle Jurassic.

Scientists suggest adult females secreted milk on to a bare patch of skin for their young to lap up.

Nipples and suckling as seen in modern mammals had still to evolve when Wareolestes rex lived.

The two centimetre-long jaw was found on Skye in 2015 and is one of the most complete fossils of the early mammal to be found outside of China.

Single teeth of Wareolestes rex have previously been found in England.



Read on

Dolphins suspected in whale attack off Skye

30 October 2015

Marine wildlife experts believe dolphins attacked a young pilot whale which was found stranded on a beach in Skye.

Vets had to put down the badly injured three-year-old female calf, which was discovered on Tuesday at Dunvegan.

Teeth marks were found on the whale's body, flippers and dorsal fin.

The Scottish Marine Animals Stranding Scheme and Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust (HWDT) suspect the calf was attacked by bottlenose dolphins.

HWDT said it was awaiting a final report following a post-mortem examination of the whale.

Dr Conor Ryan, the trust's sightings and strandings officer, said: "If indeed bottlenose dolphins were to blame, this is only the second such case that we are aware of in the UK.

"Pilot whales often strand dead and occasionally alive on our coasts, but rarely with these types of injuries."

Continued …

Rabbits 'threat' to the Storr on Skye

By Steven McKenzieBBC Scotland Highlands and Islands reporter

Wild rabbits are causing erosion and eating fragile upland plants in one of Scotland's most striking landscapes, according to a new report.

The Storr is the highest point on the Trotternish Ridge on Skye and features the Old Man of Storr rock formation.

Results of monitoring of the ridge by researchers suggest reducing rabbit numbers to help to protect the Special Area of Conservation.

Declines in sheep grazing on the ridge were also deemed to be beneficial.

The Trotternish Ridge is owned by the Scottish government.

Historically, it was taken over by the state in 1904 and made available to crofters who had been forced off the land during the Highland Clearances in the 19th Century.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-17562655

Rare moth is sighted on Skye estate

A rare moth has been recorded on the John Muir Trust’s Strathaird estate on Skye for the first time in 30 years.

Wild Land ranger Lester Standen saw the argent and sable moth in a stable on the estate. The last sighting of the species was recorded before 1980, and may have been as long ago as 1961.
Mr Standen said: “Seeing scarce species like these moths shows you how important it is to cut down on grazing in sensitive areas.

“Existing populations of these insects can only be maintained if we protect their habitats.”
The argent and sable moth is classified as “nationally scarce” in the United Kingdom. It occurs throughout the Hebrides and the far north-west of Scotland.

It is a priority species under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan, and is also listed on the Scottish Biodiversity list, as well as the Skye and Lochalsh Local Biodiversity Action plan.

The moth breeds in woodland with birch regrowth and in open moorland and bogs, particularly those at higher altitudes or in coastal areas. Larvae feed on birches and bog myrtle.

John Muir Trust biodiversity officer Liz Auty said: “This species is probably under recorded so we would like to hear of any other sightings.

“The work our rangers do is extremely important because species are being monitored that wouldn’t be observed otherwise. It shows very clearly the range of wildlife that will benefit from reducing deer numbers on our estates.”

John Muir Trust’s Wild Land project aims to monitor wildlife and habitat on trust estates so accurate species records can be built up. Members of the public are invited to contribute their sightings to the project.

http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/1279677?UserKey=