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Note to readers: ‘Biological Expositions’ is a series of blog-posts each of which is equivalent in content to a book chapter. If a bio-bullet is likened to a starter, our routine blog-post could be seen as a light lunch and a biological exposition as a three course meal. We look forward to your comments on this series.
Mammary bounty reveals maternal failure in spotted hyena
Crocuta crocuta photo © Tom Harkins Mammary bounty reveals maternal failure in spotted hyena It is easy to assume that those individuals of the spotted hyena photographed with...
Habitat specialisation by spotted hyena for treeless grassland
Crocuta crocuta photo © AindriúH Habitat specialisation by spotted hyena for treeless grassland The spotted hyena is, worldwide, the only large carnivore specialised for treeless...
True ancestry of the domestic dog
Canis familiaris photo © Sofia Olsson The domestic dog is descended not from the wolf – which never features the black-and-tan pattern – but from an extinct and unnamed ancestral...
Chimaera-mimicry in confusing colour-morph of cheetah
Acinonyx jubatus photo in the Public Domain Acinonyx jubatus photo © Ashleyflashley The melanistic colour-morph of the cheetah is vaguely reminiscent of the leopard, but with...
Cursory similarity between predatory hyena and predated wildebeest
Connochaetes gnou photo © Derek Keats BY 2.0, via Attribution-Share Alike and Crocuta crocuta photo © Bernard Dupont BY 2.0, via Attribution-Share Alike The spotted hyena and its...
Bridging the chasm between rockrubbers and rockhoppers?
Have rock hyraxes been shaped by a capricious Creator, or just recreational killing by baboons? Consider the pros and cons of being a rock-dwelling mammal. One pro is that...
Confounded kiwi caprices
Note to readers: Biological Expositions is a series of blog-posts each of which is equivalent in content to a book chapter. If bio-bullets are likened to a starter, blog-posts...
The first triangular mutualism: plant – ant – butterfly
A triad of reciprocity may bring out the best in social insects, lycaenids and legumes. In Australia there are many types of plants dispersed and sown by ants. The seeds of these...
The hypertail and the infratail: axes from the sublime to the ridiculous?
Note to readers: Biological Expositions is a series of blog-posts each of which is equivalent in content to a book chapter. If bio-bullets are likened to a starter, blog-posts...
Weeds that swim for fishes that don’t
Far out to sea there float patches of ‘seaweeds’ called sargassum – forms of macroalgae that possess floating bladders. Although sargassum is particularly associated with the...
Odours and attitude – a comparison of how two toughs get going
The honey badger embodies the drama of big game country, whereas the wolverine is a concentrate of Siberian emptiness. The honey badger and the wolverine are mustelids with...
The lion in a new spotlight
Note to readers: Biological Expositions is a series of blog-posts each of which is equivalent in content to a book chapter. If bio-bullets are likened to a starter, blog-posts...
Yours Cuprically
Some enzymes have bluer blood than others and this antioxidant is more electric than most. Robin: Welcome to you, Copper, in our interview series here at Exploring the Bio-edge....
Arboreal reflections of amphibian eyes
Frog eyes © Pdunant The bulging eyes of water and tree frogs differ more than they look. Prof. Mumblebard claims: “Semi-aquatic frogs have dorsally protuberant eyes placed above...
I am Casuarina
These woodheads would rather burn at the stake than be called pines or oaks. Robin: Welcome, Casuarina, to our interview series here at Exploring the Bio-edge. In our series we...
The giant panda as a sinister signboard
Giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) © Gzen92 A black and white warning of dangerous teeth. Prof. Mumblebard claims: “The black-and-white pattern of the giant panda was first ...
The dagger looks of golden toads
Golden frog (Incilius periglenes) photo by Dr Marty Crump Black eyes can be poisonous exclamations in orange frogs. Prof. Mumblebard claims: “Most species of frogs have prominent...
Frogs’ tails hiding in plain sight
Ascaphus montanus photo © GlacierNPS via Wikipedia Commons De-tailed amphibians conceal a hiptail of unknown potential. Prof. Mumblebard claims: “Frogs are consistently tailless...
Frogs are more dexterous than lizards
Agalychnis annae photo © Charles J. Sharp Primitive amphibians can be surprisingly handy. Prof. Mumblebard claims: “Frogs remain at a lower evolutionary level than lizards....
Happy festering in the lives of tadpoles
Frogs grow on soup, not vegetables. Prof. Mumblebard claims: “The free-swimming larvae of most frogs[1] worldwide are herbivorous. Whereas the adults eat animals[2], the...
Why no southern salamanders?
Featured image: Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) by Camazine at English Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0) Urodeles have a continental form. Prof. Mumblebard claims: "Salamanders...