Species of the week
Species of the Week: the Naked Mole Rat (Heterocephalus glaber)
Lauren is a recent graduate in microbiology and has interned at the Society of Biology. She is interested in a career in science communication and writes for her own blog, Science Says as well as for the Student Hubs blog. Contrary to its name, the Naked Mole Rat (Heterocephalus glaber) is neither a mole nor … Continue reading
Species of the Week: It’s not a twig, but an Archimantis Latistyla
Sara Dawkins is an active nanny as well as an active freelance writer. There are a variety of mantid subspecies currently residing on the planet Earth. While some may have a frog-like look to them, others blend into their background increasing their efficiency for hunting. Archimantis latistyla is one such mantis that is plentiful in … Continue reading
Species Of The Week: The Dog (Canis lupus familiaris)
Guest Post by Marcela De Vivo, a freelance writer from Southern California whose writing specialises in health, technology, travel and marketing. You can follow her on Facebook and Twitter. They’ve been by our side for the better part of the past 33,000 years—that’s right, new research shows that dogs were most likely first domesticated way … Continue reading
Species of the week: celebrating the original Pacman
By Jenni Lacey, Marketing Assistant at the Society of Biology Ornate horned frogs (Ceratophrys ornata) are affectionately known as the Pacman frog due to their characteristic wide mouth and large rotund stomach. They are sedentary amphibians and notorious for their gluttonous eating habits. Their behaviour echoes the 80’s arcade game they take this nick-name from: … Continue reading
Weird and wonderful species adapted to their hostile habitats
By Amy Whetstone, Qualifications and Skills Officer at the Society of Biology The yeti crab and axolotl are two bizarre but brilliant species that are rarely in the limelight, but I believe deserve to be. So broaden your animal lexicon and spread the word about these peculiar aquatic species, who have adapted to cope in … Continue reading
Species of the week- The Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita)
Lauren is a recent graduate in microbiology interning at the Society of Biology until June 2013. She is interested in a career in science communication and writes for her own blog, Science Says as well as for the Student Hubs blog. The long-awaited spring is finally here. And what better to bring with it than … Continue reading
Species of the week: the parasitic barnacle Sacculina
Krystal Deutsch describes a parasite which chemically castrates its host Sacculina is a parasitic barnacle that depends on crabs for its growth and reproduction. A female Sacculina larva finds a crab, sheds its hard outer layer and injects her soft inner body through a joint in the crab’s shell, entering the crustacean’s body and using … Continue reading
Species of the week: Bottlenose dolphin
by Pippy Downs, a Year 11 work experience pupil from The Folkestone School for Girls Bottlenose dolphins are well known for being able to perform complex tricks. They have a friendly, permanent smile from their curved bottle like noses. Most people call them ‘dolphins’ however the scientific family name for dolphins is Delphinidae. They are … Continue reading
Species of the week: The Scottish wildcat
By Amy Whetstone, Qualifications and Skills Officer at the Society of Biology. The Scottish wildcat, Felis silvestris grampia, is an iconic species with a long history of roaming the British landscape. The Highland tiger, as the wildcat is otherwise affectionately known, previously ranged across the whole of mainland Britain but is now restricted to the … Continue reading
Species of the week: the swallowtail
The swallowtail (Papilio machaon), a beautiful species confined in the UK to a small area of East Anglia, is perhaps Britain’s most cherished butterfly. The subspecies Papilio machaon britannicus is unique to the UK, found only in the fens and marshes of the Norfolk Broads. Although its range is restricted, populations of the swallowtail remain stable. … Continue reading