National Geographic News: Animalshttp://news.nationalgeographic.com/en-usSat, 07 Mar 2015 09:03:28 -0400Why Do Butterflies Have Such Vibrant Colors and Patterns?http://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2015/03/150307-butterflies-caterpillars-colors-predators-prey-animals-science/Whether shiny gold or iridescent blue, colors help butterflies camouflage and communicate.Liz LangleySat, 07 Mar 2015 09:03:28 -0400Quokka Selfies: What's the Deal With That Cute Australian Critter?http://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2015/03/150306-quokkas-selfies-animals-science-photography-australia/The smiling marsupial, a favorite selfie subject for tourists on West Australia's Rottnest Island, is facing serious threats that aren't quite so funny.Jennifer S. HollandFri, 06 Mar 2015 13:22:15 -0400'Extinct' Bird Rediscovered in Myanmar, Surprising Scientistshttp://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2015/03/150305-birds-extinct-rediscovered-myanmar-burma-animals-science/The Myanmar Jerdon's babbler was thought to have gone the way of the dodo—until scientists stumbled across it during a 2014 expedition.Christine Dell'AmoreThu, 05 Mar 2015 18:29:54 -0400Watch: Ice Fishermen Pull Up Live Birdhttp://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2015/03/150305-duck-ice-fishing-video-pennsylvania-merganser-birds/Watch fishermen in Pennsylvania catch a red-breasted merganser.Brian Clark HowardThu, 05 Mar 2015 17:45:17 -0400Ringling Bros. to Retire Its Circus Elephants http://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2015/03/150305-ringling-bros-retires-asian-elephants-barnum-bailey/Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey has long been under fire for its treatment of elephants.Jason BittelThu, 05 Mar 2015 14:08:46 -0400Why Do Killer Whales Undergo Menopause?http://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2015/03/150305-killer-whale-menopause-ocean-animals-science/Female killer whales that live long past their "childbearing" days may be wise matriarchs that help their groups survive, a new study claims.Jane J. LeeThu, 05 Mar 2015 12:01:02 -0400Yaks May Be Climbing Higher Due to Climate Changehttp://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2015/03/150304-yaks-tibet-climate-change-science-animals-global-warming/A lack of snow on the Tibetan Plateau is pushing thirsty yak females into steeper habitat, a new study says.Jason BittelWed, 04 Mar 2015 12:01:43 -0400Did Dog-Human Alliance Drive Out the Neanderthals?http://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2015/03/150304-neanderthal-shipman-predmosti-wolf-dog-lionfish-jagger-pogo-ngbooktalk/With the help of wolf dogs, early humans out-hunted—and outlasted—Neanderthals.Simon WorrallWed, 04 Mar 2015 09:55:32 -0400Weasel Rides Woodpecker in Viral Photo—But Is It Real?http://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2015/03/150303-weasels-woodpeckers-animals-science-weaselpecker-photos/A once-in-a-lifetime photo shows what happens when a weasel attacks a woodpecker—and gets more than it bargained for.Jason BittelTue, 03 Mar 2015 17:29:28 -0400Wild Panda Population Up Dramatically in China, Government Sayshttp://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2015/03/150302-giant-pandas-animals-science-conservation-china/The new numbers may reflect better and broader surveying techniques as much as a true boost in population, expert cautions.Jennifer S. HollandTue, 03 Mar 2015 10:53:01 -0400Chilean Birdman Leads Efforts to Save Seabird in World's Driest Deserthttp://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2015/02/150228-rottmann-peruvian-tern-raptors-mejillones-humboldt-current-atacama/This little guy symbolizes protection of nature and resilience in the harshest of conditions, says naturalist.Katarzyna NowakSat, 28 Feb 2015 14:11:12 -0400Why Are Elephants and Other Animals So Wrinkly?http://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2015/02/150228-wrinkles-dogs-animals-elephants-science-genetics/Loose skin helps African elephants keep cool and naked mole rats burrow underground, for starters.Liz LangleySat, 28 Feb 2015 09:00:39 -0400Corpse Bride: Lizard Necrophilia Reported in Brazilhttp://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2015/02/150227-necrophilia-lizards-animals-mating-sex-science-brazil/A recent report of a male black-and-white tegus attempting to mate with a dead female in Brazil raises the question: Why are some animals necrophiliacs?Agata Blaszczak-BoxeFri, 27 Feb 2015 14:38:05 -0400Many Animals—Including Your Dog—May Have Horrible Short-Term Memorieshttp://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2015/02/150226-dogs-memories-animals-chimpanzees-science-mind-psychology/Human ability to remember past events is unique, according to a new study of animals' limited short-term memories.James OwenThu, 26 Feb 2015 10:50:08 -0400Deadly Frog Fungus Pops Up in Madagascar, an Amphibian Wonderlandhttp://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2015/02/150226-chytrid-fungus-frogs-madagascar-animals-science/Chytrid fungus, responsible for amphibian declines and extinctions around the world, is now confirmed in Madagascar.Jane J. LeeThu, 26 Feb 2015 09:14:39 -0400Longer Eyelashes May Be Sexier, But Not Always Betterhttp://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2015/02/150224-eyelashes-dust-filter-eyes-animals-science/Experiments find a perfect length for protecting the eye and show that many animals have hit upon this "golden ratio."Traci WatsonTue, 24 Feb 2015 19:04:25 -0400Rats Remember Who's Nice to Them—and Return the Favorhttp://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2015/02/150224-rats-helping-social-behavior-science-animals-cooperation/The more a rat helps another, the more it'll receive in return, a new study says-the first such discovery in nonhumans.Ralph MartinsTue, 24 Feb 2015 19:01:58 -0400600,000 Baby Salmon Head to the Pacific, With a Little Help http://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2015/02/150224-sacramento-river-chinook-salmon-release-environment/As California's drought endangers Chinook salmon, fisheries officials release 600,000 baby salmon into the Sacramento River, triple the usual number, in hopes that many return to spawn.Cynthia GorneyTue, 24 Feb 2015 15:51:39 -0400Watch: Stealthy Octopus Leaps From Water and Attacks Crabhttp://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2015/02/150224-octopus-predators-prey-crabs-attacks-animals-science/A YouTube user in Australia captured video of an octopus ambushing a crab-"sheer aggressiveness" that surprised even a senior scientist.Stefan SirucekTue, 24 Feb 2015 14:00:02 -0400The Sex Lives of Slugs—and Other Mysteries of the Animal Kingdomhttp://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2015/02/150222-book-talk-barnes-darwin-slugs-wilson-hunting-wasps-world-land-trust/People are not separate from the rest of the animal kingdom, author says.Simon WorrallSun, 22 Feb 2015 08:02:58 -0400How Did Long-Necked Dinosaurs Drink Without Getting Dizzy?http://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2015/02/150221-dinosaurs-drinking-animals-science-anatomy-paleontology-giraffes/The giraffe's amazing ability to regulate its blood flow may offer clues to how long-necked dinos could drink without passing out.Liz LangleySat, 21 Feb 2015 08:03:51 -0400Watch: Rare Tiger Family Caught on Video in Chinahttp://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2015/02/150220-tigers-china-russia-endangered-animals-science-video/The video may show that Siberian tigers are rebounding in China, where the subspecies had been hunted nearly to extinction, conservationists say.Stefan SirucekFri, 20 Feb 2015 16:29:57 -0400Modest Mollusk May Sport World's Strongest Materialhttp://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2015/02/150220-strongest-limpets-animals-science-technology-engineering-materials/The limpet's hardy teeth may inspire stronger and lighter race cars and boats, a new study says.Ralph MartinsFri, 20 Feb 2015 09:27:26 -0400Crocodiles Play, Too, Study Says—Why Do Animals Have Fun?http://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2015/02/150219-crocodiles-playing-animals-science-behavior-fun/For the first time, scientists have documented several species of crocodile relatives playing—but scientists still don't know what animals get out of having fun.Carrie ArnoldThu, 19 Feb 2015 13:27:36 -0400Ants Maintain 'Toilets' in Their Nests, First-Ever Study Showshttp://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2015/02/150218-ants-toilets-insects-animals-bathroom-science/Designated bathrooms may keep the colony healthy or feed its young, according to experiments with black garden ants.Jason BittelWed, 18 Feb 2015 16:47:00 -0400