What We’re Reading- May 19, 2017

Genetic Diversity of Snow Leopards Snow leopards (Panthera uncia) are endemic to the Altai, Himalaya, and Tibetan uplifts and adapted to high-altitude environments.  They are currently listed as an endangered species by IUCN.  This new paper investigated genetic diversity of snow leopards across their range.  They found that the cats have low genetic diversity in…

What We’re Reading- Jan 13, 2017

Ash Trees Under Attack European ash (Fraxinus excelsior) face dieback across their range due to a fungal pathogen (Hymenoscyphus fraxineus).  Currently, there is no effective treatment for trees with the fungus, including managed removal of trees to prevent spread of the disease.  However, natural variation in resistance to the pathogen is known and could be…

Rewilding: restoring lost species to save ecosystems

At first they were just shadows, dark impressions glimpsed through the mist. Is that really…? Could it be…? As we moved a little closer one of them turned to the east, to face the rising sun. His profile was unmistakable, the curved horns and humped shoulders proclaiming “bison”! And not just any bison, but free-ranging European bison, grazing…

What We’re Reading: Nov 20, 2015

When Do Dingos Stop Being Dingos? Oh the messy, messy history of the dog family. Adding a new layer of complexity into the overarching story of recent divergence and anthropogenic backcrossing comes a tale from Australia’s dingos (Canis lupus dingo). A new paper (sub) measured the proportion of domestic dog in dingos across the continent….

Evolution of Fashion: Cat Spots

With the recent posts about the beautiful spotted patterns that make up fashion prints inspired by leopards, jaguars, and cheetahs, it would be easy to think that all of the cats (Felidae) have coat patterns. However, as soon as you think of lions and pumas, you realize that some cats are not spotted but have…

Spotting Cheetah Prints on the Savannah and the Runway

Cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) are known for three things: their speed, their spots, and (unfortunately) that they are endangered.  The cheetah has a distinctive light tan coat (although the underbelly is lighter) with solid black spots.  It is the solid black spots that distinguish the cheetah from most other cat coats where rosettes are more prevalent. …

Whose Spots are You Wearing? Species Identifications of Animal Prints

I have a pet peeve. About a year ago, I was scrolling through Pinterest and came across a Diane Von Furstenburg pin of a print used in her collection. The print resembled a clouded leopard, but when I clicked on the photo, it took me to a snow leopard photo, with natural history and conservation…