Tasmanian Devil

Research has revealed the skulls of baby Tasmanian tigers have more in common with wolf pups than other Australian marsupials.

Often considered the world's oddest mammal, Australia's beaver-like, duck-billed platypus exhibits an array of bizarre characteristics: it lays eggs instead of giving birth to live babies, sweats milk, has venomous spurs and is even equipped with 10 sex chromosomes. Now, an international team of researchers led by University of Copenhagen has conducted a unique mapping of the platypus genome and found answers…

The platypus may hold the key to understanding mammalian evolution, according to a new study.

After researchers reported in October that the platypus, along with its other unique characteristics, glowed a psychedelic blue-green under black light, 'others have begun their own investigations, mostly in Australian mammals,' The New York Times reports. 'Although results are preliminary, the findings suggest we may have to book a larger venue for the mammal rave.' At the Western Australian Museum, curator of…

The discovery that bilbies, bandicoots, Tasmanian devils and echidnas emit bio-fluorescence under UV light has sparked the burning question. Why?

Ten years ago, there were fears that an infectious facial cancer transmitted by biting would drive the devil to extinction. But new genetic analysis shows they are evolving to live with the disease.

A new study out Thursday suggests that Tasmanian devils are starting to adapt to one of the strangest diseases known in nature: a contagious cancer spread by biting. The study has found evidence that the disease is spreading more slowly and becoming endemic in the devil population, rather than the...

Amid the COVID-19 crisis, a study released this week has some good news about a wildlife pandemic, which may help scientists better understand how emerging diseases evolve.

The Tasmanian Devil has flattened the curve of the spread of the transmissible cancer that has threatened it with extinction, with new evidence suggesting that due to the animal's rapid evolution it is now likely to survive the disease.

Ten years ago, we feared Tasmanian devils would be wiped out by a bizarre infectious facial cancer transmitted by biting. But new genetic analysis shows they are evolving to live with the disease.

- By The University of Sydney - Estimates some 3 billion animals were killed or misplaced by the 2019-20 mega-fires in Australia have been confirmed - with a breakdown by animal type for the first...

Smithsonian Associates Streaming continues through December with individual programs, multi-part courses, studio arts classes and virtual study tours produced by the world's largest museum-based educational program.

A human gene injected into monkey brains not only made them larger, but it increased neuron function, making the animals more human.

Once you step off the treadmill, it's time to reconnect with your better, calmer self and with the restorative power of nature.

Grandma finds hilarious X-rated detail on Myer bag

SCI COMMUN### Paleontology An unusually complete Tyrannosaurus rex fossil was sold last week for a record-breaking $31.8 million at an auction, dismaying many paleontologists. They worry such sales will encourage more private trade of fossils, leaving important specimens off-limits to researchers. The auctioned fossil, officially called BHI 3033, is popularly known as Stan, after its discoverer, amateur…

Restoring devils to mainland ecosystems could also help other threatened species.

Eleven Tasmanian devils have been reintroduced to mainland Australia, more than 3,000 years after they died out there.

Près de trente diables de Tasmanie ont été transférés vers un sanctuaire situé au nord de Sydney en Australie. La première étape d'un vaste...

Ces marsupiaux font l'objet d'un ambitieux programme de protection visant à créer une population préservée, le diable étant menacé sur l'île de Tasmanie par une grave forme de cancer contagieux.