10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 17, 2015

The potpourri covers some interesting bird related science of the last few weeks, and the promise is this: I’ll get to that other stuff soon, I promise! If this was America, we might not be concerned because starlings are an invasive species, at least in North America. Since then the deaths haven’t stopped.

Science 151

Science Iraq Research Birds 151

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 19, 2014

There is a fantastic paper just out in Science : “Sustained miniaturization and anatomoical innovation in the dinosaurian anceestors of birds” by Michael Lee, Andrea Cau, Darren Naishe and Gareth Dyke. So, for example, humans are apes. and contains apes is referenced to indicate the complete clade. Whales are cows.

Camels 196

Camels Whales Whaling Apes 196

10,000 Birds

JUNE 11, 2013

However recent research has shown that they are in fact not baboons, despite superficial appearances, and they are now just called “Gelada”. Their scientific name is Theropithecus gelada, the former word meaning “beast-ape” in Greek. For those who have heard of these singular creatures, the name Gelada Baboon would ring a bell.

Ethiopia 159

Ethiopia Primates Mammals Fur 159

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 18, 2011

But it is utterly bewildering to me to see news reports about this recent science that read “… An icon knocked from its perch&# or “Archaeopteryx no longer first bird.&# The trait must then be identifiable as to whether or not it exists in a certain species. What evolved into what?

Mammals 240

Mammals Europe Groups Family 240