Why would a usually calm marine creature suddenly turn aggressive? In a rare and alarming event off South Australia’s Yorke Peninsula, a ray attacked a snorkeller—raising serious questions about what’s going on beneath the waves. With marine animals dying in droves and odd behaviors emerging, scientists now believe toxic algal blooms might be the hidden … Read more
Study author, Maëlan Tomasek, with a “volunteer” in the experiment conducted in the Mediterranean Sea. Credit: Maëlan Tomasek European researchers have made the startling claim that fish can recognise individual divers. In a peer reviewed paper published today in Biology Letters, the research team from the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior (MPI-AB) in Germany … Read more
Scientists have named a new fish species for the character San (also called Princess Mononoke) in the animated movie Princess Mononoke, thanks to their similarly painted cheeks. Image via Pensoft/ Fish: Branchiostegus sanae. Huang et al (CC-BY 4.0). San: “Princess Mononoke” (1997)/ Hayao Miyazaki/ Studio Ghibli. New fish species named for animated character On February … Read more