Animals

Experts estimate that the body length of these tiny amphibians is only 7.1 millimetres. Until now, the scientific community believed that the smallest dimensions among amphibians have the smallest dimensions among amphibians inhabiting New Guinea narrow-mouths belonging to the species Paedophryne amauensis – 7.7 millimetres long.

It is noted that the new candidate for the place of the smallest amphibian was presented by specialists from the University of California State University in Santa Cruz. The description of this species, made back in 2011, indicated that its length can reach 8.2 millimetres, but it was not known whether there is a difference in size between females and males.

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Past experiments by Kruk and other researchers have demonstrated the ability of cephalopods to produce a reflexive response to stimuli by learning not to make contact with them. The fresh experiment went further. After training in a 3-chamber box, clams that had been injected with acetic acid in their tentacle no longer swam into the chamber in which it happened. And those injected with normal saline did not produce a similar reaction.

Next, the cephalopods who received the painful injection were injected with an anaesthetic, and they subsequently preferred to stay in the chamber in which they felt rapid pain relief. Those who received a saline injection showed no interest in the “painkiller” chamber.

In addition, as Crook found out, cephalopod mollusks are capable of distinguishing different types of pain in different places of their own body. The specialist recorded a prolonged peripheral response on the way to the clam’s brain, in all likelihood reflecting the intensity of pain from acetic acid injections.

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In 1972, a humpback whale nicknamed Festus was first spotted off the coast of southeastern Alaska. It is noted that it returned there every summer for 44 years, feeding in the cold, nutrient-rich waters of the North Pacific before returning to Hawaii to mate in the winter. In June 2016, the whale was found dead near Glacier Bay National Park. The cause of its death was cited as starvation due to the strongest sea heat wave in recorded history.

A new study presented at the Royal Society Open Science says the region’s humpback whale population declined by 20 per cent between 2013 and 2021 as warmer waters fundamentally changed the ecosystem. According to experts from Australia’s Sutherne Cross University, the heat wave from 2014-2016 significantly reduced ocean productivity, critically undermining the humpback whale population.

Data from the scientists show that the whale population peaked at 33,500 whales in the North Pacific in 2012, with an average increase of 6 per cent between 2002 and 2013. The maximum sea temperature recorded from 2014 to 2016 was 3-6 °C above average, nutrients in the region decreased, which cascaded throughout the ecosystem and affected all its inhabitants.

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A Colorado resident in the US died a few days later after being bitten by his pet, an Arizona jadefish (Heloderma suspectum). At the same time so far the direct fault of the lizard in the death of its owner has not been established.

The publication pointed out that the bites of these reptiles are usually very painful and can provoke nausea and weakness, but do not have any long-term consequences for health. The last fatal bite of a venomous reptile was supposedly described almost a century ago.

It is noted that at home, a 34-year-old American man kept two specimens of venomous beetles, thus violating the laws of the state of Colorado.

The girlfriend of the deceased claims that some time after he was bitten by a dangerous pet, the man began to experience nausea, as well as breathing difficulties. He was urgently hospitalised and hooked up to a life support machine, but the doctors’ efforts did not help, and after just 4 days the victim was gone.

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According to E. Zazueta, a year ago his reserve proposed to relocate 74 individuals to India, Peru and Mexico, but the Colombian authorities did not allow it. As a result, the hippos now breed in the wild and pose a threat to the Colombian ecological system. There are now about 170 of them.

According to Zazueta, he has the opportunity to transport the hippos, but the government is still considering the application. According to the zoologist, a year is an impressive time frame. Although some individuals have been sterilised, it is not enough to solve the problem. The hippos are multiplying rapidly and destroying the ecosystem.

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