Butterflies evolved 100 million years ago in North America
15 May 2023
Many researchers thought butterflies first evolved in Asia, but a global genetic analysis suggests they arose in North America, well before the non-avian dinosaurs went extinct
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Premium
Ants independently evolved to farm fungus at least twice
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Fungus farming by ants has evolved independently in populations separated by the Atlantic Ocean – the latest example was observed in cocktail ants in Cameroon, which cultivate fungus to build their nests
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Male bee hummingbirds evolved to be much smaller than females, possibly because their diminutive size allows them to make faster and more elaborate courtship flights
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The vast array of shapes that fungi can take, including colourful mushroom caps and tangles of thread-like moulds, evolved in two big bursts hundreds of millions of years ago
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Ostrich necks act as a radiator to control their head temperature
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Infrared images of ostrich necks show that they help the birds keep their heads cool in warm temperatures, lowering their heat stress and helping them reproduce more successfully
