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The article focuses on research into the evolution of the dog using genetic sequencing of primitive dog breeds, gray wolf variants, and the golden jackal. It states researchers sequenced the genomes of the dingo and basenji, the golden jackal, and three regional wolf variants and compared the genomes to a more recent boxer breed. It reports the analysis overturned the hypothesis that the modern gray wolf was the ancestor of the dog and mentions gene flow from interbreeding after they diverged.

The article focuses on Carnivorous bats, known collectively as false vampire bats, found from southern Mexico to Bolivia and Brazil. It mentions the mysteries of rare flesh-eating bats that are found hanging in an ancient Maya temple in Mexico. It states that biologist Rodrigo Medellin along with researcher Ivar Vleut have been collecting data to know about the bats' preferred habitat for hunting.

The article discusses the capability of animals to teach their offspring based on the observation by primatologist Lisa Rapaport on a monkey in Brazil and the thoughts of other researchers. Particular focus is given to the understanding of scientists that teaching is a behavior that evolved and that it has a biological past and the notion that the definition of what constitutes teaching in animals has also evolved.

The article focuses on the cognitive processes of animals. Attention is paid to scientist Irene Pepperberg's study of an African Gray Parrot and the notion that animals can think. Signs of higher order mental abilities are mentioned, including good memory, understanding grammar and symbols, self-awareness, and creativity, which have been documented in animals. Attention is paid to behavioral ecologist Alex Kacelnik, researcher Nicky Clayton, and deceptive behavior in animals.

The article discusses the efforts of researchers Lou Herman and Adam Pack studying the reproductive behavior of humpback whales in the Hawaiian Islands. Pack and Herman both work at the Dolphin Institute located in Honolulu, where they study whale and dolphin behavior. In order to attract a female, males will fight each other and breach in order to demonstrate their prowess. Scientists have never before observed humpback whales mating. Herman believes that females choose their partners. The research into the criteria that females use to make their selections is discussed. INSETS: Blood in the Water;Songs From the Deep.

Focuses on the endangered species of African wild dogs. Physical appearance; Tight familial bonds; Size; Extermination as the reason for the decrease in the number of species; Habitat; Study population in Zimbabwe and Tanzania; Prey-hunting behavior; Reproductive behavior.

The article discusses a study on the cooperative skills of Asian elephants in Thailand. The researchers modified a classic experiment administered to chimpanzees in the 1930s, which requires two animals work together to earn a treat. KarenMcComb, a behavioral ecologist at the University of Sussex in Great Britain, claims that the findings are consistent with observations in Africa where elephants work together to lift a fallen companion with their tusks. Other animals that show cognitive abilities include chimpanzees, hyenas and rooks.

The article discusses the avian world's pink-feathered icons form long-lasting, loyal friendships, scientists recently discovered, the flamingo bonds vary, from mated couples that build nests and raise chicks each year to same-sex friends or groups of three to six close buddies.

The article discusses research by David Ainley and colleagues on why penguins fear the dark. Previous researchers attribute the penguin's apprehension after dark to its poor nighttime visual acuity. However, the researchers discovered that penguins have good nighttime eyesight, but prefer to be out of the water at night to avoid being eaten by leopard seals or killer whales.

The article discusses a study conducted at New York University School of Medicine which examined the role of oxytocin, a hormone linked to trust and maternal bonding, in fostering maternal behavior in mice. Topics covered include the response of female mice to the distress calls of baby mice, the discovery of oxytocin receptors and oxytocin producing neurons in both sides of the brain's auditory cortex, and the importance of left auditory cortex in the retrieval behavior of maternal mice.

The article offers an explanation on how Yellowstone National Park was and was not changed by wolves. In 1995 biologists at Yellowstone set radio collars on six wolves and observed them. As of March 2015, there are a total of 95 wolves in 11 packs, hunting elk, deer and bison. It notes that scientists are cautious on attributing the changes in the park solely to the wolves.

The article discusses a study by behavioral ecologist Isaac Planas-Sitjá and colleagues, published online in the "Proceedings of the Royal Society B" that investigated the presence of personalities among cockroaches. Topics include the tracking method and controlled environments used, the display of shy and bold personalities by cockroaches, and the collective dynamic and group conformity among such insects.

The article discusses a study on the sonar interference exhibited by the Mexican free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis) to avoid food competition. Biologist Aaron Corcoran and William Conner from Wake Forest University in North Carolina discovered the animals produced a jamming call that obstructed the signals causing confusion to other bats. An overview of the project reported online in the journal Science is also presented.

The article reports on a study on the behavior of female ants and the reason why they fight for foreign sperms that was published in the journal "Proceedings of the Royal Society B" in 2014. It discusses a series of controlled experiments performed by the scientists to conclude that male ants do not realize that they made a wrong choice of mating with the wrong queen until they start to copulate and a mad mating season among ants that happens once a year after the summer monsoon rains.

The article discusses a study by disease ecologist Vanessa Ezenwa which showed a complete cyclical picture where behavior modified an animal's risk of acquiring a parasite and how the infection in turn modified the animal's behavior.

The article discusses a portrayal of dogs and wolves developed by giving a series of tests to socialized packs of mixed-breed dogs and wolves. Topics discussed include the testing of the dogs' and wolves' tolerance for their fellow pack members with a mealtime challenge, the suspected hierarchical relationship between dogs and humans with humans as top dogs and the breeding of dogs by ancestors for obedience and dependency.

The article reports on a finding as of August 2014 that horses convey information amongst themselves through their eye and ear positioning. Topics discussed include a scientific study that tested horses' reactions when confronted with a photograph of a horse's head, and the cues that they took when the head's eyes and ears were visible. Also mentioned is the possible exchanging of social signals by creatures with face shapes different from humans.

The article discusses a study led by evolutionary biologist Tom Flower which examined how drongos switch fake calls to steal food. Topics discussed include the ability of drongos to mimic the alarm calls of other species, their ability to switch to another species' warning cry when one false alarm no longer works, and on how other animals benefit from the deceptiveness of drongos.

The article announces the discovery of a herd of mule deer making an epic migration in Wyoming. A team led by Hall Sawyer, a researcher biologist with Western Ecosystems Technology Inc., has tracked the migration by equipping 40 deer with global positioning system (GPS) collars. As part of the study, Sawyer and photographer Joe Riis documented the mule deer's annual journey and the obstacles they face as they travel thousand years old path through modern America.

The article offers information on a study on the ability of dolphins to remember. It references the research published online in the "Proceedings of the Royal Society B." It notes that the dolphins' memories span at least 20 years. Dolphins have also signature whistles which they can use to stay in touch. They also have the ability to learn and repeat the whistles of other dolphins.

The article discusses a new study which shows that dogs are capable of copying a person's behavior as long as 10 minutes after it has happened. It cites Philip, a 4-year old Belgian Tervuren working with behavioral ethologist Jozsef Topal who was already a trained assistant dog for his disabled owner and readily followed Topal's commands. Dog owners and trainers are advised to think of useful actions for dogs to copy like fetching the mail from the mailbox or carrying a tool to the garden.

The article discusses a study by Rachael Shaw and Nicola Clayton which examined whether Eurasian jays were equally sensitive to the noise they made while concealing their food. The researchers tested eight of the captive birds and provided them with peanuts and two trays for caching. They found that the Eurasian jays preferred the quiet sand for stashing their nuts, especially when another bird could hear them but even when they were alone.

The article discusses research published in "Applied Animal Behavior Science" which investigated children's understanding of dog barks. Results revealed that only adults and 8 to 10-year-old children recognized lonely dog barks. Meanwhile, only adults and 10-year-old children recognized playful barks. Scientists recommend that when encountering strange dogs, children should listen to the barks and ignore the dogs' facial expressions.

The article reports on a study on the genetic diversity of forest and savanna elephants in Africa conducted by an international team of scientists. They assert that African elephant conservation will benefit from dividing the elephants into two species. The study involved large amounts of nuclear deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequences from one individual of each of the three existing groups. Conservation geneticist Alfred Roca notes that the genetic differences reflect the social behaviors of the animals.

The article discusses the results of a study conducted by Péter Pongrácz, an ethologist at Eötvös Loránd University in Hungary, and colleagues about a dog's growl. In the study, scientists tested the responses of dogs from each other's growls using their images projected onto a screen. It was revealed that dogs use a specific growl when guarding a tasty bone and that they can tell another canine's size simply by listening to its growl.

The article focuses on the results of a study about the long-term effects of capturing and handling grizzly and American black bears. It found that the activity could cause muscle sores or injuries for bears due to stress and exertions as they try to escape. It likewise shows that bears captured several times lose body fat or gain abnormal fats, thus experiencing negative consequences on growth and reproduction.

The article discusses the findings of a study headed by primatologist Frans de Waal on the communication of chimpanzees and bonobos. Research data revealed that nearly 79 percent of 375 communicative signals produced by the studied bonobos were hand gestures, while 56 percent hand gestures were tallied for the chimpanzees. The findings suggests that human language evolved from gesturing , rather than from vocal calls.

The article reports on bill-twining that looks remarkably like kissing, is rooks' chosen way to ease their tempers, according to experimental psychologist Amanda Seed. Rooks quarrel with neighbors over a contested stick or a bit of food and after such fights, the antagonist flew to their mates. The pairs shared bits of foods and twined their bills showing that they are trying to manage stress caused by conflicts in their societies.