Latest news with #GovernmentDiakkawnHighSchool
Miami Herald
25-04-2025
- Science
- Miami Herald
Watch rare sea creatures appear off Thailand and four other animal encounters
The summaries below were drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All linked stories were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists. Unique creatures, odd animals and new species are discovered across the planet. Some are found lurking in remote corners of the world, while others have been hiding right under our noses. Learn more about some recent discoveries: Venomous creature — armed with neurotoxin — found in Oman for first time. See it In the rocky terrain of the Arabian peninsula, researchers have discovered the black desert cobra, Walterinnesia aegyptia, in Oman for the first time. This venomous snake, previously thought to be confined to Saudi Arabia, was found in the Dhofar region, raising questions about its dispersal routes. | Published April 18 | Read More | Whale seen 'singing his heart out' in Caribbean, underwater footage shows A male humpback whale was observed 'singing his heart out' off the coast of the Turks and Caicos Islands in the Caribbean Sea. This enchanting performance, captured by divers, is believed to be part of the whale's mating behavior. The whale, identified as TCI-847, was also seen engaging in a courtship ritual earlier that day. | Published April 22 | Read More | Odd-colored critter found at high school in India turns out to be 'rare' sight In eastern India, at Government Diakkawn High School, researchers spotted a leucistic hoary-bellied Himalayan squirrel, a rare sight due to its almost complete loss of pigmentation. This unique squirrel, with its bright white coloring, was observed in Mizoram, contributing to the understanding of color aberrations in small mammals. | Published April 22 | Read More | Elusive 'praying' females seen for first time 150 years after species' discovery In the tree canopies of French Guiana, citizen scientists have finally observed female Microphotina viridescens, a praying mantis species, for the first time since its discovery 150 years ago. These females were found in Trésor Regional Nature Reserve, offering new insights into their behavior and ecology. | Published April 24 | Read More | Rarely seen sea creatures spotted swimming and foraging off Thailand, video shows A pair of Bryde's whales were recently seen off the coast of Thailand in Mu Ko Chumphon National Park, showcasing the health of the marine ecosystem. These sightings, captured on video, highlight the presence of this vulnerable species in the Gulf of Thailand. The Thai government lists Bryde's whales as protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. | Published April 24 | Read More | McClatchy News continues to follow the discovery and sightings of the most unusual and intriguing species. Check back for the latest stories.
Miami Herald
22-04-2025
- Science
- Miami Herald
Odd-colored critter found at high school in India turns out to be ‘rare' sight
Outside a high school in eastern India, an odd-colored creature climbed around the trees and went about its day. Its unique appearance caught the attention of locals and, eventually, scientists — for good reason. It turned out to be 'relatively rare' and a first-of-its-kind sight for the area. Researchers visited Government Diakkawn High School in the state of Mizoram in late 2022 after locals reported seeing two 'Thehlei-vâr,' or 'white squirrels,' on the school grounds, according to a March 21 study in the peer-reviewed journal Records of the Zoological Survey of India. Sure enough, researchers spotted a group of squirrels eating fruit in the trees. Most of the squirrels had a dark brown coloring but one was bright white, the study said. Researchers identified the unusual animal as a hoary-bellied Himalayan squirrel with leucism. Leucism occurs when an animal has 'almost complete loss of pigmentation' but still keeps its 'normal eye, nail, and skin colouration,' the study said. Leucism is sometimes confused with albinism, but the two conditions differ in eye color since albino animals have pink or red eyes. Photos show the leucistic hoary-bellied Himalayan squirrel, which has a 'complete white colouration' and 'pinkish hue visible on the snout, ears, and feet.' Normally, hoary-bellied Himalayan squirrels, also known as Callosciurus pygerythrus or Irrawaddy squirrels, are brown with a paler belly and paler patches on their hips, the study said. Another photo shows what the species' usually looks like. 'The occurrence of leucism in small mammals is considered relatively rare,' researchers said. 'This observation contributes significantly to the body of knowledge on colour aberrations in (squirrels), particularly within a region where such phenomena have not been documented before.' Researchers observed the white squirrel over several months in 2022 and 2024, the study said. They concluded it was a female and, later on, noticed it 'could be lactating, indicating reproductive activity.' Study co-author Christopher Lawlor told McClatchy News in an April 21 email that the team is still looking for the second leucistic squirrel reported by locals. A video shared on YouTube by SSA shagun in 2020 shows Government Diakkawn High School in Mizoram, one of the easternmost states in India bordering Bangladesh and Myanmar. The research team included Lawlor, H. Lalthanzara and Lalrintluanga Hnamte.
