Latest news with #InstituteofEvolutionaryBiology
Gulf Insider
18-04-2025
- Science
- Gulf Insider
Black Cobra Spotted In Oman For The First Time
In a major ecological breakthrough, scientists have confirmed the first recorded presence of the black cobra (Walterinnesia aegyptia) in Dhofar governorate, according to local media reports. The discovery raises the total number of scientifically documented snake species in Oman to 22. The find was made by researchers from the University of Nizwa's Natural and Medical Sciences Research Centre, in collaboration with the Institute of Evolutionary Biology in Spain. The discovery has been officially published in the international journal Zootaxa, and the supporting data uploaded to MorphoBank, a global open-access scientific database. استكمالًا لجهود #هيئة_البيئة في تنفيذ مشروع الزواحف في سلطنة عُمان، تُسجّل الهيئة أول توثيق رسمي لأفعى "الصّل الأسود" في السلطنة،تم التوثيق في محافظة ظفار بالتعاون مع معهد الأحياء التطوري بإسبانيا وجامعة نزوى، ليرتفع عدد الأفاعي المسجّلة إلى 22 نوعًا.… — هيئة البيئة – عُمان (@ea_oman) April 17, 2025 Genetic testing showed a near-identical match between the specimens found in Oman and those previously recorded in Saudi Arabia and Egypt. As a result, scientists have synonymized Walterinnesia morgani with W. aegyptia, resolving a longstanding taxonomic The desert black cobra, a member of the Elapidae family, is known for its glossy, jet-black appearance and highly venomous nature. It is primarily nocturnal, with adults reaching up to 150 cm in length. Juveniles tend to be less defensive compared to other cobra species. Officials from the Omani Environment Authority have praised the discovery as a significant step in the country's biodiversity research. They attributed the success to the efforts of the Snake Survey Team in Dhofar. The confirmed presence of the black cobra underscores Oman's importance as a regional biodiversity hotspot, local media added.
Muscat Daily
16-04-2025
- Science
- Muscat Daily
Black cobra recorded in Oman for first time
Salalah – A team of scientists from the University of Nizwa, in collaboration with the Institute of Evolutionary Biology in Barcelona, has confirmed the first recorded presence of black cobra (Walterinnesia aegyptia) in Dhofar governorate, marking a significant addition to Oman's reptile species list. Led by the Natural and Medical Sciences Research Centre at the University of Nizwa, the study confirms the presence of the desert-dwelling cobra in several areas of Dhofar. With this, the number of scientifically documented snake species in Oman has risen to 22. The findings have been published on 'MorphoBank', an international open-access scientific database, enabling researchers around the world to access the data and build on the research. Genetic analysis conducted during the study showed that the specimens found in Dhofar are nearly identical to those recorded in Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Mitochondrial DNA results demonstrated a strong genetic match, leading to the reclassification of Walterinnesia morgani as a synonym of W. aegyptia, effectively resolving a long-standing taxonomic debate. The black cobra, a highly venomous nocturnal snake from the Elapidae family, is known for its uniform glossy black appearance and lack of patterns. Adults can grow up to 150cm in length. Juveniles of the species tend to exhibit less aggressive defensive behaviour than other cobra species.
The National
21-03-2025
- Science
- The National
Dubai naturalist has gecko named in his honour in recognition of decades of work
A Dubai lawyer who has spent four decades studying plants and animals native to the Emirates has had a species of gecko named after him. Scientists have named it Feulner's semaphore gecko (Pristurus feulneri) after Gary Feulner. The name is a reference to how it communicates using its tail and body. The gecko is commonly found across the Hajar Mountains in the north-east of the UAE and Oman. Mr Feulner, 77, a US citizen who moved to the UAE in the early 1980s, has chaired Dubai Natural History Group since 1995 and published many scientific studies on the country's animals, plants and geology. He said he was 'very much flattered and honoured' to have the gecko named after him. 'It was nice to know that my work was appreciated,' he said. Mr Feulner, who studied geology at top US universities before switching to law, came to the UAE at the end of 1983 and began hiking in the countryside. 'I explored it thoroughly,' he said. 'I was famous for saying, 'If you go places you haven't gone before, you see things you haven't seen before.' No matter how many times you've been out, if you look carefully you always see something that's new or different. "Not necessarily a new animal or plant, but new behaviour, new phenomena. My weekend hiking activities, and early '80s and '90s desert-exploring activities, I've turned those into scientific results by just keeping records of what I see.' Papers Mr Feulner has written cover subjects as diverse as lizards, beetles, butterflies, toads, fish, snails, wadi grass, geology, mountain ecosystems and climate. He has also written on legal issues. He said he was not 'the only semi-amateur person going around doing interesting things' and described the species being named after him as 'a recognition of the contribution of amateur scientists' to the study of the UAE's natural history. Mr Feulner initially lived in Abu Dhabi and, after a spell away, in the 1990s moved to Dubai, where he continues to live. He spends about two months a year in the US and a similar period helping at a school in Nepal that he sponsors. Prof Salvador Carranza, the senior author of the study in which the gecko is recognised as a species and named, described Mr Feulner as 'an example of dedication to nature preservation and the study of nature in the UAE'. 'Also Gary has been really active in the mountains, in the Hajars he's a specialist,' said Prof Carranza, who is director of the Institute of Evolutionary Biology at Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona. 'He's been working there for ages, since he started in the UAE many, many years ago. He's really expert in the geology of the Hajar Mountains and a real expert in the natural history of the UAE.' Now that the species has been named after him, Mr Feulner said he would like to uncover what the signals of the gecko meant. 'Maybe with my name on it, I'll go out of my way and spend some time, take a chair with me and find a spot where they're common and see if I can figure out what they're saying to each other,' he said. Another of the authors of the new study, Johannes Els, of the Breeding Centre for Endangered Arabian Wildlife in Sharjah, said naming the gecko after Mr Feulner was "a fitting tribute to his extensive and enduring contributions to the study of natural history in the UAE and northern Oman". "Over several decades, his work has significantly advanced understanding of the region's biodiversity, including reptiles, freshwater fishes, molluscs, insects and flora," he said. Mr Els said "meticulous field observations" made by Mr Feulner had helped map the distribution of numerous reptile species across the Hajar Mountains and beyond, "providing vital data for conservation studies". He also said Mr Feulner had "played a key role" as a mentor and leader among naturalists, and in his three decades chairing Dubai Natural History Group had bridged the gap between amateur enthusiasts and professional researchers. "His efforts to promote public engagement with natural history have ensured that future generations will continue to explore and protect the unique ecosystems of the UAE," Mr Els said. Feulner's semaphore gecko is not the only gecko to call the Emirates home. The National reported previously how the Emirati leaf-toed gecko – Asaccus caudivolvulus – was thought to be on the brink of extinction but a 2022 expedition found the geckos in five locations despite heavy development in the area. Geckos play a vital role in ecosystems because they feed on insects and help to balance the number of species. Last year, The National reported how a number of geckos were able to glow in the dark at night. Bright fluorescence, often found around the eye and around the flanks, was seen in two species, the dune sand gecko (Stenodactylus doriae) and the Arabian web-footed sand gecko (Trigonodactylus arabicus), both of which inhabit very sandy environments with little vegetation. The eastern sand gecko (S. leptocosymbotes) also showed fluorescence, albeit less prominently, around its eyes and on its flanks, while a fourth species, Slevin's sand gecko (S. slevini), had a small amount around its eye.
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists Just Found The Perfect Disguise to Sneak Into a Termite Colony
Beneath the rocky soil of Morocco, researchers have uncovered a surprising intruder living undetected inside termite colonies. Few outsiders gain acceptance in termite society, but a species of blowfly has evolved an incredible multipart disguise that successfully fools termites, allowing its larvae to not just survive but seemingly thrive. This has not been firmly documented previously in these flies, according to a new study. The authors say it was luck they discovered the fly larvae inhabiting colonies in the Anti-Atlas mountains of southern Morocco, where native harvester termites (Anacanthotermes ochraceus) build subterranean nests. Evolutionary biologist Roger Vila from the Institute of Evolutionary Biology in Spain and his team study butterflies and ants, and since few butterflies were active that day due to recent rains, they looked for ants. "When we lifted a stone we found a termite mound with three fly larvae that we had never seen before," Vila says. "The water had probably flooded the deeper layers of the nest and the larvae had emerged onto the surface." Intrigued, the researchers returned three times. They lifted hundreds of stones but found only two more of the larvae, which were together in a termite mound. This suggests the species is rare, Vila says. Phylogenomic analysis indicates the blowflies belong to the genus Rhyncomya, although more research is needed to investigate its abundance, along with other details about its biology and ecology. What we know so far is already astounding, though. Termites use their antennae to pat down and smell anyone who enters, helping them quickly identify trouble. Specialized soldier termites have giant mandibles for just such an occasion. Yet with such enviable safety, climate control, and food security, it may be tempting for other insects to try infiltrating their colonies, despite the risk. For part of their disguise, the blowfly larvae display a "termite mask" on their rear end. This consists of a fake head adorned with antennae and palps similar to those of a harvester termite. The fake head also includes fake eyes, which look remarkably like harvester termite eyes. In reality, Vila notes, these are breathing holes. "Most termites live several meters deep and have no visual perception," Vila says. "However, harvester termites come out at dusk to collect grass, so they have functional eyes that the larvae are able to mimic with their spiracles." In addition to the fake termite head, larvae's bodies are covered with strange 'tentacles'. These are uncanny imitations of termite antennae, as the researchers demonstrated with scanning electron microscopy. Unlike the fake head, these tentacles may be functional. The flies seem to actually use them for communicating with termites. And since the larvae have so many of these protrusions, they're able to communicate with several termites at once. Those are both impressive adaptations, but still not quite enough on their own. Each termite colony has its own scent, shared by all members, and nobody gets in without it. Looking like a termite won't help if you don't smell right – intruders from other colonies are not welcome, and may be dismembered by soldiers. But these fly larvae are pros. They don't just imitate a colony's scent; according to Vila, they match it perfectly. "We quantified the chemical composition of these larvae and the result is surprising: They are indistinguishable from the termites in the colony where they live; they smell exactly the same," he says. In the wild, the fly larvae had been in their hosts' food chambers when Vila and his colleagues found them. The researchers brought some back to a laboratory termite mound, where the larvae gravitated toward more populated areas. Termites were highly attentive, flocking around the fly larvae and preening them. They also appeared to feed them. "The larvae are not only tolerated, but they constantly communicate with the termites through contact with their antenna-like tentacles," Vila says. "The termites even seem to feed them, although this has not yet been unequivocally demonstrated." Some humpback flies (Phoridae) also mimic termites, but they do it as adults, not larvae. They're also not closely related to these blowflies, suggesting the ruses evolved independently. "The common ancestor of blowflies and humpback flies dates back more than 150 million years, much further than that which separates humans from mice. We are therefore confident that we have discovered a new case of social integration evolution," Vila says. No other known species in the genus Rhyncomya exhibit a similar appearance or lifestyle, hinting at a relatively quick evolution. "This discovery invites us to reconsider the limits and potential of symbiotic relationships and social parasitism in nature," Vila says. "But, above all, we should realize how much we still do not know about the vast diversity and specialization of insects, which are essential organisms in ecosystems." The study was published in Current Biology. Whale Song Reveals Eerie Similarities to Human Speech, Scientists Find Mysterious Radioactive Anomaly Discovered Deep Under The Pacific Ocean Sea Turtles Dance to Orientate With Earth's Magnetic Field, Study Reveals
BBC News
14-02-2025
- Science
- BBC News
'Bum-face' maggots are masters of disguise
This tiny, sneaky maggot has developed a special technique that might surprise undiscovered blow fly larvae (a baby fly) were found in the mountains of Morocco, and have evolved so their backsides resemble a termite other words, their bottoms look like they have little faces on believe this allows the larvae to sneak into termite colonies to steal their food, all undetected. Soldier termites are known for aggressively guarding their colonies, attacking any invaders. But the disguise is so convincing that the termites think the maggots are part of their colony. In fact, the termites even groom the maggots like they're one of them! Talk about a "bum" deal for the discovered the larvae's sneaky trick by accident while looking for ants. When they lifted a stone in Morocco's Anti-Atlas mountains, they found a termite mound with two never-seen-before maggots living author Roger Vila, a scientist at the Institute of Evolutionary Biology in Spain, said: "It must be an extremely rare species, because we have made three more expeditions in that area and, despite lifting hundreds of stones, we found only two more". But the maggots' disguise isn't just about looking like to the study, these larvae have adapted their smells, senses, and even breathing holes to mimic termites too. Their holes are cleverly shaped to look like termite eyes, and their sensory organs are just like termite antennae. It's like a whole termite costume!And for their next trick, the maggots have developed a smell that's exactly like termites."They smell exactly the same," Vila said, explaining that each termite colony has a unique means the larvae have adapted to blend right in with that specific colony. The larvae belong to a group of flies called Rhyncomya, but no other flies in this group are known to be such masters of team suspects that means the larvae are a completely newly discovered species.
