Latest news with #Microphotinaviridescens
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
24-04-2025
- Science
- Miami Herald
Elusive ‘praying' females seen for first time 150 years after species' discovery
High up in the tree canopy in a forest in French Guiana, citizen scientists found what had eluded researchers for 150 years. Females, on guard. Until that moment, all that was known about one praying mantis species — Microphotina viridescens — was learned by observing males, according to an April 15 study published in the peer-reviewed journal Zootaxa. A single 'poorly preserved' specimen was all researchers had to study for insights into the female sex, despite a century and a half of searching for them, the study said. Now, thanks to the work of citizen scientists with the Association for the Study of Mantises of French Guiana and their collaboration with scientists from around the world, large knowledge gaps about the species are being filled in. Observations in the wild Four females were observed in the tree canopy in Trésor Regional Nature Reserve, two of which were guarding an egg case called an ootheca. When their perches were disturbed by the researchers, the females pressed their bodies firmly against the leaves to avoid detection in a defensive behavior called crypsis, according to the study. Researchers said the aggregation of multiple females is 'particularly noteworthy' in a species known to cannibalize other mantises. They hypothesize females may gather due to 'a strong preference for certain tree species,' either to lay their eggs or because they never actually travel far from where they're born. Additionally, the females may have adapted to have a 'higher tolerance' for each other, lowering the risk of cannibalism, according to the study. Another female was caught about 50 miles northwest in a 'modest suburban development' in Kourou, according to the study. All females were captured at least 13 feet above ground, researchers said. Parental care observed for the first time Several specimens were collected and reared in captivity for closer study. According to the study, females in captivity wandered their enclosure at night, and 'returned to guard their egg cases, motionless, during the day.' Researchers said this behavior suggests 'a possible evolutionary trade-off between parental care and self-maintenance.' The research team included Julio Rivera, Nicolas Hausherr and Leonardo Moutinho Lanna.
