National Geographic has project to save world’s biggest freshwater fishes.
How the cat became a pet
A DNA study of almost a thousand wild and domestic cats from around the world is helping to unravel the evolutionary history of this most numerous of household pets. There are five wild subspecies of nearest-relatives, including one in the Near East, from which all domesticated cats are derived, though there has been subsequent hybridization of house cats with local wild populations here and there. Modern cat breeds can trace their origin to at least five mothers domesticated in the Fertile Crescent around the same time as agriculture started, over 9,000 years ago. And, coincidentally, there’s news also today of archaeological evidence from nearby Cyprus backing up that date.
Wake-up call
Some diversity serves no purpose other than to amuse one species: our own. I had heard of long-crowing roosters before, but never seen or heard one. There are long-tailed breeds too. (see No. 4 at this page.)
Hat tip: Paul Bordoni.
Cattle and biodiversity
Cattle grazing sustains plant diversity in Dutch dune ecosystems.
Cattle disease threatens wildlife in Uganda
Conflict between cattle — and foot and mouth disease — and wildlife in Uganda.