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Nematodes - not exactly a word many of us hear often unless we work in a lab or in the garden. But as it turns out, unless you are perusing the internet from the international space station, you’re surrounded by them even as you read these words.



Perhaps you heard a rumor at the flower shop. Maybe you’re in the midst of a biology class in school. It’s possible you’ve seen small cysts in the roots of your soybean bed. Whatever it is that inspired your internet query today, you’ve come to the right place to learn about nematodes. We'll discuss what they are, how they move and interact in the world, and the ways in which nematodes are part of your life - whether you like it or not. Let’s dig in.



<h2 id="h-get-to-know-nematodes">Get To Know Nematodes</h2>



Nematodes, also known as roundworms, or eelworms make up the phylum Nematoda. This phylum is a world-wide phenomenon, found almost everywhere in the world and ranging from mountaintops to freshwater streams and deep valleys, the tropics all the way up to the arctic,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/microscopic-organisms-driest-places/">across the deserts</a>, and slurping around in bogs - anywhere where there is a sufficient amount of water to support their various life cycles and preferred habitats. There are an estimated&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nhc.ed.ac.uk/index.php?page=24.25.333.369">12,000 species</a>&nbsp;on our planet and they are categorized with insects and other molting creatures in the clade Ecdysozoa. They are “<a href="https://www.sasa.gov.uk/seed-ware-potatoes/nematology/what-are-nematodes#:~:text=Being%20slender%20and%20transparent%2C%20they,may%20be%20confused%20with%20nematodes.&amp;text=With%20a%20few%20exceptions%2C%20if,not%20a%20plant%2Dparasitic%20nematode.">elongate, thread-like, and active animals”</a>&nbsp;that are also commonly found in the stomachs and intestines of birds, fish, and mammals. Most are cylindrical, though some species have females are that are spherical. Nematodes are one of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2754014/">the most abundant&nbsp;</a>invertebrates on Earth.



But for how abundant they are, they can sure are hard to spot. While it is possible to see certain species of nematodes, most are slender and transparent. This makes them incredibly difficult to see with the naked eye.



Derived from the Greek word for thread, these tube-like organisms move like eels where they live. Most species of nematodes are free-living and feed off of fungi, bacterial, and algae microorganisms. They are highly successful parasites. This is because of their <a href="http://www.nhc.ed.ac.uk/index.php?page=24.25.333.369">physiological elasticity: o</a>ne species is only found in vinegar. Another specializes in the niche-habitat of <a href="http://www.nhc.ed.ac.uk/index.php?page=24.25.333.369">beer mats</a>&nbsp;at the local dive bar.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/shutterstock_1905527209.jpg" alt="pink nematode" class="wp-image-1890588"/><figcaption><a href="https://www.shutterstock.com/g/Hussmann">Hussmann</a>/Shutterstock.com</figcaption></figure>



<h2 id="h-nematode-life-cycle">Nematode Life Cycle</h2>



Often, the life cycle of a nematode is determined by six distinct stages:&nbsp;<a href="https://mrec.ifas.ufl.edu/lso/SCOUT/Nematodes.htm">egg, four juvenile stages, and adult</a>. The smallest free-living adult nematode is about 250 mm, but parasitic nematodes can be as smaller than 2 mm. In most species, females and males occur, though reproduction often happens without males and these animals are frequently hermaphroditic. Once an individual produces eggs, their life cycle is complete. Species can produce anywhere from 50 - 500 eggs per female - though some can produce&nbsp;<a href="https://mrec.ifas.ufl.edu/lso/SCOUT/Nematodes.htm">up to 1,000</a>.



More specifically, in the example of the soybean cyst nematode, eggs develop within a cyst. According to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.plantpath.iastate.edu/scn/life_cycle">Iowa State University</a>, inside each egg is an unhatched juvenile. A nematode’s body wall is composed of an underlying cell layer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/3282284?seq=1">called a cuticle</a>, and once the juvenile eggs hatch, they can penetrate the cell walls of the soybean root (similar to other soil nematodes). Once in the root, the juvenile develops into an adult male or adult female. The females eventually break back through the root’s surface but remain connected while the adult males leave the root system. The male and female will mate and the female will lay eggs, eventually dying and hardening around the egg sack as a tough cyst.



<h3 id="h-other-life-cycles">Other Life Cycles</h3>



Understanding the life cycles of different invertebrates is interesting. They might help you pass a biology exam, but it’s so much more than that too. Take Caenorhabditis elegans - it is one particularly famous species in the study of nematology in the last 25 years. Nematologists around the world are working to sequence the entire genome of this species. Oddly, it has no obvious economic benefit or parasitic threat to us. Why is that?



It shares&nbsp;<a href="https://cbs.umn.edu/cgc/what-c-elegans">many of the same biological characteristics</a>&nbsp;that are central problems in our own biology. The worm begins as a single cell, undergoes complex development, maintains a nervous system, and exhibits behavior capable of learning. While it has yet to demonstrate consciousness, the parallels of this species with our own life cycle are eerily similar and “provides researchers with an ideal compromise&nbsp;<a href="https://cbs.umn.edu/cgc/what-c-elegans">between complexity and tractability</a>”. In studying and understanding animals as small as nematodes, we can better understand ourselves.



<h2 id="h-parasites-in-humans">Parasites in Humans</h2>



People shudder at the thought of small critters living inside the body. Nematodes abound as parasites in mammals, and that includes Homo sapiens as well. These nematode parasites are documented In texts dated as early as 1550 BC for their plaguing presence in the human body. Another name for these pests is "lesion nematodes."



Some historians have inferred that the “fiery serpent” of the Bible that bedeviled the children of Israel after they crossed the swampy terrain of the Red Sea may have been the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sasa.gov.uk/seed-ware-potatoes/nematology/what-are-nematodes#:~:text=Being%20slender%20and%20transparent%2C%20they,may%20be%20confused%20with%20nematodes.&amp;text=With%20a%20few%20exceptions%2C%20if,not%20a%20plant%2Dparasitic%20nematode.">Guinea Worm</a>&nbsp;Dracunculus medinensis, which can grow over 12 inches in length in your intestines - a terrifying legend from antiquity that is very much real in that part of the world today. You’ve probably heard of hookworm before as it&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK8261/">is a nematode parasite that commonly causes diarrhea</a>, malnutrition, and other infective, escalating medical conditions in marginalized communities, especially in areas that don’t have access to a clean water supply.



The largest parasitic nematode we know of is Placentonema gigantissima. It is a marine species documented to be over 8 meters long and living in the placenta of a sperm whale - a terrifying image to behold.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/shutterstock_1820971748.jpg" alt="nematode drawing" class="wp-image-1890589"/><figcaption><a href="https://www.shutterstock.com/g/KaterynaKon">Kateryna Kon</a>/Shutterstock.com</figcaption></figure>



<h2 id="h-parasites-in-plants">Parasites in Plants</h2>



Parasitic nematodes (such as&nbsp;Ditylenchus spp.) aren’t only after animals, however. Some species wreak havoc on your garden as well and are major agricultural pathogens or plant parasites. These destructive creatures are much, much smaller - often invisible to our eyes. Generally, if you can see a worm-like crawler in your garden or compost,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sasa.gov.uk/seed-ware-potatoes/nematology/what-are-nematodes#:~:text=Being%20slender%20and%20transparent%2C%20they,may%20be%20confused%20with%20nematodes.&amp;text=With%20a%20few%20exceptions%2C%20if,not%20a%20plant%2Dparasitic%20nematode.">it isn’t actually a nematode</a>. But plant parasitic nematodes (PPN) are&nbsp;<a href="https://extension.psu.edu/plant-parasitic-nematodes-explained">ubiquitous in agricultural soils</a>&nbsp;and can cause significant crop damage.



Most species of plant-parasitic nematodes&nbsp;attack by&nbsp;<a href="https://extension.psu.edu/plant-parasitic-nematodes-explained">using their needle-like stylets</a>&nbsp;to pierce and kill root cells. Species that use this type of feeding method include lesion (Pratylenchus) nematodes, lance, stunt, and sting nematodes. The species that inspire the fiercest loathing in farmers and the harshest economic impacts include the root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita)&nbsp;and the soybean cyst nematode because their feeding style allows them to establish permanent feeding sites and&nbsp;<a href="https://extension.psu.edu/plant-parasitic-nematodes-explained">complete their life cycle</a>&nbsp;without killing nearby cells.



A nematode infection, by&nbsp;<a href="http://nemaplex.ucdavis.edu/Taxamnus/G060mnu.htm">Heterodera species</a>&nbsp;and others, in plants will look a lot like inhibited root growth and root function and may resemble environmental stressors such as drought and nutrient-deficient soil. Yields will decline and plant appearance can be yellowing, wilting, and stunted.



Oftentimes, though the nematodes are invisible to our eyes, we can inspect root systems of evidence of cysts and&nbsp;<a href="https://extension.psu.edu/plant-parasitic-nematodes-explained">pale female bulbs</a>&nbsp;that are big enough for us to observe right out of the ground (or pot).



By the time you notice the effects of these parasites upon your plants, it’s probably too late to take action. Nature is as beautiful as it is cruel. Crop rotation techniques can be <a href="https://www.uaex.edu/publications/pdf/FSA-7550.pdf">an effective</a>&nbsp;means of nematode control (without using nematicides) and a way to mitigate similar sorts of crises that result in crop losses.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/shutterstock_499829854.jpg" alt="root parasite" class="wp-image-1890590"/><figcaption><a href="https://www.shutterstock.com/g/Jean+Faucett">Jean Faucett</a>/Shutterstock.com</figcaption></figure>



<h2 id="h-the-benefits-of-nematodes">The Benefits of Nematodes</h2>



But, not all nematodes are scary snake-like parasites slithering in your intestines or invisibly depleting your garden or fields. As one of the most variable groups of animals, there are incredibly helpful species as well. Beneficial nematodes are used intentionally by organic gardeners and farmers to great effect.



So, what’s so good about nematodes and why do organic growers use these small creatures? First of all, it’s important to understand that these tiny creatures play a critical role in the decomposition and recycling of nutrients in various ecosystems. For example, nematode populations are richly abundant in arable soil. There can be over 3 billion nematodes in one acre of land, calculated to a depth of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sasa.gov.uk/seed-ware-potatoes/nematology/what-are-nematodes#:~:text=Being%20slender%20and%20transparent%2C%20they,may%20be%20confused%20with%20nematodes.&amp;text=With%20a%20few%20exceptions%2C%20if,not%20a%20plant%2Dparasitic%20nematode.">20 centimeters</a>, and they are usually most abundant in the upper layers of soil where organic matter, plant roots, and other resources are most abundant.



And those same parasitic tendencies that make certain species of nematodes dangerous to us or to plants? There are other nematodes that go after the insect pests that we want to control organically with the same vigorous energy. Beneficial feeding nematodes will devour up to&nbsp;<a href="https://pss.uvm.edu/ppp/articles/nemat.html">200 different species of insects</a>, regulating adult bugs and also larvae, juvenile insects in grub stages that can ruin your neat rows of veggies and annual flowers.



Collaborating with beneficial nematodes might save your lawn. And more importantly, when you&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/earthpedia-articles/how-to-plant-an-excellent-pollinator-garden/">finally tear up your lawn</a>&nbsp;of Kentucky bluegrass (the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/food/monocrops-theyre-a-problem-but-farmers-arent-the-ones-who-can-solve-it/2014/05/09/8bfc186e-d6f8-11e3-8a78-8fe50322a72c_story.html">largest mono-crop</a>&nbsp;in North America and a huge detriment to our ecological health) and replace it with native perennials and water-saving landscaping techniques, beneficial nematodes will be a sustainable link in the bio-niche of your home.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/shutterstock_420833719.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1890591"/><figcaption><a href="https://www.shutterstock.com/g/Jes+Abeita">Jes Abeita</a>/Shutterstock.com</figcaption></figure>



<h2 id="h-how-to-use-nematodes-in-your-garden">How To Use Nematodes in Your Garden</h2>



To use beneficial nematodes in your garden is&nbsp;<a href="https://pss.uvm.edu/ppp/articles/nemat.html">really a pretty simple process</a>. Start by contacting a nearby organic gardening shop. Beneficial nematodes are popular and chances are, a good garden store will have them in stock during the growing season. Additionally, they are likely to have a whole plethora of other beneficial predators such as ladybugs and praying mantis sacks. If you aren’t able to find them in a store, you can order beneficial nematodes online as well. Most products will have specific directions on the bottle. Usually, you simply add the contents of the package or bottle into a spray bottle or a watering can mixed with water.



Different species of nematodes will prey upon harmful pests with an efficiency that is reminiscent of a good horror film.&nbsp;<a href="https://pss.uvm.edu/ppp/articles/nemat.html">Some ambush their prey</a>. Others lure them in. Heterorhabdtis uses a cruising strategy.



<h2 id="h-a-pollinator-friendly-option">A Pollinator-Friendly Option</h2>



Using beneficial nematodes won’t harm you, children, or pets. Chemical pesticides have a variety of horrible side effects on our bodies and the ecosystems we inhabit. These beneficial roundworms are an excellent alternative. Using beneficial nematodes won’t harm you, children, or pets. Plus, <a href="https://pss.uvm.edu/ppp/articles/nemat.html">they won’t harm the friendly pollinators</a>&nbsp;you want to attract to your garden.



These are the sort of techniques we want to continue to cultivate and spread into popular gardening culture. This is especially urgent when you look at the concerning trends around endemic bee species and butterfly migration patterns across continents. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know things aren’t looking good for these hard-working and necessary insects that make our world so beautiful and actually account for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/diverse-insect-pollinator-communities-boost-crop-production/">billions of dollars</a>&nbsp;in our economy each year. And if things aren’t looking good for them, they aren’t looking good for us.



Nematodes might feel out of the box to gardeners from older generations with a proclivity for Round-Up. But, these techniques will be part of how we save the birds, the bees, the butterflies - and ourselves - from catastrophe. Digging into regenerative, organic methods of gardening can be an empowering way to connect to where you live, take accountability for your impact on the planet, and combat the climate malaise that seeps into our culture. Try beneficial nematodes in your garden and then tell your friends!



<h2 id="h-conclusion">Conclusion</h2>



Like most of life on earth, nematodes are fascinating and nuanced. We’re so quick to categorize our fellow ecosystem inhabitants as “good” or “bad". We conceptualize the natural world into polarized extremes, elements of an ecosystem to be protected or eradicated.



Hopefully, it is obvious that this is simply not the case. In understanding the different phyla and the wild world of creatures that interact in cahoots and also in adversity, we know that the web of life is an intricate dance that we must respect and study. In a deeper understanding of animals like nematodes, we gain insight into our own existence and utilize the benefits of these small thread-like creatures in innovative ways to enrich beauty and deepen our connection to the landscape and sustainable ecology.



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Nematodes

Nematodes - not exactly a word many of us hear...

Beneath the surface of the ocean is a vast and mysterious world of deep-sea wonders. Over the course of human history, we’ve learned a lot about these bodies of water and these discoveries have shaped tradition, migration, and science in tidal ways.&nbsp;



However, many people do not realize how little we know of the ocean - especially the deepest parts of our globe’s seabed.&nbsp;



<h2 id="h-diving-into-the-deep-sea">Diving Into The Deep Sea</h2>



Over 70% of the Earth’s surface is covered by the sea - <a href="https://www.usgs.gov/special-topic/water-science-school/science/how-much-water-there-earth?qt-science_center_objects=0#qt-science_center_objects" target="_blank" rel="noopener">312,000,000 cubic miles of water</a>. Numbers like this can be difficult to wrap your mind around. Regardless, less than 5% of Earth’s oceans have been explored. That’s a lot of room for surprising secrets - many of which we clearly have <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rare-species-discovered-in-the-deep-sea-near-japan/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">yet to discover</a>.&nbsp;



Under the water’s surface, the light fades quickly, and at 650 feet, it is completely black. The <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthpedia-articles/how-deep-is-the-ocean/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">deeper down you go</a>, the harsher the conditions become for survival, though plenty of creatures (many yet to be discovered!) have figured out how to do just that. It is a mysterious part of our planet, with secrets to be discovered with each dive. Here are seven facts you might be surprised to learn about these deepsea creatures and the habitat where they survive.&nbsp;



<h2 id="h-secret-1-the-majority-of-life-on-our-planet-is-aquatic">Secret 1: The Majority Of Life On Our Planet Is Aquatic</h2>



Creatures of the deep sea might seem like distant anomalies to us humans, but as it turns out, we land-dwellers are the actual weirdos. The majority of life on earth is aquatic - and it’s these salty waters from which we all evolved. Scientists estimate that there are over <a href="https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/nature/habitats/ocean/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">one million animal species</a> in the ocean - 95% of which are invertebrates, such as shrimp and squid. The deepest sea creatures are part of a vast ecological network of these expansive and mysterious oceanic ecozones.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/shutterstock_306095060.jpg" alt="deep sea jellyfish" class="wp-image-1887977"/><figcaption><a href="https://www.shutterstock.com/g/Blue+bird">H.Tanaka</a>/Shutterstock.com</figcaption></figure>



<h2 id="h-secret-2-aqua-incognito">Secret 2: Aqua Incognito</h2>



Even though we’ve sent a man to the moon and found a coronavirus vaccine in record time, science and discovery work still has plenty of mysteries to unearth and understand. This is especially true of Earth’s oceans since over 80% of the ocean remains <a href="https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/exploration.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">unmapped, unobserved, and unexplored</a>. This is because most parts of the ocean are difficult to get to, and it can be really expensive to do so. Scientists have relied on sonar mapping to explore many parts of the seafloor but this still leaves many questions unanswered.&nbsp;



<h2 id="h-secret-3-creatures-of-mysterious-currents">Secret 3: Creatures Of Mysterious Currents</h2>



The deepest sea creatures live in what scientists sometimes call the “inner space” of the Ocean. Within this space, we know that there are hefty currents at work like “<a href="https://ocean.si.edu/ecosystems/deep-sea/what-we-dont-know-about-deep-sea" target="_blank" rel="noopener">an engine that controls our climate</a>” though we still don’t understand the nuances of how this engine functions. As glaciers and polar ice melt accelerate due to climate change, we know that an excess of cold water is funneling into this inner space of the ocean. But how will that impact these currents? And eventually our entire planet? The impacts could be massive in scale. Because there is still so much to learn, we aren’t sure what to expect. But, at the current rate of carbon emissions, we will definitely find out, one way or another.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/shutterstock_361651271.jpg" alt="ocean above the Deepest Sea Creatures" class="wp-image-1887979"/><figcaption><a href="https://www.shutterstock.com/g/Marcus+Brown">Marcus Brown</a>/Shutterstock.com</figcaption></figure>



<h2 id="h-secret-4-slow-growers">Secret 4: Slow Growers</h2>



Deep-sea creatures are often <a href="http://www.savethehighseas.org/amazing-facts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">slow growers</a>. This is an adaptive trait in response to the limited food resources in such extreme conditions. This is also why so many of these swimmers have a very slow metabolism.&nbsp;



However, with human impact, these adaptive traits make many species vulnerable. In fact, some scientists compare deep-sea fishing to the harvest of old-growth forests for timber. We may be harvesting and disrupting delicate systems that we don’t yet have the science to understand. Only, deep-sea fishing might be worse - we can’t <a href="https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-02/osu-ldf021307.php#:~:text=Deep%2Dsea%20fishes%20grow%20slowly,to%2040%20years%2C%20Heppell%20said." target="_blank" rel="noopener">“replant” the fish</a> like we would trees.&nbsp;



<h2 id="h-secret-5-longevity-in-the-deep">Secret 5: Longevity In The Deep</h2>



Due to many creatures’ slow growth, their life cycles are often longer too. Many deep-water fish species can live to 30 years of age or longer. The orange roughy, for instance, can live up to <a href="http://www.savethehighseas.org/amazing-facts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">150 years old</a>. These slow, long growers often have later maturity development which can result in low reproductive capabilities. This, paired with the fact that so many of the deep-sea species are endemic to their area, means that they are very vulnerable to environmental changes and <a href="http://www.savethehighseas.org/amazing-facts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">extinction</a> even without human impact.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/shutterstock_378002446.jpg" alt="orange Deepest Sea Creatures" class="wp-image-1887980"/><figcaption><a href="https://www.shutterstock.com/g/Zoonar+GmbH">Bildagentur Zoonar GmbH</a>/Shutterstock.com</figcaption></figure>



<h2 id="h-secret-6-deep-sea-coral-archive">Secret 6: Deep-Sea Coral Archive</h2>



If you’re unfamiliar with the ecology of coral reefs, you may be surprised to learn that coral is a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/half-worlds-coral-dead/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">living, growing organism</a> in its own right.&nbsp;



As corals succumb to mass bleaching and die-off events due to human-caused climate change, it is especially concerning to discover that these very same organisms might hold clues to climate change solutions. Like a library or an archive, deep-sea corals <a href="http://www.savethehighseas.org/amazing-facts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">contain a record</a> of climate conditions that might provide valuable answers to how we might restore ecosystems to a healthy and sustainable balance of life.&nbsp;



<h2 id="h-secret-7-deep-sea-hermaphrodites">Secret 7:&nbsp; Deep-Sea Hermaphrodites</h2>



Many fish in the deeper parts of the sea begin their lives <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fish-can-change-sex/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">as females</a>, but if a male is needed, are able to biologically transition in order to procreate. These hermaphrodite fish are born with both female and male reproductive organs - and it’s an ingenious adaption. While there might be "more fish in the sea”, the pickings can be incredibly slim when you’re swimming so deep. Mating behaviors have evolved to solve that problem with sex-change strategies.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/shutterstock_1705865143.jpg" alt="deep sea coral" class="wp-image-1887999"/><figcaption><a href="https://www.shutterstock.com/g/Divefriday">Divefriday</a>/Shutterstock.com</figcaption></figure>



<h2 id="h-conclusion">Conclusion</h2>



The surprising secrets of the deepest sea creatures are <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/life-in-deep-ocean-sediments-can-survive-boiling-hot-temperatures/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">yet to be discovered</a>. And that’s the most exciting part about this area of study. It's also why it is so important for us to protect our planet and the oceans.



With unchecked human greed and consumption, we are destroying the secrets of these wondrous places. Unfortunately, we're going this before we have a chance to discover them. It is a dim prospect for the future, especially when some of the answers and lessons we must learn are lurking in these very ecosystems. 



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Seven Surprising Secrets of the Deepest Sea Creatures

Beneath the surface of the ocean is a vast and...

Kiwi birds are a national treasure of New Zealand - enough to give the New Zealanders the nickname of “Kiwis.” These fluffy chicks are endemic, meaning they can only be found on the New Zealand island chain. Though they’ve become an emblem of conservation around the world, their roots are buried deep in the indigenous culture of New Zealand. In fact, the name ‘kiwi’ derives from the Maori people who named them after the distinct sound they make (kee wee wee).  While these birds are a charismatic symbol of the country, they nearly became extinct. But the kiwi people have rallied behind their namesake critter and brought the baby kiwi birds back from the brink of extinction.  
<h2>All About Kiwi Birds</h2>
At first glance, they look a bit more like Dr. Seuss’s truffula trees or a hairy pear than a bird. But upon closer inspection, you can make out fuzzy feathers and a long beak that prove they’re part of class Aves. Just like its closest cousins ostriches, emus, and cassowaries, the kiwi is flightless. Its chunky body, small wings, and fur-like feathers confine the kiwi to the ground. In fact, biologists believe that because very few mammals naturally live on New Zealand, birds like the kiwi evolved to fill the mammalian niche. To put it simply, kiwis are essentially “honorary mammals.” 

<img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-1887830" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/shutterstock_190649666.jpg" alt="" width="1000" height="665" />
<h3>Kiwi Bird Ecology</h3>
Given their fascinating evolution, kiwi birds have an equally interesting life history. Without the ability to fly, kiwi birds have developed powerful legs and feet, allowing them to run fast and dig their nest burrows. While they don’t have very good eyesight, their other senses are essentially superpowers. Their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nocturnal-birds-night/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sense of smell</a> is especially distinct - they are the only bird with nostrils at the tip of their beak. 
<ul>
 	<li>Size: Depending on the species, kiwis are between one and two feet long and between two and ten pounds. Despite being the size of a chicken, their wings are only about an <a href="https://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/kiwi" target="_blank" rel="noopener">inch long</a>!</li>
 	<li>Diet: Kiwi birds are omnivores, eating a mix of seasonal fruit, bugs, and seeds. Notably, they play an important ecological role as seed-dispersers.</li>
 	<li>Reproduction: Male and female kiwi birds mate for life and are monogamous. The female lays a giant (20% of her body weight) egg, which the male incubates for over two months. Unlike most chicks that use their beaks to break out of the egg, baby kiwi birds use their feet to kick their way out. The young kickboxers then follow their dad around the forest, finding food.</li>
</ul>
<h2>The Five Types of Kiwi Birds</h2>
There are five species of kiwi bird - each cuter and more bizarre than the last! Based on genetic research, there are two species of spotted kiwi and three species of brown kiwi. 
<h3>Great Spotted Kiwi</h3>
Also called the roroa, the great spotted kiwi (A. haasti) are the mountaineers of the group! There are three established populations in New Zealand in the northwestern South Island and near Arthur’s Pass. They generally live in forested areas and subalpine habitats, where they burrow in downed logs, underneath tree roots, and nestled in dense vegetation. 
<h3>Little Spotted Kiwi</h3>
The tiniest of the baby kiwi birds, the little spotted kiwi (Apteryx owenii) can only be found in the wild on a <a href="https://www.kiwisforkiwi.org/about-kiwi/kiwi-species/little-spotted-kiwi/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">few offshore islands </a>where there are fewer predators. Their preferred habitat is generally shrubby, scrubby grassland.
<h3>North Island Brown Kiwi</h3>
Both the most common and the <a href="https://avibase.bsc-eoc.org/species.jsp?avibaseid=DB55CB8CC8C20EA5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">largest</a> of the kiwi birds, Apteryx mantelli can be found in four distinct regions of the North Island.
<h3>Rowi</h3>
The rowi (Apteryx rowi) can <a href="http://nzbirdsonline.org.nz/species/okarito-brown-kiwi" target="_blank" rel="noopener">only be found at Okarito</a>, on the west side of the South Island. Its other common name is the Okarito Brown kiwi.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1887831" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/shutterstock_1668051652.jpg" alt="brown kiwi" width="666" height="1000" />
<h3>Tokoeka</h3>
Another member of the brown kiwi group, the tokoeka kiwi (Apteryx australis) lives in forested areas and grasslands. In disturbed habitats, they have even been known to make their burrows in farmland or ditches.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1887833" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/shutterstock_1287792994.jpg" alt="TOKOWKA KIWI" width="1000" height="667" />
<h2>Save the Kiwi Birds!</h2>
Unfortunately, kiwi birds have faced more than their fair share of challenges. Though humans have played a huge role in their population decline, New Zealanders are putting in the work to save them. 
<h3>Threats to Kiwi Birds</h3>
Kiwi birds didn’t start out as an especially resilient species. For starters, they evolved with few natural predators, meaning they aren’t particularly adept at avoiding danger. Secondly, they are a K-selected species and only lay one egg at a time, so they have a naturally slow population growth rate. 

But the kiwi bird’s biology isn’t what caused them to nearly become extinct. Until the early 1900s, humans hunted the kiwi for their decorative feathers and bones. In addition to hunting, human development destroyed <a href="https://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/kiwi" target="_blank" rel="noopener">80%</a> of the kiwi habitat. Regulations at the turn of the 20th century protected the kiwi. However, humans had already introduced predatory mammals that were the nail in the kiwi’s coffin. They were easy pickings for the dogs, cats, weasels, and ferrets that now run rampant across the islands.

As a result, kiwis populations <a href="https://www.kiwisforkiwi.org/about-kiwi/threats/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">declined by 90%</a> in the last 100 years.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1887834" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/shutterstock_517688740.jpg" alt="LITTLE SPOTTED KIWI" width="1000" height="792" />
<h3>Kiwis Fight for the Kiwis</h3>
New Zealanders are resolute that kiwis will not go extinct. Coalitions between the indigenous Maori, the Department of Conservation, and environmental nonprofits have rallied together to save the baby kiwi birds. The largest efforts focus on the following areas:
<ul>
 	<li>Predator control &amp; dog training: Trapping and removing the introduced predators is the first step to making the kiwi habitat safer. In parallel, many domestic dogs go through kiwi aversion training.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
 	<li>Habitat protection: The New Zealand Department of Conservation, along with indigenous groups and private landowners, is working to preserve and restore kiwi habitat.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
 	<li>Operation Nest Egg: Since baby kiwi birds have the highest mortality rate in their first few months of life, conservation biologists identified this demographic as a high priority. “<a href="https://www.kiwisforkiwi.org/what-we-do/how-were-saving-kiwi/learn-more-about-operation-nest-egg/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Operation Nest Egg</a>” is a program to raise chicks in captivity, and return them to a safe wild habitat when they are old enough.</li>
</ul>
Though these organized conservation efforts are only a few years old, the New Zealanders have hit the ground running. Already, they are seeing <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthpedia-articles/the-12-endangered-birds-most-at-risk-of-extinction/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">success</a> in the breeding and captivity programs. With continued dedication and support, all five species of the kiwi bird will have increasing populations in no time!

Saving the baby kiwi birds benefits more than just the feathery fuzzballs. Kiwi birds are indicator species for other critters that share their habitats. If the kiwi populations are doing well, then the ecosystem as a whole must be pretty healthy. As the people of New Zealand restore ecological balance to their forests, they also regain their national symbol.

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Save the Baby Kiwi Birds! New Zealand Fights to Bring an Icon Back from Extinction

Kiwi birds are a national treasure of New Zealand -...

Hummingbirds are welcome visitors to the garden, but in some places, they seem to disappear for part of the year. In the Northern United States, they zip from <a href="https://www.thespruce.com/top-hummingbird-flowers-386271" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">flower to flower</a> in the warm, summer months and then vanish come winter. Birds usually don’t stick around when it’s cold, unlike hibernating mammals such as bears and some squirrels. Hummingbirds, who rely on sugary nectar for energy, wouldn’t have many food options when plants are dormant and flowers are scarce. Instead of waiting out the winter, hummingbirds simply pack up and move. But where do they go? How far can they travel? This article will answer those questions and more, so keep reading to learn all about how hummingbirds migrate!



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/shutterstock_626938280.jpg" alt="hummingbird" class="wp-image-1887379"/><figcaption>Jim Cumming/Shutterstock.com</figcaption></figure>



<h2 id="h-what-is-migration">What Is Migration?</h2>



Before we dive into the specifics of hummingbird migration, let’s define the behavior, to begin with. Migration is the seasonal movement of animals from one place to another. Many animals migrate, not just birds. One of the most famous of the world’s animal migrations is the seasonal movement of <a href="https://www.naturalworldsafaris.com/experiences/natures-great-events/caribou-migration-in-arctic-canada" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">caribou across the arctic tundra</a>. Even some insects migrate, like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/monarch-butterflies-vast-distances/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">monarch butterflies</a>, whose multi-generational migration across continents is a wonder in its own right.



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/migratory-birds-rely-on-spring-greening-which-is-now-changing-with-the-climate/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Birds</a> have some of the most spectacular migration patterns and travel some of the largest distances. The seasonal movement of birds is a familiar concept, especially in the temperate Northern Hemisphere. The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-migration-reproduction/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">arrival of songbirds</a> in the spring is a welcome sign that warmer days are ahead, and hummingbirds are no exception.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/shutterstock_1563126430.jpg" alt="green hummingbird" class="wp-image-1887380"/><figcaption><a href="https://www.shutterstock.com/g/petrsimon">Petr Simon</a>/Shuttertock.com</figcaption></figure>



<h2 id="h-preparing-for-migration">Preparing For Migration</h2>



Hummingbirds are famous for their extremely high metabolism. Their hearts can beat up to <a href="https://www.nps.gov/cham/learn/nature/upload/Hummingbirds-of-Chamizal_english.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">20 times a second</a>, and their wings can flap 60 times per second! This incredibly rapid movement requires a ton of energy, so hummingbirds need to feed almost constantly. Before migrating, hummingbirds take eating to the next level. They gorge themselves as much as possible and can gain up to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hummingbirds-pack-pounds-flying-south/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">40% of their body weight</a>. They do this in order to put on some much-needed weight and have some energy reserves for the long trip south.



How does a hummingbird know when to leave? There must be some environmental cue that tells a hummingbird it’s time to leave their summer residence. However, it’s unclear what that trigger is. Many believe it’s a declining number of flowers and food, some believe it’s colder temperature, and others believe it’s the changes in daylight duration. Whatever the case, hummingbirds seem to know exactly when to leave.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/shutterstock_1714231309.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1887381"/><figcaption><a href="https://www.shutterstock.com/g/ondrejprosicky">Ondrej Prosicky</a>/Shutterstock.com</figcaption></figure>



<h2 id="h-the-migration-south">The Migration South</h2>



A hummingbird may have spent the summer raising chicks with a mate or in a closely guarded territory with familiar neighbors. When it comes time to migrate, however, a hummingbird must go it alone. The bird often follows the exact same route it did in the past. Young hummingbirds undertaking their first migration also fly alone. They point their beaks south, guided by an innate sense of where to go and without any parental guidance.



Unlike other migratory birds that can ride thermal updrafts and fly high in the sky, hummingbirds stay close to the ground. They do so because they eat often, and so they need to visit flowers and catch small insects as opportunities arise. Hummingbirds like to use the wind to their advantage, catching tailwinds to make their trip less arduous.



In a single day, a hummingbird easily flies 20 miles. The most impressive day’s journey is that of the <a href="https://abcbirds.org/bird/ruby-throated-hummingbird/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Ruby-throated Hummingbird</a>, which can fly 500 miles over the Gulf of Mexico in a single day! For being such small birds, they can cover a great amount of distance. Flying such extreme distances is necessary in order to reach their wintering sites, as the days shorten more and more. After several weeks, hummingbirds finally reach their winter residence. At this point, the small bird has used up all of its fat reserves and is back to its normal weight, or less.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/shutterstock_1173566911.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1887382"/><figcaption><a href="https://www.shutterstock.com/g/fionadonnelly">Fiona M. Donnelly</a>/Shutterstock.com</figcaption></figure>



<h2 id="h-a-hummingbird-s-destination">A Hummingbird’s Destination</h2>



Where do the hummingbirds go, exactly? It depends both on the species of hummingbird and the individual. Many species end up in the Southern US or Northern Mexico, while others make it all the way to Central American countries like Costa Rica.



<h3 id="h-ruby-throated-hummingbird-archilochus-colubris">Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris)</h3>



As stated before, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have the most remarkable single-day journey. Their trip from the United States across the Gulf of Mexico leads to their over-wintering sites in Mexico or Central America. Certain individuals stay in the Southern United States, but these are probably the ones that travel all the way from Canada.



<h3 id="h-rufous-hummingbird-selasphorus-rufus">Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus)</h3>



This species of hummingbird has one of the longest migrations. They leave their wintering grounds in Mexico and make their way up the Pacific coast towards Washington state. Then, come Fall, they move Eastward and travel down the Rocky Mountains back towards Mexico.



<h3 id="h-black-chinned-hummingbird-archilochus-alexandri">Black-chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri)</h3>



The Black-chinned Hummingbird is a common summer visitor in the Western United States. After breeding in the spring, they move towards higher elevations to feed on alpine flowers. In the Fall, they travel towards Mexico or the Gulf Coast of the United States.



Of course, there are many more species of hummingbirds with their own migration patterns. Regardless of species, if you notice the same type of hummingbird in your garden year after year, there is a good chance it’s the same exact individual. Many birds can remember their favorite sites with incredible accuracy, down to an individual garden.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/shutterstock_783914362.jpg" alt="hummingbird" class="wp-image-1887383"/><figcaption><a href="https://www.shutterstock.com/g/fireglo">Fireglo</a>/Shutterstock.com</figcaption></figure>



<h2 id="h-do-all-hummingbirds-migrate">Do All Hummingbirds Migrate?</h2>



The short answer is no, not all hummingbirds migrate! The main exception is <a href="https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/annas-hummingbird" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Anna’s Hummingbird</a>, which lives on the West Coast of North America from Mexico to Southern Canada. While most other species do migrate, Anna’s Hummingbird doesn’t need to. There is usually enough food year-round for this species, especially now that invasive plants that flower during winter and hummingbird feeders are becoming more common.



<h2 id="h-conclusion">Conclusion</h2>



For being such tiny birds, hummingbirds take huge journeys. Their migrations are one of the most remarkable of all bird migrations, considering their minuscule size and near-constant need for food. Next time you see a hummingbird in the garden, you can appreciate it a little bit more knowing the incredible journey it takes year after year.



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Do Hummingbirds Migrate? Yes, Individually

Hummingbirds are welcome visitors to the garden, but in some...

Skinks make great pets for people who enjoy a low-key, low-maintenance reptile. Once an adult skink is settled in a nice reptile tank, it only requires feeding once or twice a week, changing the water, and monthly cleaning of the terrarium. Owning a skink requires an initial investment in the terrarium, heat lamp, habitat structures, and the pet itself. Once you have supplied these up-front costs, skinks are cheap pets that take little time out of your life.



<h2 id="h-what-are-skinks">What Are Skinks?</h2>



Skinks are one of the most diverse and widely spread families of reptiles in the world. There are <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/skink" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">over 1,200 species</a> of skinks living in tropical, desert, temperate, and arctic climates. Typically, skinks have small legs and a minimal neck and are active during the day. They are <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthpedia-articles/top-3-coolest-underground-reptiles/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">burrowing lizards</a> that enjoy being able to dig. Skinks are mostly insectivores, but many species eat fruits and vegetables as part of their diets. The <a href="https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/blogs/creatura-blog/2018/11/the-solomon-islands-skink-is-an-absolute-unit/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Solomon Island Skink</a> is the largest skink in the world, reaching nearly three feet long.



<figure class="wp-block-image alignnone size-full wp-image-1887235"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/shutterstock_113941807.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1887235"/><figcaption>[Clearly, this is a blue-tongued skink.] <a href="https://www.shutterstock.com/g/ladyfoto">ladyphoto</a>/Shutterstock.com</figcaption></figure>



The skinks people typically keep as pets are blue-tongued skinks, which come from Indonesia and Australia. Some people also keep Berber skinks, which are native to northern Africa. People like to keep these skins because they are docile creatures that do well in terrariums. These species of skinks live <a href="https://www.thesprucepets.com/pet-blue-tongued-skinks-1236897#:~:text=They%20are%20docile%2C%20quiet%2C%20gentle,their%20time%20on%20the%20ground." target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">about 15 years</a>, making them long-lived, low-maintenance pets.



<h2 id="h-setting-up-the-skink-tank">Setting Up the Skink Tank</h2>



If you are thinking of getting a skink as a low-maintenance pet, note that you will have to invest some time and money to get the skink settled into your house. Skinks require a handful of objects to live happily and healthfully.



<h3 id="h-a-skink-terrarium">A Skink Terrarium</h3>



First, a skink needs a relatively large terrarium (sometimes called a tank). A 55-gallon tank is the smallest recommended size for a skink, as they like big tanks compared to other lizards. This sized tank would be about eight cubic feet of space, which is about the footprint of a small desk. If you can, get a larger tank! Skinks are active animals. Your skink will have more places to explore and ponder life in a bigger terrarium. Terrariums that open from the front rather than the top are easier to maintain.



<figure class="wp-block-image alignnone wp-image-1887236 size-full"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/shutterstock_1421683055.jpg" alt="skink" class="wp-image-1887236"/><figcaption>[A pet skink burrows in its substrate.] <a href="https://www.shutterstock.com/g/scink">Scink</a>/Shutterstock.com</figcaption></figure>



<h3 id="h-bedding-and-substrate">Bedding and Substrate</h3>



As mentioned above, skinks are burrowing creatures. This means they need a deep layer of substrate to bury into. This substrate should be no less than six inches deep. <a href="https://www.thebiodude.com/blogs/reptile-and-amphibian-caresheets-with-cited-veterinary-and-herpetology-sources/blue-tongue-skink-care-guide" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Various substrates</a> can be used.



<h3 id="h-habitat-structures-caves-logs-sun-rocks">Habitat Structures: Caves, Logs, Sun Rocks</h3>



Do you ever feel like hiding from the world in your room? Skinks are the same way! They need spaces to decompress and feel safe. Reptile companies sell plenty of structures for lizards to hide out in. In addition to hiding places, sinks enjoy rocks to sun on and fun-shaped objects to explore and crawl around on.



<figure class="wp-block-image alignnone size-full wp-image-1887237"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/shutterstock_1873658005.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1887237"/><figcaption>[A skink hangs out in its bamboo cave.] <a href="https://www.shutterstock.com/g/nirut-luechayutthasin">Rut_Luecha</a>/Shutterstock.com</figcaption></figure>



<h3 id="h-the-lizard-heat-lamp">The Lizard Heat Lamp</h3>



<a href="https://www.earth.com/earthpedia-articles/are-amphibians-cold-blooded/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Cold-blooded creatures</a> can only regulate their body temperatures by absorbing heat from their surroundings. In the wild, skinks bask in the sun to gain the energy needed to hunt and move. Houses are too cold for the blue-tongued skinks kept as pets because they prefer temperatures of 90 F. A heat lamp is the best way to warm up your skink's terrarium. Put the heat lamp on one side of the terrarium. This placement makes a hot side and a cold side, which gives the skink options in order to thermoregulate.



<h3 id="h-where-do-i-get-this-stuff">Where Do I Get This Stuff?</h3>



A specialty reptile store will be the best place to buy the required items necessary for starting your skink terrarium. This is especially true if the skink is your first reptile pet. The expert staff at reptile-exclusive stores will know the appropriate tank size, heat lamp power, and type of vitamins to feed to your specific skink. Additionally, these stores will have all the materials you need, making the start-up process quick!



If you are on a budget and looking for second-hand items, there are plenty of terrariums and pet items on websites like NextDoor and Craigslist. Fortunately, once you have the terrarium set up, you are most of the way to caring for your new low-maintenance pet.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/shutterstock_1413231470.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1887238"/><figcaption><a href="https://www.shutterstock.com/g/dwi-putra-stock">dwi putra stock</a>/Shutterstock.com</figcaption></figure>



<h2 id="h-feeding-skinks">Feeding Skinks</h2>



Once your skink terrarium is set up, you will need to begin regular care of your new pet. Young skinks require feeding more often than adult skinks. Skinks younger than three months should <a href="https://reptifiles.com/blue-tongue-skink-care/blue-tongue-skink-food/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">be fed daily</a>. Three to eight-month-old skins should be fed about 3 times per week. For the next 14 years of their lives, skinks only need feeding one to two times per week, making them low-maintenance pets.



In addition to feeding more often, younger skinks require a higher ration of insects in their food than older skinks. Young skinks should eat about 70% insects and 30% vegetables, whereas adult skinks should eat even portions of both.



Some owners swear by <a href="https://reptifiles.com/blue-tongue-skink-care/blue-tongue-skink-food/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">cat food and dog food</a>, while others prefer to use live crickets and mealworms. While using live insects is more thrilling for your skink, cat and dog food are certainly a more low-maintenance pet alternative. Skinks like leafy greens and other soft vegetables. While skinks will eat a wide variety of fruits, owners should only feed them fruit as a special treat.



<figure class="wp-block-image alignnone size-full wp-image-1887239"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/shutterstock_1607384131.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1887239"/><figcaption>[A young boy enjoys looking at a reptile in a large terrarium.] <a href="https://www.shutterstock.com/g/galitskaya">Elizaveta Galitckaia</a>/Shutterstock.com</figcaption></figure>



<h2 id="h-low-maintenance-pets-do-require-some-cleaning">Low-Maintenance Pets Do Require Some Cleaning</h2>



The biggest regular maintenance of any low-maintenance reptile is cleaning the terrarium. Every day or so you should change the water, pick out any uneaten food, and pick up any feces. Skinks tend to get their water bowls quite dirty, so some may require their water to be changed daily.



More comprehensive cleaning is required each month. To perform a deep clean you will need to remove everything from the tank, then <a href="https://www.petcoach.co/article/habitats-cleaning-and-disinfecting-reptile-cages/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">clean and disinfect each surface</a>. Pay special attention to the corners where grime can build up. If the substrate looks dirty, replace it. Cleaning the skink tank shouldn't take more than an hour or two a month, which is part of the reason these reptiles are great low-maintenance pets.



<h2 id="h-what-are-other-low-maintenance-pets">What Are Other Low-Maintenance Pets?</h2>



Other small lizards, certain birds, and guinea pigs are <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthpedia-articles/low-maintenance-pets/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">excellent alternatives</a> to skinks as low-maintenance pets. When considered a pet, be sure to think about expenses, your long-term plans, your space, your interest, and your schedule. When all these factors line up and point you towards a skink, it's probably time you got yourself this lovely reptilian companion.



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Blue-Tongued Skinks: Low Maintenance Pets

Skinks make great pets for people who enjoy a low-key,...

African wild dogs and hyenas are two groups of animals that have inhabited Africa for hundreds of thousands of years. While these two animals may look somewhat similar, they are drastically different with divergent evolutionary histories. Today, let’s take a moment to better understand the differences between African wild dogs and hyenas.

<img class="size-large wp-image-1886967" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/shutterstock_1053699128-1024x751.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="751" />
<h2>African Wild Dog</h2>
This canine, also known as the painted dog or Cape hunting dog, is known scientifically as Lycaon pictus. The African wild dog is the only species still living within its genus, Lycaon. Let’s take a closer look at L. pictus so that we can compare it to the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hyenas-arctic-last-ice-age/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">hyena</a>. 
<h3>Morphology</h3>
The African wild dog is the<a href="https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Lycaon_pictus/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> largest of the African canines</a>. It stands 60 to 75 cm (24 to 30 in) tall at the shoulder and weighs upwards of 37 kg (80 lbs). Fur color is extremely variant within African wild dog populations. Their colors can range from almost entirely black to almost entirely grayish-yellow. 
<h3>Distribution</h3>
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists the <a href="https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/pdf/166502262/attachment" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">African wild dog</a> as “endangered - population decreasing.” The IUCN breaks the historical and present populations up into geographical regions.
<ul>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Northern Africa: Historically, L. pictus thrived in northern Africa. Hunting, trapping, and <a href="https://academicjournals.org/article/article1380047548_Masenga%20et%20al.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">poisoning</a> have killed off the vast majority of the population. The current population size is unknown.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
 	<li>West Africa: Like northern Africa, the African wild dog is all but extinct in West Africa. The largest population exists in Niokolo-Koba National Park in Senegal. The most <a href="https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/153/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">recent population data</a> (1997) suggested that 50-100 individuals were still living in the park. </li>
</ul>


<ul>
 	<li>Central Africa: The healthiest population exists in 3-4 small packs in the country of Chad. Hunting has been particularly detrimental to the dogs in Central Africa.</li>
</ul>


<ul>
 	<li>East Africa: This region presents the best opportunity for wild dog population growth. L. pictus is a <a href="https://www.loc.gov/law/help/wildlife-poaching/tanzania.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">protected species in Tanzania</a>, and Ruaha National Park likely has the largest population of the canine in Africa.</li>
</ul>


<ul>
 	<li>South Africa: Similar to eastern Africa, biologists hope that South Africa can serve as a haven for the wild dogs. They enjoy a less protective status across most of the region, yet some of the largest populations occur here.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Habitat</h3>
The African wild dog prefers open savannas and semi-arid plains. They generally avoid fostered areas, likely due to their hunting preferences. They require a long, unobstructed line of sight to chase down prey.
<h3>Behavior</h3>
Like most canines, African wild dogs are extremely social animals. They live in packs with sizes ranging from several to over two dozen individuals. The wild dogs have a rather odd social hierarchy and pack structure. The males tend to stay with the pack, while the females disperse after mating. This means that <a href="http://umich.edu/~esupdate/library/97.01-02/mamakos.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">males often outnumber females</a> 3:1. 

<img class="size-full wp-image-1886968" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/shutterstock_1818607877-1.jpg" alt="hyena" width="1000" height="667" />
<h2>Hyena</h2>
In contrast to the African wild dog, hyenas are not all the same species. Rather, the term applies to any member of the family Hyaenidae. For comparison, African wild dogs are true canines because they belong to the family Canidae. Conversely, hyenas are not dogs. 
<h3>Morphology</h3>
There are four species of hyenas: the aardwolf, spotted hyena, brown hyena, and the striped hyena. Their coats are extremely variant. Some species have spots, other stripes, others yet are a single solid color. They are united by their build, though. Hyenas have characteristically short hind legs and long front legs. This makes them appear to “slant” upwards towards the snout when standing. The largest species can grow to a shoulder height of roughly 36 inches and weigh up to 150 pounds. 
<h3>Distribution</h3>
The spotted hyena and aardwolf are listed by the <a href="https://www.iucn.org/commissions/ssc-groups/mammals/specialist-groups-f-z/hyaenid" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">IUCN</a> as “least concern.” Similarly, the brown and striped hyenas are listed as “near threatened.” Collectively, their extant range covers the entirety of the continent of Africa as well as large parts of the Middle East. Individually, they cover different parts of this vast region.
<ul>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Brown Hyena: This is the strictly southerly species of hyena. Its current range includes  Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Mozambique, and South Africa.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Aardwolf: This hyena has a southern distribution similar to the brown hyena. Additionally, it also resides in the Horn of Africa in present-day Somalia, Ethiopia, and Kenya.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Spotted Hyena: This species has a very large range. It is bounded on the north side by the Sahara Desert, and on the south side by the warm, wet, Mediterranean climate of southern South Africa. Notably, these hyenas are not usually found in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of Congo, Gabon, or Equitorial Guinea. These areas generally contain forests that are too dense for hunting.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Striped Hyena: This hyena has the most northern distribution. It generally lives north of the Sahara desert along the Mediterranean. Additionally, it is also found on the Horn of Africa, like the Aardwolf.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Habitat</h3>
Generally speaking, hyenas occupy the same type of habitats as African wild dogs. They prefer to live on wide-open plains, savannas, and grasslands. They are different than the wild dogs, though, in that hyenas also tend to occupy much more arid desert land as well as semi-mountainous terrain. 
<h3>Behavior</h3>
<ul>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Brown Hyena: Their social structure is analogous to that of wolves. They tend to live in mating pairs and with offspring, when applicable. Occasionally, brown hyenas will live in “clans” of up to six adults. All mature individuals share cub-rearing responsibilities. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Aardwolf: This species of hyena is uncharacteristically shy. They live in monogamous mating pairs and typically feed at night. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Striped Hyena: This hyena is similar to the aardwolf in that it typically lives alone or in a single mating pair. Also similarly, the striped hyena is almost entirely nocturnal. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Spotted Hyena: Spotted hyenas have a drastically different social structure. They live in “clans,” like brown hyenas. Unlike brown hyenas, spotted hyenas almost always live in these clans, and they can have up to 80 members. </li>
</ul>
<img class="size-large wp-image-1886969" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/shutterstock_1538967266-1024x683.jpg" alt="hyena" width="1024" height="683" />
<h2>Wild Dogs vs. Hyenas</h2>
Now that we’ve had an in-depth look at both African wild dogs and hyenas, let’s sum up some of the major differences between them.
<ul>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Size: The smallest hyenas are slightly smaller than African wild dogs (~24 inches), while the largest (~36 inches) are considerably bigger.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Mass: The largest African wild dogs (~80 lbs) weigh about half as much as the largest hyenas (150 lbs)</li>
</ul>
<ul>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Evolution: African wild dogs are exactly that - dogs. They are closely related to wolves and other canines. Hyenas are not canines and are more closely related to the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/banded-mongoose-families/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">mongoose</a>.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Social structure: African wild dogs are very social, group-oriented animals. With the exception of spotted hyenas, all other hyenas are rather shy and solitary. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Conservation: Hyenas enjoy a comfortable, not-endangered status. In comparison to the African wild dog, their habitat, territory, and population sizes are much more intact and healthy.</li>
</ul>
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African Wild Dog vs. Hyena, Know the Difference!

African wild dogs and hyenas are two groups of animals...

When one thinks of an insect, they usually don’t picture a six-legged animal diving and swimming through water. Yet, the giant water bug has certainly made a name for itself doing so. The huge insect is an aquatic killing machine, as it swims through the water hunting small prey like fish, snails, and other insects. It goes by many names, including toe-biters, electric light bugs, and fish killers. Their many names and odd appearance leads to some confusion about what the critters actually are. Water bugs are often mistaken for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/cockroaches-survive-anything/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">cockroaches</a> and other types of insects, so let’s clear up what exactly a water bug is, how to recognize one, and why they’re so cool!



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/water-strider-691039_1920-1024x683.jpg" alt="water bug" class="wp-image-1886869"/><figcaption><a href="https://pixabay.com/users/a_different_perspective-2135817/">A_Different_Perspective</a> / Pixabay</figcaption></figure>



<h2 id="h-is-a-water-bug-an-insect-what-kind">Is a Water Bug an Insect? What Kind?</h2>



Remember that insects are animals with a hard outer shell called an exoskeleton, six legs, and three body segments. Water bugs fit the insect bill in every way, so yes, they’re insects! Let’s go a little bit deeper, though. What kind of insect is a water bug?



Insects are in their own class of animals called Insecta, which contains many different orders. When we talk about types of insects, we usually refer to the taxonomic rank of order without even realizing it. Some of the most common insect orders are beetles (order Coleoptera), butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera), and flies (Diptera). Water bugs are in the <a href="https://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20q?search=Hemiptera" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">order Hemiptera</a>. These are called the “true bugs”, a funny name considering how colloquial the word “bug” is.



Water bugs, along with <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthpedia-articles/what-is-a-stink-bug-and-why-do-they-stink/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">stink bugs</a>, aphids, and cicadas, are all in the order Hemiptera. The order gets its name from having half (Hemi-) wings (ptera), because their forewings are only half membraneous, with the other half being hardened into a protective shield. Giant water bugs are in their own family called Belostomatidae.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/water-bug-1292227_1920-1024x575.jpg" alt="water bug" class="wp-image-1886870"/><figcaption><a href="https://pixabay.com/users/brett_hondow-49958/">Brett_Hondow</a> / Pixabay</figcaption></figure>



<h2 id="h-what-does-a-water-bug-look-like">What Does a Water Bug Look Like?</h2>



Giant water bugs are quite easy to recognize. First of all, they’re huge. They are usually at least two centimeters long (1 inch) but can be much, much larger. The largest species can reach lengths of up to 12 centimeters (4.5 inches), easily the length of a human hand! Aside from being really, really ridiculously big, giant water bugs can be recognized by a big “V” shaped pattern on their back.



<h2 id="h-where-do-water-bugs-live">Where Do Water Bugs Live?</h2>



Water bugs can be found all over the world. One of the more familiar species is Lethocerus americanus which is common in Southern Canada and the United States.



Giant water bugs live in aquatic and semi-aquatic environments. You can find them in freshwater ecosystems of all kinds, including ponds, <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthpedia-articles/salt-marsh/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">marshes</a>, the banks of rivers and streams, and more. They typically like to hang out right underneath the surface of the water where they hide amongst vegetation or loose rock in order to escape predation when they aren’t hunting.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/wasserlaufer-5372086-1024x632.jpg" alt="water strider" class="wp-image-1886871"/><figcaption><a href="https://pixabay.com/users/siebeckdotcom-13589689/">siebeckdotcom</a> / Pixabay</figcaption></figure>



<h2 id="h-water-bug-behavior">Water Bug Behavior</h2>



Water bugs are famous mainly because of their hunting abilities. They have specialized limbs that allow them to be swim and hunt in the water with ease. For example, their hind legs are basically giant paddles. They are large and flat, and water bugs use these appendages to propel themselves through the water. They also have huge <a href="https://www.amentsoc.org/insects/glossary/terms/raptorial" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">raptorial forelegs</a> that snag and hold onto their prey, much like a praying mantis. These front appendages are what make water bugs such excellent hunters, as they are capable of catching prey much larger than themselves.



Once a water bug is holding its meal, it inserts a long, piercing mouthpart into its victim. First, saliva with digestive enzymes is injected into the prey. Then, the water bug sucks out the nutritious juices with its straw-like mouth. It's a rather gruesome end for the prey, but an effective method of eating for the water bug.



Despite their aquatic abilities, giant water bugs can’t actually <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthpedia-articles/how-do-amphibians-breathe/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">breathe underwater</a>. Instead, they take up air at the surface like a snorkel and hold their breath as they dive. They can also create an air bubble underneath their wings, which they slowly use up while they’re underwater. It’s important to note that, unlike most animals, insects breathe through tiny holes in their abdomen. Other arthropods like spiders are able to do this as well, making them some of the first-ever scuba divers in the natural world!



Giant water bugs are also good parents, which is an unusual trait among insects. The male water bug cares for the eggs, often carrying them on his back before they hatch.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/water-2808949_1920-1024x576.jpg" alt="water striders" class="wp-image-1886873"/><figcaption><a href="https://pixabay.com/users/ddzphoto-5605533/">ddzphoto</a> / Pixabay</figcaption></figure>



<h2 id="h-should-i-be-afraid-of-water-bugs">Should I Be Afraid of Water Bugs?</h2>



The short answer is: No! Water bugs are vital parts of a healthy ecosystem and are mostly harmless to humans. However, they are known to bite humans, and this behavior is what gives them the name "toe-biters". Unfortunately, their bite can be quite painful. Luckily, it’s not all that common to be bitten by these bugs, and they only bite to defend themselves if they are handled or messed with. They prefer to escape the situation first, using a bite only as a last resort.



<h2 id="h-in-conclusion">In Conclusion</h2>



Giant water bugs are nothing to be afraid of unless you are a small insect or fish living underwater. If you’re a human, they are fascinating and charismatic insects that deserve more recognition. The large insects have a super interesting natural history and are a vital part of aquatic ecosystems. Now you know what they are, where to find them, and how they live!



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What Is a Giant Water Bug?

When one thinks of an insect, they usually don’t picture...

The blue macaw is one of the most recognizable birds in the world. Its beautiful blue feathers were known to Europeans <a href="https://www.academia.edu/4763212/First_record_of_the_Hyacinth_macaw_Anodorhynchus_hyachintinus_Latham_1790_for_the_State_of_Amazonas_Brazil" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">as early as 1790</a>, and native South American peoples for centuries before that. Unfortunately, this bird whose population may have numbered in the millions at one point is on the <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthpedia-articles/the-12-endangered-birds-most-at-risk-of-extinction/">brink of extinction</a>. Today, let’s take a look at what has driven these beautiful parrots to this point. 

<img class="alignnone wp-image-1886502 size-full" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/shutterstock_388119127.jpg" alt="flying blue macaw" width="1000" height="667" />
<h2>Blue Macaw Biology</h2>
Before we can understand the unique challenges that blue macaws face, we have to first understand some basic facts about them. 
<h3>Phylogeny</h3>
To better understand the blue macaw, we have to understand its place in the world of biology. Let’s take a look at the bird’s phylogeny - its biological classification.
<ul>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Class: - Aves: Generally speaking, <a href="https://ucmp.berkeley.edu/diapsids/birds/birdintro.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">aves </a>encompasses all animals that most people would consider “birds.” Remember birds are not mammals, but they have feathers, are toothless, and lay eggs.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Order - Psittaciformes: <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/psittaciform" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">This order</a> includes almost all parrots. These birds are divided into three superfamilies: Psittacoidea ("true" parrots), Cacatuoidea (cockatoos), and Strigopoidea (New Zealand parrots).</li>
</ul>
<ul>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Family - Psittacidae: The family Psittacoidea is one of three true parrot families in the superfamily bearing the same name. It includes both new and old world parrots. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Genus - Anodorhynchus: This is one of several genera within Psittacidae. It includes three species. One, the Glaucous macaw, is thought to be extinct. Another, Lear's macaw, has recovered to roughly 1,000 birds in the wild, up from only ~50 in the 1980s. The third species is A. hyacinthinus.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Species - A. hyacinthinus: This species is what is most commonly referred to as the “blue macaw.” Some specimens of the blue macaw date back to the 18th century. </li>
</ul>
<h3>Morphology</h3>
Blue macaws are enormous birds. In fact, they are the largest living parrots. In the wild, they can measure over a meter (3.3 feet) in length and weigh up to 2 kg (4.5 pounds). The birds are distinct due to two features. First, they all have bright blue feathers. Secondly, almost all macaws have a flashy, yellow rings around their eyes and mouth. 
<h3>Distribution</h3>
At one point in time, the blue macaw’s extant range may have occupied a majority of South America. Today, that is certainly not the case. The birds survive in three relatively distinct population clusters.
<ul>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Tri-Border Area: More commonly known as the Pantanal region, this area is a <a href="https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">UNESCO world heritage site</a>. It is the world’s largest tropical wetland and occupies parts of Brazil, Paraguay, and Bolivia. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Cerrado Region: Although this area is vast (accounting for roughly ⅕ of Brazil’s landmass) the macaw habitat is relatively small. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Northern Brazil: The smallest population group of macaws exists near the Amazon River Delta. This habitat mainly borders the Tocantins, Xingu, and Tapajós rivers.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Habitat</h3>
The blue macaw has similar habitat preferences to other parrots. They generally stray away from dense forest, preferring to occupy semi-wooded or less-densely forested areas. These often include palm swamps. When the macaws do live near dense jungles, they often live along the wide-open banks of major rivers.
<h3>Diet</h3>
Unlike some taxa, birds differ widely in their diet. Large birds of prey - hawks, falcons, etc - are carnivores. Smaller songbirds - robins, jays, etc - are <a href="http://www.life.illinois.edu/ib/462/Lab%2013%20Insectivores.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">insectivores</a>. The same thing is true for parrots. The New Zealand superfamily of parrots is omnivorous - feeding on both nuts and the <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00m7qq1" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">hatchlings of seafaring birds</a>. 

The blue macaw has a much simpler diet. It is almost exclusively a herbivore that feeds on nuts. In some areas of its habitat, the birds will feed on nuts from only a few types of trees:  A. aculeata and A. phalerata. Macaws will also consume some fruits or vegetables depending on what their local environment has to offer. 
<h3>Reproduction and Lifespan</h3>
The reproductive tendencies of the blue macaw are most interesting within the Pantanal region. The vast majority of blue macaws nest in one species of tree: the Mandovi tree. Interestingly, this means that the blue macaw is dependent on certain species of toucans, which spread the Mandovi seeds. 

The gestation period for the eggs is roughly one month. The fledglings will eventually leave the nest after around 100 days. Like many large birds, the clutch size is small, usually around two. The birds have to survive for quite some time in the wild because they do not reach sexual maturity until the age of seven.

<img class="alignnone wp-image-1886503 size-full" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/shutterstock_1723600882.jpg" alt="blue macaw" width="1000" height="667" />
<h2>Danger of Extinction</h2>
Blue macaws have been endangered for decades. The other two species in the genus Anodorhynchus provide both a glimmer of hope and a worst-case scenario. The Lear's macaw has seen a tremendous comeback in the last ~20 years, multiplying its population over ten-fold. On the other hand, the Glaucous macaw is thought to be extinct. Let’s take a look at the two-fold extinction threat to blue macaws.
<ul>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Habitat destruction: This is a problem faced by countless species on our planet. Blue macaws require a goldilocks-type habitat: not too dense, not too open. Additionally, they depend on many other species for their continued survival. The vast majority of this habitat destruction is purposeful on the part of humans. <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/18/americas/brazil-blue-macaws-wildfires-intl/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">By-products such as wildfires,</a> while unintentional, are just as detrimental. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;">Caged bird trade: Unfortunately, biologists and conservationists are the only people who believe blue macaws are a beautiful species. Trappers and poachers took roughly <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/blue-spixs-macaw-parrot-that-inspired-rio-is-extinct-in-wild/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">10,000 birds</a> from the wild in the 1980s. </li>
</ul>
<img class="alignnone wp-image-1886505 size-full" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/shutterstock_1656046441.jpg" alt="blue macaw" width="1000" height="667" />
<h2>Macaw Future</h2>
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List (<a href="https://www.iucnredlist.org/ja/species/22685516/93077457" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">IUCN</a>), the blue macaw is listed as “vulnerable - decreasing.” They indicate that roughly 4,300 are left in the wild, and that number is decreasing. While this news is discouraging, there are two bright spots. 

First, the number of birds in safe captivity is increasing. More zoos and sanctuaries are recognizing the importance of keeping active birds for genetic diversity. This means that the possibility of reintroducing macaws back into the wild increases with time. 

Secondly, multiple Brazilian national and <a href="https://www.fws.gov/endangered/what-we-do/parrots.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">other international organizations</a> are actively monitoring the macaw population. Knowing the challenges is the first step in helping macaws make a recovery to a healthy and stable population size. 

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Is the Blue Macaw Extinct? Not Yet!

The blue macaw is one of the most recognizable birds...

Lizards, snakes, and turtles have been kept as pets by humans for thousands of years. What do they all have in common? They’re reptiles! This group of organisms has been distributed on planet earth for over 300 million years. Their evolution has produced a stunning array of diversity spread across many ecosystems. Today, let’s take a look at one of the most interesting members of this class and answer the question: are chameleons reptiles?



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/shutterstock_1626244132.jpg" alt="are chameleons reptiles" class="wp-image-1886167"/><figcaption><a href="https://www.shutterstock.com/g/bundid-vc">shutter_o</a>/Shutterstock.com</figcaption></figure>



<h2 id="h-what-is-a-reptile">What Is a Reptile?</h2>



Before we can understand why chameleons are reptiles, we have to understand what a reptile is. Reptiles are a biological classification of organisms belonging to the class reptilia. This group of organisms evolved <a href="https://www2.palomar.edu/anthro/earlyprimates/time_scale_of_earth_1.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">roughly 350 million years ago</a>. They evolved slightly after amphibians (416 million years ago). Reptiles and amphibians ruled planet earth, unchecked, for roughly 200 million years until mammals evolved around 146 million years ago. Let’s take a closer look at some of the defining characteristics that all reptiles possess.



<h3 id="h-skin">Skin</h3>



It’s not the skin of reptiles that make them unique, but rather, it’s what covers their skin. All reptiles have scales, bony plates, or a <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/reptiles/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">combination of both</a>. In some cases, these scales are rather small. Take <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/veterinary-science-and-veterinary-medicine/snake-scales#:~:text=Snake%20scales%20originate%20from%20the,larger%20scales%20cover%20the%20ventrum." target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">snakes</a>, for example. Their bodies are covered in hundreds or thousands of small, hard scales. From a distance, this can simply appear to be skin. On the other end of the spectrum, crocodiles have large, hard plates covering their bodies. In both instances, these evolved for protection.



<h3 id="h-thermoregulation">Thermoregulation</h3>



Reptiles are ectothermic, <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthpedia-articles/are-amphibians-cold-blooded/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">like amphibians</a>. This firstly means that they do not produce their own heat. Secondly, they do not maintain a constant body temperature. This is why reptiles, like lizards and snakes, sun themselves: to warm up their internal body temperature. Reptiles are (somewhat) unique in the animal kingdom in that also do not possess much of any external temperature regulation, either. They lack fur or feathers to keep them warm in colder temperatures, and they lack sweat glands to cool them off in warmer temperatures.&nbsp;



<h3 id="h-reproduction">Reproduction</h3>



Only <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2016/01/160116-animals-mating-sex-birth-sharks-snakes-reptiles/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">two reptiles</a> - boas and pythons - give birth to live young. Every other reptile simply lays eggs into a nest and then leaves the eventual young to fend for themselves. Interestingly, the temperature at which eggs mature is a <a href="https://embryo.asu.edu/pages/temperature-dependent-sex-determination-reptiles#:~:text=Temperature%2Ddependent%20sex%20determination%20(TSD,and%20some%20lizards%20exhibit%20TSD." target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">determining factor in the sex of reptile offspring</a>. This is largely due to the hormone <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1241188/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">aromatase</a>. Essentially, temperature fluctuations affect the levels of aromatase in developing reptiles. This in turn affects levels of sex-determining hormones.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/shutterstock_1794075022.jpg" alt="are chameleons reptiles" class="wp-image-1886168"/><figcaption><a href="https://www.shutterstock.com/g/kuritoafsheen">Kurit afshen</a>/Shutterstock.com</figcaption></figure>



<h2 id="h-what-is-a-chameleon">What Is a Chameleon?</h2>



Now that we understand what reptiles are generally, what exactly is a chameleon? In terms of their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/humans-classify-life-taxonomy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">taxonomy</a>, chameleons fall into the family chamaeleonidae. There are over 200 described species spread across several different genera.&nbsp;



<h3 id="h-morphology">Morphology</h3>



One of the most distinct parts of a chameleon's morphology is their color-changing ability, but we’ll get to that later. Relatively speaking, the range of different sizes present in these reptiles&nbsp;is rather large. One of the smallest chameleons, B. micra, grows to about one inch in length. On the other hand, F. oustaleti chameleons can grow to over two feet in length.&nbsp;



<h3 id="h-distribution">Distribution</h3>



Generally speaking, chameleons are native to Sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar. Some species are native to many other regions in the world including India, the Middle East, and Southern Europe.&nbsp;



Chameleons are also found in other, non-native locations. Jackson chameleons&nbsp;have been introduced in Hawaii and are considered an <a href="https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/hisc/info/invasive-species-profiles/jacksons-chameleon/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">invasive species</a>. In Florida, <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2017/06/chameleons-ranching-florida-invasives-pets/#:~:text=At%20least%20three%20species%20of,any%20protected%20status%20in%20Florida." target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">a very similar problem</a> occurs.



Most species of chameleon are considered <a href="https://www2.palomar.edu/anthro/primate/glossary.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">arboreal</a> - they live in trees. Usually, they are found on the trunks and lower branches of trees in tropical and mountain forests. The <a href="https://web.stanford.edu/~siegelr/animalz/chameleon.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Namaqua chameleon</a> breaks this rule. It is entirely ground-dwelling and lives in the deserts of western Africa.&nbsp;



<h3 id="h-behavior">Behavior</h3>



Chameleons lay their eggs in shallow holes they dig into the ground. Depending on the species, chameleons will lay anywhere from 10-200 eggs. The gestation period varies just as widely, as well: 4-12 months. Most chameleon species are insectivorous: they only eat bugs. Interestingly, larger species. such as veiled chameleons, also <a href="http://hear.its.hawaii.edu/misc/mauinews/pdfs/20070513_veiledchameleon.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">include birds</a> in their regular diet. In the wild, chameleons generally live 2-3 years. In captivity, they can live almost 4 times as long, <a href="https://animaldiversity.org/site/accounts/information/Calumma_parsonii.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sometimes up to 14 years</a>.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/shutterstock_777835606.jpg" alt="chameleon camouflage" class="wp-image-1886170"/><figcaption><a href="https://www.shutterstock.com/g/joeztudio">JoeZ</a>/Shutterstock.com</figcaption></figure>



<h3 id="h-camouflage">Camouflage</h3>



The behavior that chameleons are famous for - changing color - has long been a topic of study among ecologists. The purpose of the color-changing ability is two-fold. First, it <a href="https://askdruniverse.wsu.edu/2016/01/25/how-do-chameleons-change-color/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">allows chameleons to thermoregulate</a>. When they need to absorb more heat, and therefore light, they can turn darker colors. When they need to cool off, they can change to a lighter color. Secondly, this behavior is used for signaling. For example, male chameleons can turn specific colors to signal aggression. Female chameleons can use the ability to signal their willingness to mate.



The physiology of this behavior comes down to sacs of pigment deep in the chameleon’s skin. <a href="https://www.wired.com/2014/04/how-do-chameleons-change-colors/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">According to Dr. Mary Bates</a>, a Ph.D. ecologist, the phenomenon is regulated by specialized cells. The outermost layer of the skin is transparent. “Beneath this are several more layers of skin that contain specialized cells called chromatophores.” These are pigment filled sacs, and they are normally not exposed. But, this changes when a chameleon experiences a change in temperature or mood. “Its nervous system tells specific chromatophores to expand or contract.” It is this expansion and contraction that cause the stunning array of colors we observe.&nbsp;



<h2 id="h-endangered">Endangered</h2>



Chameleons <a href="https://news.vcu.edu/article/Habitat_loss_and_fragmentation_reduce_chameleon_population_in#:~:text=In%20the%20past%2050%20years,by%20Virginia%20Commonwealth%20University%20biologists." target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">are an endangered family</a>. For the most part, this is due to habit loss. Over the last 50 years, in Tanzania, 60% of the chameleon habitat has been lost. This is largely due to the expansion of human habitat. This problem isn't specific to chameleons, either. Globally, reptile numbers are in decline. This is in large part due to global climate change. Lizards are unable to regulate their own body temperature. As such, they rely on very specific temperature gradients in their environment. Thus, <a href="http://www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.1604824113" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">even small changes can be deadly</a>.



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Are Chameleons Reptiles? Yes, Here's Why

Lizards, snakes, and turtles have been kept as pets by...

Chimpanzees and bonobos are our closest living relatives. Humans (Homo sapien) share not only a common ancestor with both these primates, but we also share over 98% of our genome. But while these two great ape species have many similarities, they are actually quite different animals. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bonobo-and-chimpanzee-taxonomy">Bonobo and Chimpanzee Taxonomy</h2>



Physically, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-chimpanzee-day-celebrating-our-closest-cousins/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">chimpanzees</a> and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bonobos-group-cohesion-common-enemy-effect-do-not-kill-inside-their-species/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bonobos</a> are quite similar, and together, they make up the sole members of the genus Pan. Their genus shares the family Hominidae with the other tailless great apes like gorillas and orangutans. Originally, researchers assumed bonobos were just a subspecies of chimpanzees. 



In fact, until <a href="https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&amp;search_value=943824&amp;print_version=PRT&amp;source=to_print#null" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">1954</a>, scientists called them pygmy chimpanzees. Eventually, the two ape species were seen as distinct. Over the years, research has continued to reveal differences between chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) and bonobos (Pan paniscus). Keep reading to learn more about the ecology of these two primates along with some of their key differences.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-distribution-amp-range">Distribution &amp; Range</h2>



Both chimpanzees and bonobos live in the tropical jungles of central Africa. However, bonobos have a much smaller range. In fact, bonobos are <a href="https://evolutionaryanthropology.duke.edu/research/3chimps/chimps-bonobos" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">endemic</a> to a small region of the Congo River Basin in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 



On the other hand, chimpanzees are found across twelve countries in east, central, and west Africa. Though both species can be found in the Congo River Basin, bonobos stay south of the river while chimpanzees can be found to the north.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/shutterstock_222261151.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1903275"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><a href="https://www.shutterstock.com/g/rolands">Patrick Rolands</a>/Shutterstock.com</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-do-chimpanzees-and-bonobos-look-different">Do Chimpanzees and Bonobos Look Different?</h2>



At first glance, it might be hard to tell the two primates apart, but, in fact, chimpanzees and bonobos have a few key differences in appearance. To start, they have quite different body shapes. Bonobos are slender with long lanky limbs. Chimps, on the other hand, are much burlier. 



Additionally, chimpanzees display sexual dimorphism as the males are significantly larger than the females. In contrast, bonobo females and males are much closer in size. Their coloration differs slightly as well. 



Bonobos have dark black faces from birth, while baby chimps have pale pink faces that darken with maturation. You can always tell a bonobo from a chimp by their lips! Bonobos have bright pink lips while chimpanzees have dark lips. 



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Trait</td><td>Chimpanzees</td><td>Bonobos</td></tr><tr><td>Lip Color</td><td>Bright Pink Lips</td><td>Dark Lips</td></tr><tr><td>Build</td><td>Slender</td><td>Robust</td></tr><tr><td>Face Color</td><td>Black</td><td>Darkens with age</td></tr></tbody></table><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A table highlighting the key physical differences between chimpanzees and bonobos.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-diet">Diet</h2>



Both chimps and bonobos are primarily frugivores, preferring to munch on the wide variety of fruit available in the tropical forests of central Africa. However, bonobos are more likely to <a href="https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.393.9208&amp;rep=rep1&amp;type=pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">add vegetables to their diets</a> by grazing on stems, leaves, and flowers. 



Additionally, while bonobos won’t shy away from a protein source like worms or ants or the occasional duiker (small antelope), chimps tend to be a bit more carnivorous. 



Seemingly tied to competition for status and mates, male chimpanzees will go on violent hunting sprees, mostly targeted at the smaller colobus monkeys. Bonobo communities tend to hunt for meat about twice per month, and they <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/bonobos-generous-share-food/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">share</a> their prey generously with the group. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chimpanzee-vs-bonobo-behavior">Chimpanzee vs. Bonobo Behavior</h2>



The most dramatic differences between chimps and bonobos lie in their social behaviors. Not only fascinating from an ecological perspective, but primate behavior can also give us clues to human evolution. 



In the field of evolutionary anthropology, scientists use <a href="https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/pdf/10.1086/204757" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">primate studies</a> to answer questions. Chimpanzee and bonobo behavior can help us understand if certain human behaviors are part of our genome or learned through societal pressures.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-social-structure">Social Structure</h3>



Both primates live in social groups of mixed males and females, with bonobos generally occupying larger groups. Both groups use a fission-fusion structure in which smaller foraging teams reunite at night to sleep. 



However, there are several key divergences in how the primates interact between ages and genders. Chimpanzee communities have a clear hierarchy of males that defend clearly marked territories. 



On the other hand, wild bonobos are less strict with their territory borders and operate under a more matriarchal society. These trends in social structure are built on the social bonds between individuals.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/shutterstock_2111507969.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1903276"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><a href="https://www.shutterstock.com/g/anolis01">Edwin Butter</a>/Shutterstock.com</figcaption></figure>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chimpanzee-society">Chimpanzee Society</h4>



For chimpanzees, the relationships between males define the group structure. A classic example of natural selection, chimps compete for power in the group which translates to more chances to mate and pass on their offspring. 



The more dominant alpha males intimidate younger chimps and have more offspring. However, this fierce competition comes at a violent cost. Chimps are known to commit both infanticide and cannibalism to increase their chances of fathering offspring. 



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bonobo-society">Bonobo Society</h4>



In contrast, female bonobos run the show south of the Congo River. In general, bonobo society has much more interaction between genders and ages, and female bonds are critical. While young males stay with their natal groups, adolescent females disperse to find a new group. 



In the quest to become accepted, the new female will pamper the higher-ranking females. Sexual behavior between females is extremely common, and this new female will use <a href="https://www.reed.edu/biology/courses/BIO342/2011_syllabus/2011_websites/subramanian_jaime/genesis.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">socio-sexual behaviors</a> to eventually bond with all the non-related female bonobos.  



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-communication">Communication</h4>



Both species of great ape have complex communication with several similarities. However, their vocalizations sound quite different. Chimpanzees have lower-pitched voices, letting out barks and grunts. Bonobos are higher-pitched, and their vocalizations sound like squeals and yelps.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/shutterstock_235455565.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1903277"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><a href="https://www.shutterstock.com/g/joshuadavenport">Joshua Davenport</a>/Shutterstock.com</figcaption></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tool-use">Tool Use</h3>



One of the most well-known fun facts about these two primates is their creative tool use! Chimpanzees have been observed using a plethora of tools from absorbant <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/chimpanzees-drinking-sticks/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">drinking sticks</a> to makeshift shovels. To help with foraging, chimp mothers intentionally <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/chimpanzee-mothers-teach-their-children-how-to-use-tools/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">teach their young</a> to use specific herbs like a spoon in a termite mound. 



Bonobos have also been seen to use tools including rocks and sticks. Due to the nature of their habitat, wild bonobo populations are understudied, and most of the tool observations have been made in captivity. Who knows what else they could be up to in the jungle?! 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-conservation">Conservation</h2>



Unfortunately, the IUCN red list lists both chimpanzees and bonobos as endangered. Most of their population declines come as a result of human action. Whether deforestation, poaching, urban development, or the impending threat of climate change, these primate populations are at risk.&nbsp;



While all species deserve protection, certainly we owe it to our closest living relatives to treat our shared planet with a bit more thoughtfulness. 



Conservation efforts to protect both these species have garnered attention since Jane Goodall made her first observations. However, slowing the devastating effects of climate change and habitat destruction is critical to the survival of these two amazing apes!



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Chimpanzees vs. Bonobos: What’s the Difference?

Chimpanzees and bonobos are our closest living relatives. Humans (Homo...

African,Penguin,On,The,Sandy,Beach.,African,Penguin,(,Spheniscus

The African penguin, Latin name Spheniscus demersus, is a species of penguin endemic to the waters of South Africa. They are flightless birds that have evolved to thrive in their marine habitat. Highly <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4116197/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">social and vocal</a>, these penguins have a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/penguin-foraging-behavior-habitat-health/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tough battle</a> ahead to survive the human impact and the unfolding climate crisis of the Anthropocene.  
<h2>How Is It Different From Other Penguins?</h2>
There are <a href="https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/penguin#:~:text=Penguins%20are%20a%20family%20of,primarily%20in%20the%20Southern%20Hemisphere." target="_blank" rel="noopener">17-19 different species of penguins</a> in the world, all of which live in the southern hemisphere.  African penguins are distinguishable from other species in their appearance: these birds have a pale pink coloring around their eyes and <a href="http://www.penguins.cl/african-penguins.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a black facial mask</a>. 

The pink colorings around their eyes are actually sweat glands that are part of the birds’ <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/thermoregulation#:~:text=Thermoregulation%20is%20a%20process%20that,falls%20within%20a%20narrow%20window.">thermoregulatory system</a>. When temperatures rise, blood flow increases to these glands, causing the pink color to deepen. 

Less than two feet tall, their white underparts are spotted and also marked with a black band. These spotted patterns upon their breasts are unique to each bird, sort of like a human’s fingerprints. The African penguin’s color is an example of “countershading”, which is a protective adaption to certain environments. Their spotted-white underparts make it hard for predators to see them from under the water, and their black backs blend into the water from the sky, protecting them from predators in the air. 

Other common names for the African penguin include cape penguin, jackass penguin, black-footed penguin, and South African penguin. 

The African penguin’s feeding style is classified as a “pursuit diver”. This means that the birds’ underwater propulsion is possible due to their wings or feet. In the case of the African penguins, their wings operate like flippers, allowing the birds to move quickly and gracefully in the water. This swimming speed allows for a greater area in which to feed in comparison to species of birds that are only able to feed on the water’s surface. However, this evolutionary adaption for hunting in the water is why these birds are unable to fly. Because they are unable to fly, guilds of pursuit divers are not able to migrate as easily to other locations. 

African penguins' diet consists of squid and fish. 

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1888405" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/shutterstock_252302530-1.jpg" alt="African Penguins" width="1000" height="728" />
<h2>Where To Find Them</h2>
Locals and tourists alike consider African penguins to be a charismatic species. The penguin's loud bray call, in particular, charms onlookers. Apparently, it sounds quite like a donkey. 

Populations of these birds can be found in <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091026082526/http://www.dict.org.za/penguin.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener">South Africa, Namibia</a>, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola, Mozambique, and Gabon. 

This species of penguin is also a popular member of zoos around the world - it’s possible an African penguin could be close by, even if you live far away from South African waters! 

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1888406" src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/shutterstock_494918926.jpg" alt="" width="1000" height="591" />
<h2>African Penguins Are a Threatened Species</h2>
In the wild, African penguins <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4116197/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">live in colonies</a>, and these populations <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20131203072203/http://www.seaturtles.org/article.php?id=1800" target="_blank" rel="noopener">have declined by 95%</a> since the pre-industrial era.

Why is this the case? The answer is simple: us. As is so often the case, human impact, convenience, and cultural delicacies often <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7417240/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">come at the expense of the creatures around us</a>, to heartbreaking effect. 

Local communities have long considered African penguin eggs to be a delicacy. People legally collected these eggs and sold them well into the 1970s. The people who collected these eggs would smash older eggs before larger collecting efforts to ensure that the eggs they were harvesting were fresh. It’s a brutal approach, but it wasn’t only to meet the demand of nearby townspeople - beginning in the 1950s, <a href="https://www.newspapers.com/clip/50557919/french-gourmet-finds-penguin-egg/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">French chefs</a> sought after the African penguin eggs, too, fueling cruel and unsustainable harvesting practices. 

The story gets bleaker, though. People began to harvest the penguin guano from islands where the colonies lived. Farmers then used the guano as fertilizer for their soil. These practices eliminate the necessary burrowing material available to the penguins. 

And then there are the oil spills. The African penguin’s habitat has been criminally polluted by petrochemicals via shipwrecks, oil spills, and tankards at sea where there are few regulations and even less accountability for companies and governments trafficking these resources. Arctic penguins’ exposure is both chronic and acute and is <a href="https://www.newspapers.com/clip/50559428/south-africas-penguins-die-from-oil/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a crisis that spans decades</a>. Today, the penguins are an endangered species and included on the IUCN “Red List”. 

That’s not all. Fisheries near the colonies have had <a href="https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54568076/penguins-elude-oil-spill-but-fishermen/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a drastic impact</a> on the availability of sardines and anchovy in the area - two of the main staples of the African penguin’s diet. This means the birds have to search farther offshore for food and otherwise settle for less nutritious food. Officials have experimented with restricting commercial fishing near the colonies <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/multi-drone-system-uses-a-unique-algorithm-to-survey-penguin-colonies/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">to positive effect. </a>

<a href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/african-penguin-on-sandy-beach-spheniscus-536915842">Image</a>
<h2>The Future Is in Restoration</h2>
Conservation efforts are ongoing and applaudable, but they will not be enough to save the African Penguin or any of the other species threatened by the climate crisis. We must require that governments invest in sustainable energy resources, that oil companies are held accountable for their <a href="http://www.earth.com/news/plastic-pollution-crisis-antarctic/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">unjust business practices</a>, and that individuals and communities around the world are incentivized to drastically <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earths-temperature-has-been-steadily-rising-since-the-1850s/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reduce their carbon footprint</a>. The future of the African penguin depends on this. And so do we. 

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What Is the African Penguin? Why Is it Endangered?

The African penguin, Latin name Spheniscus demersus, is a species...

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Nushagak Bay, a large estuary in southwest Alaska. Nushagak runs mainly north to south and exits in Bristol Bay, a large body of water in the Bering Sea.



"The bay is primarily fed by the Nushagak River, which begins in the Alaska Range and flows southwest approximately 450 km. The bay is also fed by several additional rivers including the Wood, Igushik, Snake and Weary rivers," says ESA.



"The dark colors of the Nushagak River are most likely due to tannins or lignins (chemical substances found in plants). Tannins and lignins from roots, leaves, seeds, bark and soil can leach into the water and give it a brown or even black colour. The sediments then flow southwards where it is mixed with the bluer waters of the bay."



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.acs.org/">American Chemical Society</a> (ACS) reveals that proteins on flu viruses are actually flexible, tilting and waving in a “breath-like” motion. According to the experts, these proteins could be used to better defend against the flu.



"The main antigenic targets of influenza virus are two surface glycoproteins, hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). Whereas the structural and dynamical properties of both glycoproteins have been studied previously, the understanding of their plasticity in the whole-virion context is fragmented," wrote the researchers.



To investigate, the team conducted detailed simulations of the influenza A H1N1 virion, or the swine flu. The experts concluded that the visualizations show many new vulnerable states of flu viruses, which could improve future vaccines and antiviral drugs.



Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

[sendtonews key="G9bUoxcjr4-2511624-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Lake Trasimeno, which is located west of Perugia in central Italy. It is the fourth largest lake in the country. While Trasimeno’s water level varies, it has a maximum depth of approximately six meters.&nbsp;



"In this Copernicus Sentinel-2 image, captured on 6 August 2022, the lake’s emerald green colour is likely due to the presence of phytoplankton. Streaks in the water, particularly visible in the west, indicate the presence of soil and sediments which have been stirred up by winds. Dark colored waters in the southern part of the lake indicate a presence of submerged and floating macrophytes (aquatic plants) as well as algae," says ESA.



"Surrounded by hills on three sides, Trasimeno is subject to heavy storms created by winds, especially from the north and west. There are three islets in the lake: Maggiore, Minore and Polvese (the largest). The lake’s shores are sparsely inhabited with only two popular villages: Castiglione del Lago and Passignano sul Trasimeno."



"Italy is experiencing its worst drought in 70 years which has affected drinking water supplies, hydroelectric power and agricultural production. High temperatures, hot winds and lack of rainfall are the main causes of drought in the Umbrian region which saw Lake Trasimeno’s drop 1.3 m, reaching the limit of the hydrometric zero in July 2022."



Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.acs.org/">American Chemical Society</a> describes a new self-powered nanosensor that can instantly detect mercury contamination with the tap of a finger.&nbsp;



The oxidized form of mercury can be harmful when it is ingested through contaminated water or food. This makes it necessary for experts to develop sensors that can quickly and accurately detect the presence of mercury.&nbsp;



Zong-Hong Lin and colleagues have now created a triboelectric nanosensor (TENS) that can detect mercury by simply by touching a sample. According to the researchers, their TENS could serve as the basis for similar devices to safely and remotely monitor other pollutants.



Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

[sendtonews key="LvS8v8bp9z-2564889-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.acs.org/">American Chemical Society</a> explores the ability of salt to transform the way that foods and beverages taste. Salt is known to cover up undesirable flavors, such as bitterness in coffee or beer, but how exactly does sodium chloride change the taste of other compounds?



One previous study showed that, not only does salt suppress bitterness, but also enhances sweetness and sourness. Another study revealed that bitterness reduction by salt seems to be happening at the tongue receptor level as well as in the brain.&nbsp;



While it is known that salt taste is mediated by the presence of sodium channels in the form of taste buds, experts believe that there is also an unknown receptor responsible for how we taste salt that has not yet been identified.&nbsp;



Video Credit: ACS Reactions



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



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How does salt makes things taste better?

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Santiago, the capital city of Chile. The city is located in the center of the Santiago Metropolitan Region, which has a population of about eight million people.&nbsp;



'The weather of Santiago resembles the Mediterranean climate with dry and warm summers with temperatures reaching up to 35°C (from October to March) and cool and humid winters that can drop to 0°C (from April to September)."



"The city lies in the centre of the country’s central valley around 80 km from the Pacific Ocean to the west and borders Argentina to the east. A tiny part of Argentina is visible in the top-right corner of the image where the mountain crest of the Andes Mountains acts as a divider between the two countries," says ESA.



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



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Santiago, Chile in South America

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Spiral,Galaxy,,Illustration,Of,Milky,Way

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Astronomers at <a href="https://www.jhu.edu/">Johns Hopkins University</a> have created an interactive map of the universe, including the actual position and real colors of 200,000 galaxies. The map allows the public to access data that was previously only available to scientists.



The map was developed using data collected by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. For over two decades, a telescope in New Mexico was aimed at slightly different locations to capture the night sky.&nbsp;



"Growing up I was very inspired by astronomy pictures, stars, nebulae and galaxies, and now it's our time to create a new type of picture to inspire people," said map creator Brice Ménard, a professor at Johns Hopkins. "Astrophysicists around the world have been analyzing this data for years, leading to thousands of scientific papers and discoveries. But nobody took the time to create a map that is beautiful, scientifically accurate, and accessible to people who are not scientists. Our goal here is to show everybody what the universe really looks like."



"In this map, we are just a speck at the very bottom, just one pixel. And when I say we, I mean our galaxy, the Milky Way which has billions of stars and planets. We are used to seeing astronomical pictures showing one galaxy here, one galaxy there or perhaps a group of galaxies. But what this map shows is a very, very different scale."



"From this speck at the bottom, we are able to map out galaxies across the entire universe, and that says something about the power of science."



The <a href="https://mapoftheuniverse.net/">interactive map</a> is available online, where it can be downloaded for free.



Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

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Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky" Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features northwest Lesotho in South Africa.



According to ESA, Lesotho is the only nation in the world that lies completely above 1,000 m in elevation. The country is famous for its tall mountains and narrow valleys, and is known as Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky."



Out of a population of around two million people, about 80 percent live in rural areas. More than 75 percent of these people are engaged in <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/climate-change-will-have-a-global-impact-on-agriculture/">agriculture</a>, including rainfed cereal production and animal grazing.&nbsp;



ESA reports that the country’s agricultural system faces a growing number of issues, with climate-related vulnerabilities such as drought, floods and extreme temperatures occurring more frequently. 



Diamonds are amongst the minerals found in the mountains. Indeed, Lesotho can truly be called the Kingdom in the Sky. Beautiful, culturally rich, safe, affordable, and easily accessible from Durban and Johannesburg, mountainous Lesotho is a vastly underrated travel destination. the Kingdom of Lesotho (Sotho: 'Muso oa Lesotho) is an enclaved country in southern Africa. It is just over 30,000 km2 (11,583 sq mi) in size and has a population of around 2 million.



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;&nbsp;



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer 



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Lesotho: Africa's "Kingdom in the Sky"

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Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Dublin, the capital and largest city of Ireland. Beyond its pub culture, Dublin is known as a modern culinary destination and a UNESCO City of Literature.



"Dublin is located near the midpoint of Ireland’s east coast in the province of Leinster. The city, which covers an area of around 115 square kilometers, is bordered by the Dublin Mountains, a low mountain range to the south, and is surrounded by flat farmland to the north and west," says ESA.



"The city straddles the River Liffey, which rises in the Wicklow Mountains and flows around 80 kilometers eastwards through the city of Dublin, in which it is canalised and bordered with quays. It then empties into Dublin Bay, an arm of the Irish Sea."



Dublin has an abundance of green spaces, including one of the largest enclosed public parks in any European capital city. Phoenix Park, which was originally formed as a royal hunting park in the 1660s, includes 707 hectares of green space.



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



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The city of Dublin on Ireland's east coast

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Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features the province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain. The image was captured by the Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission.



"Together with the provinces of Huesca and Teruel, Zaragoza formed the old kingdom of Aragon. Its capital, also called Zaragoza (not visible in this image) is home to around half of Aragon’s population," says ESA.



"The Ebro River can be seen winding its way through the province from west to east in this image. Between its source in the Cantabrian Mountains in the northwest and its delta on the Mediterranean coast, the Ebro River is fed by more than 200 tributaries as it flows 910 km across much of northern Spain."



Since rainfall is very scarce in this region, irrigation in the Ebro basin is critically important. In the valleys surrounding the Ebro River, many fields are used for growing crops such as corn, wheat, and barley.



Video/ Image Credit: ESA



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

The province of Zaragoza in northeast Spain

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Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> reveals the evolution of the Columbia Glacier in southeastern Alaska. Columbia is among the fastest shrinking glaciers in the world, and the video documents its rapid retreat over the years.&nbsp;



Columbia Glacier is a large, multi-branched calving glacier that flows out of the Chugach Mountains to the Prince William Sound.&nbsp;



According to USGS, Columbia had a long history of stability prior to 1980, with a length 41 miles, and small, short-lived advances or retreats.



In the years since 1980, however, satellite images have captured Columbia’s alarming retreat. By using false-color images, scientists can distinguish between snow and ice, open water, vegetation, and rocky debris on the glacier’s surface.



The series of false-color images featured in today's video were acquired over the span of 35 years. You can see that by 2021, the glacier’s main branch had retreated about 15 miles from its initial position.



The Columbia Glacier has also lost more than 50 percent of its volume, mostly due to calving. <a href="https://www.earth.com/video/nasa-reveals-3d-visual-of-an-atmospheric-river/">NASA</a> reports that while climate change likely started the retreat, mechanical processes kept the disintegration going.



The NASA images are provided by Jesse Allen, Robert Simmon, Joshua Stevens, and Lauren Dauphin using data from Landsat satellites, from the U.S. Geological Survey, and data from MODIS on NASA’s Terra satellite. The structure of Columbia’s moraine played a large role in the stability of the glacier before 1980. 



Like other tidewater glaciers, the Columbia built up a moraine over time, and the mixture of ice and rock functioned like a dam keeping out the sea. It was supported on one end by the shoreline and by the underwater terminal moraine at the other.



Video Credit: NASA Earth Observatory/&nbsp; NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



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The rapid retreat of the Columbia Glacier

[sendtonews key="0879czfG3k-1785905-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from NASA...

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features the Pyrenees Mountains, which form a natural boundary between France and Spain in southwest Europe.



The mountain range is 430 kilometers in length. It stretches from the Mediterranean Sea on the east to the Atlantic Ocean on the west.



At an elevation of 3404 meters, Pico de Aneto is the highest mountain peak in the Pyrenees, and the third-highest peak in Spain. Pico de Aneto is located in the Posets-Maladeta Natural Park, which spans more than 82,000 acres.&nbsp;



"Geological studies have revealed that the Pyrenees Mountains have been around for longer than the Alps, with their sediments first deposited in coastal basins during the Paleozoic and Mesozoic eras," reports ESA.



"The entire mountain range formed due to the upwelling of large sedimentary rocks by the collision of the Iberian and the Eurasian plate around 100 to 150 million years ago, followed by intense erosion from ice and water."



The western Pyrenees receive more precipitation due to moisture blowing in from the Atlantic Ocean. The mountain range contains many lakes, several small glaciers, and some of the highest waterfalls in Europe.



Video &amp; Image Credit: ESA



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

The Pyrenees Mountains in southwest Europe

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Earth,Like,Exoplanet,3d,Render

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Today's Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA Goddard</a> describes two exoplanets that are orbiting a star 218 light-years away. A team of researchers led by the University of Montreal has found evidence that these planets are "water worlds."



The experts used data from NASA’s Hubble and Spitzer Space Telescopes. They discovered that exoplanets Kepler-138 c and Kepler-138 could be composed largely of water.



"We previously thought that planets that were a bit larger than Earth were big balls of metal and rock, like scaled-up versions of Earth, and that's why we called them super-Earths," explained study co-author Björn Benneke.&nbsp;



"However, we have now shown that these two planets, Kepler-138 c and d, are quite different in nature and that a big fraction of their entire volume is likely composed of water. It is the best evidence yet for water worlds, a type of planet that was theorized by astronomers to exist for a long time."



Video Credit: NASA Goddard



Image Credit: NASA, ESA, and Leah Hustak (STScI)



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



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Two distant planets may be "water worlds"

[sendtonews key="QIoVYJqRBi-2434608-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from NASA...

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Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA Goddard</a> describes Earth’s interconnected systems, and how this network is affected by rising temperatures.&nbsp;



During 2020, average global temperatures matched the hottest year on record. The hurricane season was also record-breaking, with many of the storms intensifying at extraordinary speeds. Hot water in the ocean is fuel for hurricanes. The satellite data shows that it's all one interconnected system showing how Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected.



According to NASA, dust swept up from Northern Africa plays a major role in the formation of hurricanes, and is also a key source of fertilization in the Amazon rainforest. As a result of<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/seagrass-wasting-disease-is-fueled-by-climate-change/"> climate</a> change, dust plumes are expected to decline, which will have an effect on vegetation far away.&nbsp;



Images from Earth-observing satellites show how the world’s plant life is affected by natural disasters, fires, and deforestation. Satellites also reveal how widespread changes in vegetation impact waterways,&nbsp; the climate, air quality. Satellites communicate by using radio waves to send signals to the antennas on the Earth. "Earth From Space" is a groundbreaking two-hour special that reveals a spectacular new space-based vision of our planet. 



Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



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Satellites reveal how Earth's systems are interconnected

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://welcome.miami.edu/">University of Miami</a> Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science explores how changes in water temperatures have affected tiger shark habitats and movements in the North Atlantic Ocean. The study reveals that rising temperatures have caused the sharks to shift toward the poles over the past 40 years.



“Tiger shark annual migrations have expanded poleward, paralleling rising water temperatures,” explained study lead author Neil Hammerschlag. “These results have consequences for tiger shark conservation, since shifts in their movements outside of marine protected areas may leave them more vulnerable to commercial fishing.”



The researchers analyzed nine years of tracking data from satellite-tagged tiger sharks, combined with four decades of conventional tag and recapture data provided by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Cooperative Shark Tagging Program.



The experts found that during the last decade of record heat, for every one-degree Celsius increase in water temperatures, tiger sharks migrated further poleward by over 400 kilometers. They also migrated two weeks earlier than usual to waters off the northeastern coast of the United States.



“Given their role as apex predators, these changes to tiger shark movements may alter predator-prey interactions, leading to ecological imbalances, and more frequent encounters with humans,” concluded Professor Hammerschlag.



Video Credit: University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



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Tiger sharks are shifting poleward as temperatures rise

Today’s Video of the Day from the University of Miami...

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> is focused on the melt ponds that emerge during the spring and summer on the Greenland Ice Sheet, which is the largest ice mass in the northern hemisphere.



"Melt ponds are vast pools of open water that form on both sea ice and ice sheets and are visible as turquoise-blue pools of water in this Copernicus Sentinel-2 image," says ESA.



"When snow and ice melts atop glaciers, water flows in channels and streams and collects in depressions on the surface. These melt ponds can speed up the melting of the surrounding ice since they greatly reduce the ice’s ability to reflect sunlight."



"This can create a positive feedback where an increasing number of melt ponds absorb more heat which causes ice cover to melt even faster."



According to ESA, Greenland has been hit with a late-season heatwave that began in early September. This caused the type of melt event that usually occurs in the middle of summer.



"In a recent paper published in Nature Climate Change, scientists found that major sea-level rise from the melting of the Greenland ice cap is now ‘inevitable’ even if the burning of fossil fuels were to halt overnight," says ESA. "Using satellite observations of Greenland ice loss and ice cap from 2000 to 2019, the team found the losses will lead to a minimum rise of 27 cm regardless of climate change."



Video Credit: ESA&nbsp;



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



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Melt ponds on the Greenland Ice Sheet

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> describes a new map of Mars that is providing insight into the planet’s watery past. The map also reveals where future missions could safely land on Mars.&nbsp;



The map has been created over the last decade using observations of water-rich rocks and mineral deposits. The images were captured by ESA’s Mars Express and NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.



"A big surprise is the prevalence of these minerals, with the map revealing hundreds of thousands of water-affected locations in the oldest parts of the planet," says ESA. "The new data will help answer exciting questions about Mars’ climate history, whether water was globally persistent or confined to short, intense episodes, and whether the conditions were ever suitable for life."



"Specifically, the map shows the locations and abundances of aqueous minerals. These are from rocks that have been chemically altered by the action of water in the past, and have typically been transformed into clays and salts."



According to John Carter of the Institut d’Astrophysique Spatiale (IAS), our collective understanding of Mars has been oversimplified. He explained that planetary scientists have tended to think that only a few types of clay minerals on Mars were created during its wet period, then as the water gradually dried up, salts were produced across the planet.



The new map shows that the composition of Mars is much more complicated than what we thought. For example, while many salts formed after Martian clays, there are some salts that are presumed to be older than some of the clays.&nbsp;



“The evolution from lots of water to no water is not as clear cut as we thought, the water didn’t just stop overnight. We see a huge diversity of geological contexts, so that no one process or simple timeline can explain the evolution of the mineralogy of Mars. That’s the first result of our study. The second is that if you exclude life processes on Earth, Mars exhibits a diversity of mineralogy in geological settings just as Earth does,” said Carter.



Video Credit: ESA



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

The history of Mars is much more complex than we thought

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Today's Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.stowers.org/">Stowers Institute for Medical Research</a> describes how cavefish adapted to a sedentary lifestyle over tens of thousands of years. 



The experts found that the muscle metabolism of cavefish has been genetically reprogrammed over time. As a result, the animals have experienced major changes in their morphology and behavior. Despite these changes, however, the cavefish remain healthy and fit.



The research may provide new clues about the evolutionary consequences of prolonged physical inactivity in humans.&nbsp;



“It’s no surprise that people are moving less and less as technology has advanced,” said Rohner. “With cavefish, we have a unique system where we can study what might happen if people remained couch potatoes over very, very long periods of time.”



Video Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



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Cavefish are healthy despite their sedentary lifestyle

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Today’s Video of the Day from <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/">NASA Earth Observatory</a> some of the most incredible waves in the world, as seen by Landsat satellites.



"With more than 370,000 miles of coastline on Earth, there are plenty of places where epic waves build up, curl over, and hurtle toward the shore.- much to the thrill of surfers," says NASA. "There are some places where these waves are so magnificent that they can be seen from space."



"With the broad perspective of satellites, we can see how these iconic waves develop into the world’s tallest, longest, fastest, and heaviest."



Video Credit: NASA Earth Observatory&nbsp;



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By <a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Editor



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Satellites capture the world's biggest and fastest waves

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Today’s Video of the Day from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> describes why satellite images and measurements of our planet have become "essential to our survival, offering a new outlook of our world."&nbsp;



Rising sea levels pose one of the biggest societal threats associated with climate change. According to ESA, satellite altimeter missions such as Copernicus Sentinel-6 are essential in monitoring global and regional changes in sea level.



"Unbeknown to many, the island of Crete, Greece, plays an important role in the Copernicus satellite altimetry constellation and on an international stage," reports ESA.



"Satellite altimetry data have to be continuously monitored at the ESA’s Permanent Facility for Altimetry Calibration where different techniques have pioneered the use of transponders to provide the best measurements to validate satellite altimeters in space soon after launch."



Dr. Craig Donlon explains that, by understanding planet Earth through satellite measurements, we are able to find evidence of change.&nbsp;



Video Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;



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By <a href="http://csexton@earth.com">Chrissy Sexton</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/">Earth.com</a> Staff Writer

Satellites have become essential to our survival

[sendtonews key="761m2QQvR1-2035772-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from the...