animal news blog

一直靠鼻子分類的變色龍

December 15, 2025

近一個半世紀以來，動物學家主要依據雄性鼻部的形狀與長度，對瘤冠變色龍屬（Genus 𝘊𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘢 ）進行分類。然而，透過基因與形態學的綜合分析，研究人員發現其中有兩個物種過去被誤判。經過重新檢視，原本的分類被修正，並確認了兩個新物種：𝘊𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘢 𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘰𝘤𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘰 與 𝘊𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘢 𝘩𝘰𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘪 。其中， 𝘊𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘢 𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘰𝘤𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘰 曾被歸入 𝘊𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘮𝘢 𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘶𝘴 ，而 𝘊𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘢 𝘩𝘰𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘪 則曾被劃分為 𝘊𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘢 𝘯𝘢𝘴𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘮 。

For nearly 150 years, zoologists classified species of the Pinocchio chameleon based on the shape and length of the males’ nasal appendage. Through genetic and morphological analyses, researchers have now identified two distinct species: 𝘊𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘢 𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘰𝘤𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘰 and 𝘊𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘢 𝘩𝘰𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘪 . 𝘊𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘢 𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘰𝘤𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘰 was previously classified as the Lance-nosed Chameleon (𝘊𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘮𝘢 𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘶𝘴), while 𝘊𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘢 𝘩𝘰𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘪 was formerly considered the Andasibe Nosed Chameleon (𝘊𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘢 𝘯𝘢𝘴𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘮).

https://scitechdaily.com/this-strange-chameleon-fooled-scientists-for-150-years/

蟻蛹的自我犧牲行為

December 11, 2025

研究發現，蟻群中存在一種利他性的自我犧牲行為。當螞蟻蛹瀕臨死亡時，會釋放特定化學氣味，向成年工蟻傳遞即將死亡或可能帶有傳染風險的訊號。工蟻接收到訊號後，便會將病蛹從繭中移出，並釋放抗菌毒素以殺死蛹及潛在的病原體。

A study discovered a form of altruistic self-sacrifice within ant colonies. Terminally infected ant pupae emit a chemical odor that signals their impending death or risk of contagion to adult worker ants. Upon receiving these signals, the workers remove the sick pupae from their cocoons and apply antimicrobial poison to eliminate both the pupae and the pathogens.

https://www.popsci.com/environment/ill-infant-ants-sacrifice/

與公民科學家尋找瀕危蝸牛

December 9, 2025

德國毛蝸牛（ 𝘗𝘴𝘦𝘶𝘥𝘰𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘢 𝘳𝘶𝘣𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘰𝘴𝘢 ）是英國最瀕危的軟體動物之一。為了守護這些珍稀生物，保育人士與公民科學家攜手合作，在泰晤士河沿岸零星分布的濕地——牠們的主要棲息地——展開系列調查。此舉旨在深入了解其分布狀況，並為未來的保育策略提供依據。

The German hairy snail is one of the most endangered mollusks in the UK. Conservationists and citizen scientists have joined forces to conduct a series of surveys in small, fragmented patches of wetland along the River Thames, where these snails live. Their goal is to gain a clearer understanding of the species’ distribution in order to plan future conservation efforts

https://www.zsl.org/news-and-events/news/project-begins-save-londons-hairy-ice-age-snail

禁藥後食蟲鳥類數量回升

November 21, 2025

歐盟於2018年禁止在戶外普遍使用類尼古丁類殺蟲劑。一項研究表明，法國以昆蟲為食的鳥類，如烏鶇和蒼頭燕雀的數量增加了2-3%。這顯示禁令確實起到了作用。然而，類尼古丁類殺蟲劑在美國仍然被廣泛使用。

The use of neonicotinoids for outdoor general purposes was banned by the European Union in 2018. Research shows that populations of insectivorous birds in France, such as blackbirds and chaffinches, have increased by 2–3%. This suggests that the ban has made a positive difference. However, neonicotinoids are still widely used in the United States.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0269749125015064

加拿大過半野生動物數量下降

November 18, 2025

一項對加拿大910種野生動物的研究發現，所有主要脊椎動物類群中，52%的物種數量都在下降。人類活動如城市發展及農業活動，是造成棲息地破壞和大規模喪失的主要原因。草原物種數量下降最為顯著，而已被列入世界自然保護聯盟（IUCN）瀕危物種紅色名錄的物種，其族群數量平均下降了43%。

A new report examined 910 species of Canada’s wildlife and found that 52% are in decline across all major vertebrate groups. Human activities such as urban development and agriculture are the primary drivers of habitat damage and widespread loss. Grassland species are experiencing the steepest declines, while populations of species already listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species have fallen by an average of 43%.

https://www.discoverwildlife.com/environment/vanishing-wildlife-in-canada