To celebrate Spooky Season, let's learn why this vampire bat is running on a treadmill. The three species of vampire bats are the only known mammals to be obligate hemophages: 100% of their calories come from blood. The Common Vampire Bat (Desmodus rotundus) prefers mammals... (📷: Giulia Rossi)

I did it! I finished my capstone and my masters at @tuftsvet.bsky.social ! So happy to talk about cetacean strandings

It doesn't make sense to adopt new rules or scrap existing ones that could lead to long-term damage to the ocean environment just for some short-term economic gains. No one wants their seafood with a side of endangered whale, no matter their political affiliation.

NOAA proposal could change protections for NC right whales, turtles

The Trump administration is proposing rule changes to boost US seafood competitiveness. But some fear they could endanger N.C. whales and sea turtles.

starnewsonline.com

Some gray seals off the Chatham Fishing Pier. Ever since coming to the North East, I've gained an appreciation for pinnipeds #marinelife 🦑

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How we manage and engage with horses may shape their personality

A new study reveals that horse personality is not only a matter of genetics, age or breed but also systematically linked to how horses are housed, ridden and cared for, and to the quality of the relat...

phys.org

New paper lead by Siobhan Pearson, exploring morphological differences between fur seal and sea lion crania 🦭 We found that allometry explains most differences between the two groups. This project originated as Siobhan's Masters project at @nhm-london.bsky.social doi.org/10.1111/mms....

Quantifying the Morphological Differences Between Fur Seals and Sea Lions

The eared seals (family Otariidae) are divided into fur seals and sea lions, despite a lack of cladistic support for these groups. The division is primarily based on hair morphology, and it is unknow...

doi.org

I feel like the x user broke this news in a Terminator sci-fi way instead of a AI is taking up natural resources and pumping misinformation way. Especially telling since OpenAi admitted to losses over 21 billion according to Market Watch. Advertising much?

David Shiffman, Ph.D. 🦈@whysharksmatter.bsky.social · 2w ago

I don’t think it’s especially likely that AI will end all life on Earth sometime soon. But it is BATSHIT INSANE that so many AI company leaders think their product will kill us all, while also strongly opposing basic safety regulations that would prevent that from happening!

🦦: “Hmmm how can I crack open these mussels quickly?” Also 🦦: *pulls a rock out of their armpit* SMASHING, BABY 🪨💥! #Seaotters are one of the few marine mammals known to use tools, and their tool of choice is often a handy rock for cracking open their favorite crunchy snacks. #otters #seaotter

Tiny, colorful baby scallops — a total cuteness overload in one dish! You might think, “This person posts the same creature every year!” But honestly, seeing the same life return year after year is something truly wonderful𓂃🫧‪

Mbleh

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Dolphins learn how to use tools to hunt for fish from their mothers

From spears and the invention of the wheel to smartphones and robots, human societies have been building and using tools from the beginning. Human tool use has helped conquer new environments, increas...

phys.org

A trio of new #ScienceImmunology studies demonstrates how CDC42 regulates the activation of the innate immune sensor pyrin and characterizes mutations that underlie autoinflammatory disorders in humans. 📃: https://scim.ag/3RvXbe4 📃: https://scim.ag/3RvXbuA 📃: https://scim.ag/4fGVsM7

Dusky sharks have been a prohibited species in US fisheries since 1999. These big adults are a sign that policy is working. A fully grown dusky shark can reach 14 feet in length and stand toe-to-toe with white sharks in the food web.

SharkScience@sharkscience.bsky.social · 2mo ago

A New Apex Predator In Cape Cod Waters: Dusky Sharks Another Reason For Boaters, Swimmers To Be ‘Shark Smart’ 🦑🦤🐟🦈 www.capecodchronicle.com/articles/487...

I am recruiting Ph.D. students this cycle. Students interested in deep-sea fishes and phylogenetic comparative methods are an especially good fit.

Storming so bad I burst into my apartment looking like my mother sent me out in a plot to stay overnight at the Bingley estate #prideandprejudice

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Frog protein could become first antidote to deadly red tide toxin

The "red tide" algal blooms that are becoming more frequent along the Pacific coast produce one of the most potent neurotoxins known: saxitoxin, or STX. The toxin accumulates in shellfish and causes p...

phys.org

Since this document specifically mentions the OMB proposal 2 CFR 200 as an authority for many of these changes, the responses to that proposal are relevant. For ex, it refers to provision 200.340, which allows termination "if an award no longer effectuates the program goals or agency priorities."

Dr. K. Lotterhos@drk-lo.bsky.social · 2mo ago

OUR WORK IS NOT DONE. In unusual move, NSF issued a request for information on plan to conform grant policies to the proposed (unfinalized) OMB rule. Plan includes changes to grant termination provisions & disallowing publication costs. Comments due August 24. www.federalregister.gov/documents/20...

Happy World Orca Day! A keystone and indicator species for ocean health and one of my favourites to see when out at sea. minouette.etsy.com/listing/7807... #WorldOrcaDay #orca #killerwhale #marinemammal #conservation #linocut #printmaking 🧪🐡🫍

Drifting fish aggregating devices, or dFADs, are widely used by tuna fleets to gather and catch fish, but they can drift into marine protected areas without vessels crossing the boundary. news.mongabay.com/2026/07/a-ma...

A marine protected area can ban fishing boats. It cannot stop drifting gear

When fishing gear invades marine protected areas.

news.mongabay.com

Here’s an image of all 47 men who were present when the declaration of independence was signed. The 34 men who owned other human beings as slaves are marked with a red dot.

Juvenile clown and puddingwife wrasses spiraling 🧬 #clownwrasse #puddingwifewrasse #spiraling #wrasse #coralcitycamera

Bafflingly there are still people out there in the world who think being passionate about nature is “kind of weird”. or “a niche interest”. These people have it all wrong. Nature isn’t some quirky sideline to the main business. It IS the main business.

If you have an autoimmune disease, your body should play video game combat music so you know when you're under attack

A Large Group of Bigg’s Killer Whales Read the full story here: buff.ly/0aP4iaq Photo by Gary This is an encounter from 2022 #WhaleTales #OrcaActionMonth

Love this guy. The Kogia breviceps. Probably the most whale of all time. These guys apparently can eject an ink like substance for some reason. Why? Who knows everything we know about them comes from strandings. Couldn't even get a picture of a live one.

fyi, that AltNOAA story about a whale escape that's making the rounds is completely made up/AI generated and the OP is aware and thinks spreading fake stories is fine generally speaking the "altgov" accounts are firehoses of misinfo that are not worth your precious attention

Sunday with Pilot Whales. Read the full story here: buff.ly/BMlcsud This is an encounter from 2023 Photo by Krisztina #WhaleTales #PilotWhales

It's odd. I'm seeing the class that entered my senior year of college enter their senior year. I don't know. I thought I'd be much further in my career than I am now. But, chronic illness waits for no one and my health is more important than my career

Fantastic and important work that sheds light on how the fossil fuel industry has put its thumb on the scales of climate solutions research. What kills me is that I expect this from them. I expect better from academic researchers. Collusion just undermines trust and makes it harder to do our jobs.

Charles Ornstein@charlesornstein.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Must-read story by @drilledmedia.bsky.social and @propublica.org. Beyond Denial: How Oil Execs Shaped a Landmark Climate Study @themadstone.bsky.social @amywestervelt.bsky.social @katieworth.bsky.social

An island community in Thailand works to protect and revive its dugongs

An island community in Thailand works to protect and revive its dugongs

Once a lush field of green, the seagrass meadows surrounding Thailand’s Koh Libong are now largely barren stretches of sand, devastating the island’s iconic dugong population, reports Mongabay’s…

news.mongabay.com