The Unwanted Guests That Won’t Leave
Cane toads have caused a stir in Australia, and it’s not positive. These big, warty creatures come from Central and South America, not Queensland’s dry lands. Brought in 1935 to solve a farming issue, they instead spread widely, impacting nature as invaders. So, what’s their story, and how do they shake things up? Read More ➤
How These Turtles Are Changing Ecosystems
Red-eared sliders are colorful North American turtles distinguished by the red stripe on their ears. While some individuals admire them as pets, they have traveled far and wide from the homeland through releases.In locations such as Bermuda, released turtles thrive and rapidly shift habitats with their aggressive feeding strategy. Read More ➤
When Good Pets Go Bad
Pets are supposed to bring joy, companionship, and maybe a few chewed-up shoes along the way. But not every cute critter stays in its cage. Some grow too big, eat too much, or just don’t fit into a home the way people expect. And when those pets end up in the wild, things can get out of control. Read More ➤
What It Is, How It Spreads, and Why It’s a Problem
Kudzu is also known as Kuzu, Chinese arrowroot or Japanese arrowroot. Its scientific name is Pueraria montana. This plant has its native origin in Southeastern China and Japan. During the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition, Kudzu found its way to the USA in the late 19th century. Read More ➤
A Vibrant Fish with an Important Role
The speckled Rainbow trout is a diversely dispersed fish known scientifically as Oncorhynchus mykiss. It calls the cool waters of the northern Pacific its home, from fast-flowing streams to deep alpine lakes across Asia and North America. Within this vast domain thrive different trout types across numerous categories, predominantly the flashes of color found within Oncorhynchus and deep water prowlers under the banner of Salvelinus. Read More ➤
Everything You Should Know About Sea Turtles
Also known as marine turtles, sea turtles are large reptiles with brood bodies and flippers that inhabit tropical and subtropical waters of the world’s oceans. They’re some of the oldest beings on the planet, unchanged in form for 110 million years. Read More ➤
A Beautiful but Destructive Out-of-Place Species
Lionfish are visually stunning carnivorous fish that are slow-moving and conspicuous. They rely on their unusual coloration and fins to discourage would-be predators. Lionfish were introduced to Florida in 1980, where records showed up to six individuals were freed following the destruction of an aquarium in Biscayne Bay as a result of Hurricane Andrew in 1992. Read More ➤
Why Axolotls Are So Fascinating
The Axolotl is an amphibian and a paedomorphic salamander that shares similar features with the tiger salamander. The word “axolotl” comes from the word “Xolotl”. According to legend, Xolotl is the Aztec deity of fire and lightning, and he turned himself into a salamander to escape being used as a sacrifice. Its scientific name is Ambystoma mexicanum. In the wild, an axolotl has a lifespan of 10-15 years. Read More ➤