Animal Science

When's the last time you saw a beaked whale? Despite the fact that they look a little bit like bottle nosed dolphins, it's actually likely that you've never seen one! An article on the discovery of the remains of a pair of spade-toothed whales caught my interest and I decided to do a little research. With only two full specimen discoveries in over 140 years, spade-toothed whales might just be the rarest of whale species.

Beaked Whales

Beaked whales are a little-known group of whales that are excellent divers, staying below the surface for 20 minutes or more. About 21 species of beaked whales have been identified. Click here to read more about them.

Spade-Toothed Whales

The spade-toothed whale is the rarest of all beaked whale species. It was named after the discovery of a jawbone off the coast of New Zealand in the 19th century. Later, a few skulls lacking mandibles were found. The few whole specimens that were found were often misidentified as other beaked species such as Gray's beaked whale. Further analysis helped determine that spade-toothed whales are genetically different.

Most beaked whales are differentiated by the shape and number of teeth for two reasons:

• The external characteristics of beaked whales are quite similar
• Most specimens that are discovered have died upon being beached; physical markings like stripes on the face may disappear after some time

The reliance on teeth is not always very accurate because the teeth may not yet have erupted in juveniles and in some species, never erupt in females. The spade-toothed whale got its name for its 9 inch long teeth which are wider than those of other beaked whales. The shape of a tooth is similar to a flensing spade. And what is a flensing spade, you may ask? That's where things get a little grim. A flensing spade was used by whalers to remove blubber from the carcasses.

As there were only two known full specimens of the spade-toothed whale, further information on the physical description of these animals isn't known for sure. The female discovered off the coast of New Zealand in 2010 was 5.3 meters long, while her calf was 3.5 meters.

All of the partial and whole specimen discoveries have been made in the South Pacific. No live spade-toothed whale sightings have been confirmed.

After The Discovery - What Comes Next

The findings of the study emphasize the importance of reliance on genetic material to identify species. Positive confirmation of a species by its DNA can help establish more reliable physical criteria for identification.

So while you may not see a spade-toothed whale (or any beaked whale, for that matter) on your next whale watch, keep your eyes peeled. You never know!

References

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flensing
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spade-toothed_whale
http://download.cell.com/current-biology/pdf/PIIS0960982212010597.pdf?intermediate=true (image credit)

Zebrafish have been in the news recently. These small fish are gaining popularity in research labs. Read on to find out why!

Zebrafish Facts

• One inch long
• Freshwater fish
• Native to south and southeast Asia in areas like the Ganges River
• About 70% of human genes are found in zebrafish
• About 80% of human disease-causing genes are found in zebrafish
• More than 26,000 protein-making genes

In the 1970s Dr. George Streisinger was one of the first to use zebrafish for the study of vertebrate development and genetics. He recognized similarities between the fish and humans - backbones, brains, spinal cords, organs, bones, and cartilage.

Scientists learned how to selectively mutate zebrafish DNA in 1988. Since that discovery, the number of papers covering zebrafish studies has increased from 26 to 2,100. The nonprofit Zebrafish International Resource Center sells 2,608 different genetically modified strains to researchers.

Comparing Zebrafish and Rodents

Common Studies

Zebrafish are often used to study vertebrate development. Embryonic transparency makes it really easy to monitor early growth and development. Zebrafish help researchers understand the causes of birth defects in humans. In fact, with an infant's blood sample, a zebrafish can be used to monitor the same growth.

A well-known lab studying zebrafish is the Harvard Stem Cell Institute. More information about zebrafish research can be found at Research at UCL.

References: Nature; Neuro.UOregon.edu; NIH.gov; PopSci; Science Alert

Dogs do more than guide the blind these days. Some are trained to call 911 in an emergency while others comfort the elderly and those with learning disabilities. Others still work after disaster strikes, comforting people who've been impacted by tragedy or trauma.

At least five therapy dogs were called to Boston after the Boston Marathon bombing. While this may seem to some like it's not very helpful in the wake of a tragedy, it may be that dogs respond to a traumatized person better than another human can.

Most dogs do not fear strangers and recognize when people are crying or upset and tend to nuzzle or lick that individual. The simple act of petting a dog regulates breathing, lowers blood pressure, and decreases levels of stress hormones. Both the human and the dog experience a release of the hormone oxytocin which is associated with bonding and affection.

Dogs have been attracted to humans for hundreds of years, first in the form of wolves who were interested in early human trash. As dogs were domesticated they became human companions. This account of a World War II companion-turned-therapy-dog helps with understanding the animal-human bond and how it can boost morale.

Comfort dogs have been used following the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary and other school shootings. They are also helpful in less critical situations, such as de-stressing students during final exams and comforting nursing home patients.

My local library has a program where kids can read to therapy dogs. The dogs' nonjudgmental attitudes help provide confidence to kids who otherwise might be too shy to read aloud to people.

There are certification programs for therapy dogs, which are not the same as those for service dogs; therapy dogs aren't covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act and aren't allowed to travel everywhere. Still, they must prove they are safe, well-trained good citizens. Therapy Dogs International and the AKC Therapy Dog Program are two well-known training programs.

Therapy dogs tend to be breeds with calm demeanors and gentle dispositions who can tolerate tugging and hysteria. Depending on the individual, just about any animal can work as a therapy animal.

Resources:

National Geographic: After the Bombing, Comfort Dogs Come to Boston

National Geographic: Therapy Dogs Seem to Boost Health of Sick and Lonely

Wikipedia - Therapy dog

Image Credit:

Time - Therapy Dogs Arrive in Boston to Comfort Survivors of Marathon Bombing

Dancing was once thought to be unique to humans. Whether we look funny doing it or not, humans naturally have some sense of rhythm and so have some ability for dancing. Can animals dance?

Some animals can certainly be trained to do so. Have you ever watched a horse and rider perform dressage?

Others seem to have some natural talent for dancing. Birds of paradise, for example, have impressive courting dances. They start out by preparing a dance floor and then reveal their costumes as the show progresses!

Dancing to the music in your own head is one thing. It's another altogether to follow the beat of a song! Most birds that can bob to a beat, like cockatoos and parrots, can also vocally mimic the beats of the songs they are "dancing" to. They will even adjust the tempo of their dance to match that of a song that's been slowed down or sped up.

In a recent study published in APA's Journal of Comparative Psychology, Ronan the sea lion learned to bob her head to music. Ronan proves that vocal mimicry isn't a requirement for rhythmic movement. (She's not a singer.)

According to an article published on ScienceDaily:

"At the beginning of the experiments, Ronan was first trained to move in time to a hand signal, which was replaced by a simple non-musical sound signal. When she successfully completed tests by bobbing her head to various rhythmic sounds, she was rewarded with a fish, the study said."

Ronan was eventually able to bob her head to the beat of a number of songs, even without prior exposure to them. She didn't forget her rhythm skills after training was suspended.

Related Reading: Beluga whales, the canaries of the sea!

Resources: Science Daily, BBC, National Geographic

Image Credits: Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Santa Cruz Sentinel

Happy Whistle Pig Day! Although they don't look very pig-like, whistle pig is just another name for groundhog. In fact, whistle pigs, groundhogs, woodchucks, and land-beavers are the same animal. They are part of the marmot genus and are rodents in the squirrel family. A post about Groundhog Day has already appeared in the Animal Science blog so I thought I'd write about the animals themselves.

Groundhog Facts

• Weight ranges from 4-31 pounds and length ranges from 16-30 inches
• Lifespan is up to six years; Punxsutawney Phil could live as many as 14 years in captivity
• Predators include wolves, coyotes , foxes, bobcats, bears, hawks, snakes, and dogs
• Diet includes grass, berries, and crops from your garden (and pancakes)
• They don't drink water but rather are hydrated by eating leafy plants
• They do not store food for the winter; instead they hibernate after gorging on food all summer
• The name whistle pig comes from the high-pitched sound used to alert the community to danger
• Groundhogs can swim, if necessary, to escape a predator

Destructive Behavior

Groundhogs burrow and herein lies the problem that most humans have with these animals. Burrows usually consist of about 45 feet of tunnels connected by five entrances. These holes and tunnels can cause damage to machinery, other animals, or building foundations. Growing up I feared that they'd dig holes in my horses' pasture.

Digging up History

The digging these rodents do is not all bad; their tunnels helped reveal the Ufferman Site in Ohio, inhabited by Native Americans during the Woodland period. The groundhogs turned up bones, pottery, and stone tools.

With a natural habitat extending from Alaska to Georgia, it's likely that groundhogs live near you. What do you call them? Even if they don't live where you do, you can always ponder the age-old question:

How much wood would a woodchuck chuck

if a woodchuck could chuck wood?

A woodchuck would chuck all the wood he could

if a woodchuck could chuck wood!

Resources: National Geographic; NWF; Wikipedia

In May 2010 I wrote about care of the animals impacted by the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Over the past few days I've been reading up on what's happened to the area's wildlife in the 2.5 years since the spill.

Fish and Sea Life

Intellectualyst.com shared reports from scientists and fishermen. All reported deformed animals like crabs with no claws and shrimp with no eyes. Some have tumors or growths and many smell as if "they are dying from within." Specific species mentioned include white shrimp, brown shrimp, blue crabs, and red snapper.

Whales

theguardian explained that photos of a dead whale were not released immediately after the spill. The whale was found floating in the Gulf; decay prevented confirmation that the oil spill was the cause of death. The sperm whale population in the Gulf of Mexico numbered about 1,200 at the time of the spill.

Studies have found that Gulf whales differ from their global cousins with a smaller size and their own distinct calls. They tend to live in the Gulf year-round. Numerous animals were spotted wearing an oily sheen, but the chemical dispersants used to break up the spill could be more problematic because the species are not filter feeders that have anatomy to strain food. According to the National Wildlife Foundation, 3 sperm whale deaths per year caused by humans could jeopardize the species' recovery from endangered status.

Birds and Turtles

DailyDeadBirds.com tallied the number of birds and animals cleaned and released, seen oiled, and dead for the first year after the spill. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service appears to have stopped providing data after 2010.

NOLA.com reported that there are now more rigs drilling in the Gulf than there were before the Deepwater Horizon spill. Oil from the 2010 spill continues to come ashore, especially with powerful waves like those brought by Hurricane Issac.

A Benefit?

The blog Wonk on the Wildlife noted that fungus is thriving in the Gulf, while the diversity of microscopic animals has been reduced. According to the blog, fungus is the world's greatest decomposer, and it's hoped that they will help break down hydrocarbons on the ocean floor.

Humans are also looking for new ways to clean up the mess. Nanotechnology and magnets are being considered for future spill cleanup efforts (CNN). Although these techniques would reduce the need for chemical dispersants, they come with their own concerns. The techniques could be tough to use in a large sea environment and it's unknown whether the techniques would hurt wildlife.