Science

Introduced species in Australia are plants, animals, fungi and other organisms moved by people beyond their natural range, either deliberately or accidentally. Some have become invasive, spreading and causing serious harm to native species, ecosystems, agriculture or other human interests; introduction alone does not mean a species is invasive. What “introduced” and “invasive” mean A […]

The elephant hawk moth passes through four stages: egg, caterpillar, pupa and adult moth. In much of its range, it completes one generation in a year, with the pupa usually overwintering before an adult emerges in the warmer part of the year. What Is an Elephant Hawk Moth? The elephant hawk moth, Deilephila elpenor, is

Woodpeckers are a diverse family of birds, with species ranging from tiny, bark-climbing piculets to large, striking birds that excavate deep cavities in trees. Examples include the Downy, Hairy, and Pileated Woodpeckers of North America, the European Green Woodpecker, and the familiar Great Spotted Woodpecker. The word “woodpecker” covers birds with different sizes, colors, diets,

Young sunflowers do turn their heads to follow the sun as it moves across the sky, but mature flower heads usually stop tracking and face mostly east. The movement is driven by a daily growth rhythm in the stem, not by the flower consciously following sunlight. What “following the sun” means The familiar image of

Animals native to Australia include egg-laying mammals such as the platypus and echidnas, marsupials such as kangaroos and koalas, and distinctive birds, reptiles, frogs, and fish. Many occur nowhere else in the wild, but Australia’s native wildlife is far more varied than its best-known icons. What “native to Australia” means A native animal is one

Yeasts are single-celled fungi that use nutrients from their surroundings to grow, and some species can ferment sugars into alcohol and carbon dioxide. They include familiar examples used in baking and brewing, as well as species that live on plants, in soil, on animals, or in the human body. What yeasts are A yeast is

Common types of insects include beetles, butterflies and moths, flies, bees and wasps, ants, true bugs, grasshoppers, crickets, dragonflies, and cockroaches. These names refer to familiar groups within the insect class; insects share a body plan of six legs, three main body sections, and usually a pair of antennae. What Makes an Animal an Insect?

Moon jellyfish are found in coastal waters of North America, but “moon jelly” usually refers to several closely related species in the genus Aurelia, not one jellyfish with a single range. These mostly transparent animals are recognizable by four pale, horseshoe-shaped reproductive structures beneath their bells, and their sting is generally mild to people. What

A great horned owl’s home range is the area it uses to find food, shelter, and nesting sites; it is not a fixed circle with a sharp boundary. The range varies with habitat, prey, season, and whether the owl is nesting, so a single size cannot describe every bird. What “home range” means Wildlife researchers

Yes, ducks have noses: two nostrils, called nares, open through their bills and connect to the respiratory system. They do not have a projecting nose like a human’s, but their nostrils let them breathe and detect odors. Where a Duck’s Nose Is A duck’s nostrils are openings near the base of the upper bill. Their