When most people hear “asexual reproduction” (offspring that come from a single parent) they think of single cells splitting in half, or maybe clonal plants. But did you know there are asexual lizards? Whiptail lizards (genus Aspidoscelis, formally Cnemidophorus) are common in the Southwestern US and Mexico and about one third of the 50-ish species are all female.

Bats (Chiroptera) are the second most diverse order of mammals, after rodents. You can travel nearly anywhere in the world and find several species of bats that are uniquely adapted to that area. If you find yourself in Central America, you may be fortunate enough to encounter a palm tree with severely drooping leaves, housing…

  The Hoatzin (Opisthocomus hoazin), pronounced “wat-sen,” is one of the strangest and most fascinating birds around. With an appearance like a miniature dinosaur, the hoatzin is the only extant member of its taxonomic order, the Opisthocomiformes.  Hailing from South America, these prehistoric-looking birds are uniquely adapted to live in the swamps and mangroves of the…

There are butterflies floating in the oceans all around the world. Usually only about a centimeter long, these beautiful, tiny creatures are actually snails that live their whole lives as plankton in the currents near the ocean’s surface. Sea Butterflies (Suborder: Thecosomata) are members of the group Pteropoda, which means flying foot. They have this…

The Chum Salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) is not among the most desirable salmon in terms of human consumption, to the point that the euphemistic label of “Keta Salmon” is often used in supermarkets. While culinarily unexciting, the Chum salmon exhibits some fascinating behavioral and physiological adaptations to its environment.