Tag: predator-prey dynamics
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Why Some Animals Eat Poison and Cheat Death: Survival Tricks in Nature
Introduction: Nature’s Tough-Love Tactics From poison dart frogs to venomous snakes, several animals not only withstand deadly toxins but turn them into a survival advantage. The question isn’t just about bravado in the animal kingdom; it’s about a suite of evolutionary tricks that reduce danger, maximize feeding opportunities, and extend lifespans in toxic environments. This…
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Europe’s Largest Bats Hunt Migrating Birds in Flight: Aerial Predation at 400 Meters
Introduction: A surprising apex of the nocturnal skies While bats are widely celebrated for eating insects, a striking exception exists high above Europe’s forests. The greater noctule bat (Nyctalus lasiopterus), Europe’s largest bat, hunts nocturnally migrating birds in flight. A recent study employing high-resolution biologging tags confirms that these bats climb above 400 meters to…