I ❤ Micaria Sociabilis

Many male spiders are thought to have made a habit of copulating with every female spider that they come across. This is not true. In over 160 laboratory experiences the male spiders have been found to murder the female spiders and consume them. This finding has lead to new discoveries on the mating methods, and daily survival of many spider species. With the astounding percent of 60% female deaths during the male-female encounters, scientists are rethinking the behaviors of spiders, and their evolutionary tendencies.




http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/350369/description/News_in_Brief_Cannibalistic_spiders_may_just_be_choosy_guys

I ❤ Deep-Sea Bone-eating Worms

These bone-eating worms have made a living off of the remains of fallen fish. The real question however is how these worms are able to break down these bones into consumable products. The answer of course is acid. But this discovery reveals a second question. How do these small creatures produce such potent and effective acid? The answer to this is that these worms posses key proteins located in the root like bases that are pumped into the bone, which then secretes the nutritious collagen and fat that is hidden deep within the structure of the bone. Majestic.


http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/350092/description/News_in_Brief_Deep-sea_worms_drop_acid_to_get_dinner

I ❤ Swifts and Hummingbirds

Two of the most agile birds have been found to have a common ancestor. Even though the flight patterns of swifts and hummingbirds vary vastly, they have been found by fossil records to be ancestors of Eocypselus Rowei. The wings on the Eocypselus Rowei were found to be smaller than the swifts, but larger than the hummingbirds. This fossil suggests that the bird could not hover or glide very efficiently. The lack of ability to accomplish these skills suggests that this was a turning point in evolution suggesting that hummingbirds and swifts are very closely related to this bird.

http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/350048/description/News_in_Brief_Fossil_illuminates_ancestry_of_swifts_and_hummingbirds