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Müller's ground viper (Micrelaps muelleri), a venomous snake from the Near East, is a member of the newly described family Micrelapidae. (Photo: Simon Jamison)
13/02/2023

Scientists find a new family of snakes

post by
Reinout Verbeke

An international team of researchers led by the University of Helsinki has revised the phylogeny of the Elapoidea, an important group of snakes. By doing so, they discovered a new family of snakes.

Dominant male of the new species Haplochromis glaucus.
22/04/2022

Ten new species of predatory fish from Lake Edward

post by
Reinout Verbeke

A team of Belgian researchers has described ten new species of small predatory fish from Lake Edward. Scientists have long suspected that this lake between the DR Congo and Uganda is home to exceptional fish diversity.

A 'hunched' male O. gibbosus spider. (Photo: Gilbert Loos, ARABEL-image bank)
23/12/2021

Supergene turns spider into a ‘macho male’

post by
Reinout Verbeke

Biologists from the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences found in a spider species that 'macho males' have an extra set of genes that is lacking in feminized males.

Sawfly larva Nematus spiraeae. By raising its abdomen, the insect stays ready to emit defensive volatiles upon harassment. Photo: Jean-Luc Boevé
23/09/2021

Insect defensive chemicals translated into sounds

post by
Reinout Verbeke

Researchers have translated odours emitted by insects to defend themselves against predators into sounds. This allowed them to compare the effect of such odorous cocktails on predators with the effect of sounds on humans.

Mussels in the collections of the RBINS. (c) Thierry Backeljau, RBINS
21/09/2021

Belgian mussels developed stronger shells

post by
Siska Van Parys

Belgian mussels have developed stronger shells over the last hundred years. More calcareous shells protect them better from crabs’ claws and seagulls’ beaks. These predators have increased significantly in number during the last fifty years.

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