As large, carnivorous mammals, spotted hyenas are well known for their competitive nature; however, recent work suggests that their clan structure has similarities to some primate social systems such as those of the baboon and macaque.

BRANFORD, Connecticut, February 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Roche and the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute [http://nationalzoo.si.edu/SCBI/default.cfm ] in Washington,

The Nile crocodile is a species that was identified by ancient Egyptians.

By Logue, Jurg B Burgmann, Helmut; Robinson, Christopher T The field of microbial ecology has grown tremendously with the advent of novel molecular techniques, allowing the study of uncultured microbes in the environment, and producing a paradigm shift: now, rather than using bacteria cultures for evaluating cell- specific questions, researchers use RNA and DNA techniques to examine more broad-based ecological and evolutionary constructs such as biogeography and the long-debated biological species concept.

In a study of New Zealand’s “living dinosaur” the tuatara, evolutionary biologist, and ancient DNA expert recovered DNA sequences from the bones of ancient tuatara, which are up to 8000 years old.