Category Archives: profiles

Prairie voles are hamster-sized rodents with small ears and eyes and a short tail. Their coarse fur is grayish brown on the back but yellowish on the belly. The scientific name is derived from Greek and is quite descriptive, with the genus name translating roughly to ‘small ear’ and the species epithet to ‘yellow belly.’ContinueContinue reading “Prairie voles pair up”

The dromedary or Arabian camel is a large, even-toed ungulate with a prominent hump, its most distinctive feature. Sandy brown in color, dromedaries are well adapted to desert conditions, sporting bushy eyebrows, two rows of long eyelashes, hair-lined ears and narrow nostrils that can be closed to protect their facial features from desert sands. LabContinueContinue reading “Immunity and the charismatic camel”

Desmodus rotundus is one of only three species of bats that feed exclusively on blood. Commonly called vampire bats, these nocturnal flying mammals have a body length of roughly 3 in and a wingspan up to 15 in. They usually weigh 20–50 g and live up to 12 years in the wild. Their short furContinueContinue reading “Vampire bats go with the flow”

The bicolor damselfish is a tropical marine species that inhabits shallow coral reefs in the western Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. Damselfish have an oval-shaped body with a two-tone coloration that varies somewhat with geography. Lab Anim. (NY) 42, 11 (2013). view full text (login required)

The Watanabe rabbit is an inbred strain developed from the New Zealand White breed commonly found in laboratories. New Zealand Whites are relatively large rabbits: adult males can weigh 8–10 lb and females up to 12 lb. They have muscular bodies, large hind feet, thick fur and long ears that stand straight up. Because ofContinueContinue reading “The tale of the Watanabe rabbit”

Domestic or European ferrets are carnivorous mammals related to weasels, minks, otters and skunks. They have long bodies, short legs and thick fur with various color patterns. The natural pattern, called sable or fitch, features a yellowish coat with dark patches over the limbs and tail, a facial mask and dark brown eyes. Ferrets haveContinueContinue reading “Ferrets further disease research”

The green anole (also known as the Carolina or red-throated anole) is a small arboreal lizard found primarily in the southeastern US and Caribbean. It is sometimes called the American chameleon because it can change color from its usual emerald green to brown. Many lizards are capable of this trick, however, and anoles are notContinueContinue reading “The ever-adaptable anole”

Bushbabies, or galagos, are small prosimian primates that are well equipped for their nocturnal and arboreal existence: they have distinctive, round eyes for sharp night vision, large ears for acute hearing and long tails for good balance. The name ‘bushbaby’ is owed to the animal’s vocalizations, thought to sound like the cries of an infant.ContinueContinue reading “Bushbabies brought to light”

The axolotl is a salamander that does not undergo metamorphosis: adults remain aquatic and keep their gills. They owe their unique appearance in part to these feathery, protruding gills, arranged in three paired stalks behind their heads. Axolotls also have a distinctive caudal fin stretching from the head almost to the vent. Their blunt snoutsContinueContinue reading “The amazing, regenerating axolotl”

Undercover footage from noncompliant animal studies has stemmed public support for research. Extremists demanding that nonhuman animals be given the same rights as humans have launched violent attacks on research personnel. Anti-research groups have seeded legislation limiting how many animals one person or entity can own and prohibiting their intra-state transport. And miles away, paramilitaryContinueContinue reading “Imagining an end to animal research”