dna, elephant birds, fossils, history, madagascar, new discoveries

Extinct Elephant Birds Were 3 Meters Tall and Weighed 700kg. Now, DNA From Fossil Eggshells Reveals How They Lived

Madagascar’s extinct elephant birds — the largest birds ever to have lived — have captured the public’s interest for hundreds of years. Little is known about them due to large gaps in the skeletal fossil record. A new study published in Nature Communications used ancient molecules extracted from fossil eggshells to reveal surprising new insights ...

Troy Oakes

Madagascar's extinct elephant bird eggs.

Scientists Find 6-Fingered Lemurs

The aye-aye, a member of the lemur family, is a primate native to the island of Madagascar. This nocturnal creature was thought to have five fingers like most other animals. But new research has shown that aye-aye lemurs have a sixth finger. These lemurs have a sixth finger The discovery was made by a team ...

Armin Auctor

A six-fingered aye-aye.

Chinese Tourists Arrested in Madagascar for Trying to Transport Exotic Animals

Madagascar law enforcement has arrested two Chinese tourists for attempting to transport exotic animals live animals out of the country. They were carrying lizards, dragonflies, and centipedes in their luggage, including an endangered species of chameleon. Arrested in Madagascar The two Chinese nationals were traveling with a tourist group that included several families. The tour ...

Raven Montmorency

A Madagascar chameleon.