EurekAlert! In the Spotlight

This August, we're exploring the science behind the animals that share our planet. From the behaviors and adaptations that help species thrive to the conservation efforts protecting wildlife around the world, animal awareness days like World Lion Day, World Elephant Day, International Cat Day, and International Wolf Day are an opportunity to celebrate biodiversity and discover the research helping us better understand and protect the species that call our planet home.

Crown-of-thorns starfish can help reefs thrive

University of Sydney
Peer-Reviewed Publication

New research from the University of Sydney challenges the perception of crown-of-thorns starfish as purely destructive. The findings suggest controlled populations can have a positive impact on coral prevalence and diversity.

Journal: Ecology and Evolution
Funder: Australian Research Council, Australian Research Council, Westpac Scholars Trust

23-Sep-2026

The World Beneath Our Feet wins the British Ecological Society Book of the Year 2026

British Ecological Society
Grant and Award Announcement

The British Ecological Society’s Marsh Ecology Book of the Year is awarded to the book that has had the greatest influence on the science of ecology in any two-year period.

23-Sep-2026

Montreal’s squirrels provide insight into evolutionary change in urban species

McGill University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

By comparing variations in the colour of the coats of the eastern grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) in Montreal city parks, researchers found that hyper-local conditions appear to play a bigger role in determining wildlife traits than had been thought.

Journal: Journal of Animal Ecology

23-Sep-2026

Aardwolves and cats share surprising chromosome similarities, study finds

Texas A&M University

In the first detailed chromosome map of the aardwolf, Texas A&M University researchers have discovered that, despite millions of years of separate evolution, the chromosomes of aardwolves, other hyenas and even domestic cats have remained remarkably similar.

The aardwolf, a termite‑eating mammal native to Africa, is the least‑studied member of the hyena family. Until now, the only chromosome information on the aardwolf was its chromosome count — 40 — which was discovered in the 1960s.

The study, published in the Journal of Heredity, was led by Dr. Terje Raudsepp, a professor in the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences’ (VMBS) Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, in collaboration with Twin Pine Conservation Institute (TPCI).

The new study provides the first detailed look at the species’ whole chromosomes, or karyotype, and contributes to broader efforts to build chromosome‑level references for mammals. So far, only about 1,200 of roughly 6,000 mammal species have detailed chromosome maps.

Journal: Journal of Heredity
Funder: Texas A&M Molecular Cytogenetics Service