All-Female Fish Species

The "Amazon Molly" fish species, which is all female, has survived for 70,000 years without reproducing sexually, experts believe.

Scientists think the Amazon Molly may be employing special genetic survival "tricks" to avoid becoming extinct. The species, found in southeast Texas and northeast Mexico, interacts with males of other species to trigger its reproduction process. The offspring are clones of their mother and do not inherit any of the male's DNA.

Typically, when creatures reproduce asexually, harmful changes creep into their genes over many generations. The species will eventually have problems reproducing and can often fall victim to extinction. One theory for the Amazon Molly's continued existence is that the fish may occasionally be taking some of the DNA from the males that trigger reproduction, in order to refresh their gene pool.

Will mammoths be cloned?

Russian scientists have developed the most detailed picture ever of the insides of prehistoric animals. They made the discovery after studying a 37,000 year-old baby mammoth found immaculately preserved in the Yamalo-Nenets region in Russia. The scientists say it was crucial for the study of prehistoric life to pinpoint the exact location of the animal’s internal organs.

Some experts hope that the perfect condition in which the body of the mammoth was found could allow scientists to extricate intact DNA from his cells, and, as a result, clone the animal in future.

With the mammoth's trunk still intact, eyes in place and small tufts of fur still on its skin, it looks more like a museum fake than an actual specimen. The creature’s organs were also perfectly preserved, and its heart could be clearly seen with the help of computer scanning techniques.

The animal was immediately buried in a watery area or a bog after its death (see this post for more on bogs). It was located there in a frozen state for several thousand years until it reappeared to the world after a part of the river’s bank slipped off.

Below is a brief video on the find:

Fun with Tree Growing

Cool Animal Pics

More Antarctic Creatures

As a follow up to this post, below are some more pictures of sea creatures recently found off Antarctica.

Below is a sea cucumber, known as a "sea pig." Sea cucumbers are part of a group of marine animals that inhabit the sea floor, including sea squirts, sea stars (starfish), sea slugs, corals, clams, sponges, and urchins.



An Antarctic octopus found at 3,280 feet in southern Antarctica's Ross Sea was one of about 18 octopus species recorded during the survey.



This predatory fish, called a stareater, uses its luminous red chin appendage to lure prey into striking distance.



This 19-inch-long daggertooth sports an iridescent body and sapphire blue eyes. An Antarctic neighbor of the predatory stareater, this fish is one of the southernmost daggertooths ever caught. The animal uses its long mouth and forward-curved teeth immobilize prey, clamping down and pulling back to tear through and paralyze the victim's spine.

Monkeys Riding Tiny Motorcycles

Monkeys are apparently evolving to the point of using human means of transportation!

Elephant Painting a Self Portrait!

Click on the picture below to see an amazing video of an elephant painting a self portrait!

Animal Hand Art

From an Italian artist: