妖精すぎる

A recent scientific study suggests that the Ethiopian wolf (Canis simensis), the world's rarest wild canid, may be the first known large carnivore to act as a plant pollinator. While these wolves typically hunt rodents in Ethiopia’s highlands, researchers have documented them feeding on sweet flower nectar. This unusual behavior leaves their snouts heavily coated in pollen, creating a possible pathway to assist in plant reproduction. For the study, published in 2024, researchers observed six wolves from different packs over four days in May and June 2023. All six animals fed on Ethiopian red hot poker plants (Kniphofia foliosa), which produce tall, spike-like clusters covered in tubular flowers. During a single feeding session, one female was recorded visiting 30 different flower heads. The wolves generally focused on mature flowers near the bottom of each cluster. As they licked up the nectar, their muzzles brushed against the blooms and collected pollen. If a wolf later carries this pollen to the receptive stigma of another flower, it could enable fertilization and seed production. Among mammals, bats are the primary pollinators. Nectar feeding is highly unusual for large carnivores, as they lack the specialized tongues or elongated snouts typically required to feed from flowers. However, drinking nectar and carrying pollen do not automatically make an animal an effective pollinator. Researchers still need to measure the exact amount of pollen the wolves transfer and determine whether their visits genuinely help the plants produce seeds. The research team suspects that nectar is an occasional supplement rather than a major energy source. Interestingly, adults were observed visiting the flower fields alongside younger wolves, raising the possibility of social learning within packs. Currently, fewer than 500 Ethiopian wolves remain in the wild, threatened by severe habitat loss and disease. Protecting this critically endangered species may also preserve an unexpected, vital ecological connection between a top predator and the plants sharing its native habitat. [Lai, S., Léandri-Breton, D.-J., Lesaffre, A., & Sillero-Zubiri, C. (2025). Canids as pollinators? Nectar foraging by Ethiopian wolves may contribute to the pollination of Kniphofia foliosa. *Ecology*, 105(12), e4470]

綺麗なツバサのシマエナガです

It's been quite a while since I last drew on paper and pencil (and in case you're wondering, no, the spinosaurus isn't my favorite dinosaur, it's my second favorite) #spinosaurus #art #paleoart

Ever seen a many-plumed moth? Alucitidae are recognised by their modified wings consisting of 6 rigid spines on each forewing and hindwing. Each spine is lined with flexible bristles, creating a structure similar to that of a bird's feather. Look closer!