Land mammal news, features and articles
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Colugo: The 'flying lemur' that doesn't fly and isn't a lemur
By Mindy Weisberger published
This big-eyed rainforest mammal looks like a cross between a bat and a squirrel. It glides between treetops using a furry membrane that connects its limbs.

Why do cats like concrete slabs?
By Marilyn Perkins published
Cat owners have noticed their pets seem to go crazy for concrete blocks. Why?

'Alpha male' primates are rare, with females about as likely to dominate the opposite sex, study finds
By Patrick Pester published
Researchers have found that clear-cut male dominance is rare in primates, with both sexes capable of reigning supreme depending on the circumstances.

Chimps develop fashion trend by shoving grass in their ears — and in their butts
By Patrick Pester published
Chimpanzees are running around with grass in their ears and butts at the Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage in Zambia. This is the second time a bizarre fad-like behavior has gripped the sanctuary's chimps, but wearing the grass accessories in their butts is a new twist.

Why do giraffes have spots?
By Clarissa Brincat published
Giraffes' distinctive spots are more than just for show. So why do these tall animals have them?

Bear's new metal tooth is world's biggest-ever crown
By Patrick Pester last updated
Lake Superior Zoo in Minnesota announced it has given a brown bear the world's largest dental crown, with the bear now sporting a silver-colored metal canine

Are cats the only animals that purr?
By Marilyn Perkins published
Everyone knows what a happy cat sounds like. But are they the only animals that purr?

Binturong: The bearcat that smells like hot buttered popcorn
By Lydia Smith published
Binturongs' popcorn perfume plays a vital role in communication, helping them mark their territory and signal their presence to others in dense tropical rainforests.

14,000-year-old ice age 'puppies' were actually wolf sisters that dined on woolly rhino for last meal
By Kristina Killgrove published
A pair of canines found in Siberian permafrost were wolf sisters that died shortly after eating.

Cats recognize familiar BO and can spot strangers from the stink of their armpits and toes
By Patrick Pester published
Researchers have found that cats spend longer sniffing a stranger's odor than their owner's odor, suggesting they can distinguish between familiar and unfamiliar humans from scent alone.
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