Land mammal news, features and articles
Latest about Land Mammals

Pallas's cat: One of the world's oldest felines that stands on its bushy tail to keep its paws warm
By Sascha Pare published
Pallas's cat is a small wild cat native to Central Asia with short legs and dense fur, making it look bigger than it really is — but the yelps it makes in stressful situations betray its size.

Earth's early primates evolved in the cold — not the tropics
By Jason Gilchrist published
Fossil spore and pollen data reveal our early ancestors evolved in cold, dry environments, with some even colonizing Arctic regions.

What's the difference between a llama and an alpaca?
By Charles Q. Choi published
Llamas are closely related to alpacas, so how can you tell these South American camelids apart?

Best bat detectors in 2025 — Hear bats and their echolocation
By Kat Bayly published
Connect with nature, even after the sun sets, with one of these best bat detectors and listen to the clicking of their echolocation at twilight

Texas puma genes rescue Florida panthers from extinction — for now
By Skyler Ware published
The low number of remaining Florida panthers has led to severe inbreeding. But now, genes from Texas pumas are helping to save them from extinction.

Why do cats and dogs eat grass?
By Margaret Osborne published
There are many theories for why cats and dogs eat grass, and some could be "old wives' tales."

Aye-ayes: The strange nocturnal lemurs with long, creepy fingers
By Lydia Smith published
Aye-ayes are remarkable thanks to their extra-long, bony middle fingers, which they use to locate grubs and pick their noses.

Why do cats hate water?
By Marilyn Perkins published
It's a well-known fact that most cats despise getting wet. But why?

Virginia opossums: The American marsupials that have barely changed since the time of the dinosaurs
By Lydia Smith published
Virginia opossums are the only marsupial species in North America.

Return of wolves to Yellowstone has led to a surge in aspen trees unseen for 80 years
By Chris Simms published
Gray wolves were reintroduced in Yellowstone National Park in 1995 to help control the numbers of elk that were eating young trees, and it is finally paying off for quaking aspen.
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