This Week In Biology

Here's a quick look at some of the latest news in biology and animal studies.

Gonatocerus ovicenatus, a tiny fairyfly related to wasps, has been seen for the first time in 100 years.
http://www.physorg.com/news/2012-01-wasp-rediscovered-years.html

100 baby seals washed up on the coast of the Netherlands. Researchers claim it's because of overfishing and pollution weakening the animals enough for waves to sweep them away.
http://www.physorg.com/news/2012-01-baby-dutch-coast.html

A study has found that some species of fish grow used to certain temperatures, and condition their young to be used to these temperatures as well. Babies raised at the same temperature as their parents grew faster.
http://www.physorg.com/news/2012-01-fish-offspring-temperature-parents.html

A new species of monkey was discovered in 2010, but not photographed alive until this week. The Myanmar snub-nosed monkey lives in forested mountains near China, which is part of why it had gone undiscovered for so long.
http://www.physorg.com/news/2012-01-images-newly-primate.html

Scientists trying to stop the spread of malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases are trying a radically different approach - instead of trying to wipe out mosquitoes (which is well nigh impossible and could disrupt food chains), why not try and make mosquitoes unable to transmit malaria? Scientists are now beginning the previously-unknown task of studying the immune system of the mosquito.
http://www.physorg.com/news/2012-01-anti-viral-immune-pathway-mosquito.html

And finally, a new species of snake (a viper, specifically) was found in Tanzania two years ago and has officially been described and named this week. Researcher Tim Davenport was part of the three-man team that discovered the snake, which grows to 2 feet long. Davenport's 5-year-old daughter Matilda was present as well, and she "became fascinated by it and used to love spending time watching it and helping us look after it", he says. "We called it Matilda's Viper at that stage... and the name stuck." That's right, the species is officially named Matilda's Viper. It is believed to have a poisonous bite, but Matilda's Viper has a surprisingly calm and laid-back disposition. Davenport said he "handled one on a number of occasions". I assume Matilda didn't get to hold it, though!
http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2012/01/11/new-venomous-snake-species-discovered-in-tanzania/