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A study of the activity levels in the wild of the Nautilus is reported. The aim was to understand why nautiloids survived relatively unchanged from the Ordovician, while ammonites and all other ectocochleate cephalopods became extinct. The study involved obtaining high-resolution tracks of animal position and depth and telemetered jet pressures to examine animal lifestyle and economics. The results showed that Nautilus is more active in the wild than in captivity, but expend less energy. The animal reduces transport energy costs by taking advantage of vertical movement. Also, it moves to deeper, cooler waters after feeding to allow a single feeding to last longer.

When kangaroos move slowly, their muscular tails work as a fifth leg. Despite their reputation for bouncing, kangaroos spend much of their day walking on all four legs while they [...]

A terrestrial leaf beetle can walk underwater, thanks to tiny air bubbles trapped between hair-like structures on its feet. Gastrophysa viridula (pictured) use these 'hairs, or setae, and the secreted [...]

Echolocating bats have a legendary ability to find prey in the dark--so you'd think they would be able to tell the difference between water and a sheet of metal. Not [...]