The story of the last Dragons on Earth

The medieval cartographers marking at a number of sites located in the Lesser Sunda Islands or Nusa Tenggara: as the abode of the dragon. The dragons what they mean can not fly or breathe fire. However, the creature was no less terrible than mythical animals in a fairy tale. With the body of 3 meters and weighing 70 kilograms, these animals can run up to speeds of 29 km/h to catch its prey.

So when they get or catch their preys in the form of a water buffalo or elk, these creatures will use their razor sharp teeth to tear prey, while injecting a poison that makes its victims to bleed to death were tortured.

The city of Labuan Bajo dubbed the 'Gate of Komodo'. So when you landed in Labuan Bajo not complete if you do not visit and look the Komodo (Varanus komodoensis) as the last dragons in Earth. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1XdBI1)

Not only animals, 'dragon' had also been prey on humans. The dragon in question is Komodo (Varanus komodoensis), which inhabits the island of Rinca, Gili Motang, Nusa Kode, Flores and Komodo.

Actually, the giant reptiles are originally from Australia, they lived in the Kangaroo continent millions of years ago before migrating and reach Indonesian territory about 900 thousand years ago.

Komodo dragons live in the rugged landscape, bush and savanna. Animals that can be camouflaged and waiting patiently for prey to approach them. They will eat anything, even human.

The natural beauty of Komodo Island from the top. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1XdBI1)

"I have seen what can be done by these animals and how much they could injure a human being," said Achmad Ariefiandy of Komodo Survival Program (KSP). "No need to be like a movie star anyway if you eventually will be bitten by them."

There was a horrendous incident related to the Komodo dragons attack. which occurred in the Los Angeles Zoo, the United States in 2001. At that time, a komodo dragon trying to prey on foot of Phil Bronstein, an editor of the San Francisco Chronicle, which incidentally is the husband of the famous artist, Sharon Stone. Fortunately, the victim can survive even had to undergo treatment at the hospital.

Komodo can devour prey up to 80 percent of their body weight, and then they do not need to eat for a few weeks with only silence to sun bath. On several occasions, they attacked the people who live near their habitat. There were four human costs in the last 4 decades, the locals treat it as 'sacred animal'.

"The creature has a number of weapons systems," said Bryan Fry of the University of Queensland, was quoted as saying some of the BBC on Sunday, February 28, 2016.

"The teeth become the main weapon. However, if you do not die due to rupture of the femoral artery, the prey will undoubtedly have died due to blood loss."

An endangered animal

Although Komodo survived from various natural disaster: the ice age, sea level rise, earthquakes, tsunamis that happened and also devastating on the Lesser Sunda Islands.

Although tough, in fact, the biggest threat to dragons is the population and the growing human activity. Komodo captured and sold to the zoo or to the collector. Their feet and skin are considered achievements in hunting activities. Besides that the rise in sea level that is also as a result of human activities.

So the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List gives the label as an endangered animal. The Komodo National Park and many conservation efforts have so far managed to keep the animals from extinction. However, that does not mean there is no threat at all. 

The other causes, the number of eggs produced by females very little. There is no guarantee the komodo dragons can continue to survive or grow up to 7 meters like their ancestors before.

Here it is, one good news, the animal conservation efforts are also done in some zoos. It was supported by the fact that the female komodo dragons can give birth in virgin condition. Flora, the Komodo dragon that living in the Chester Zoo, London became one evident. In 2006, she gave birth to eight Komodo eggs. Through the process of parthenogenesis (asexual reproduction without fertilization).

The incident at London Zoo was recorded as the first Komodo dragons parthenogenesis in the world. The animal conservation efforts began when Claudio Ciofi, a biologist at the University of Florence who arrived in Indonesia in mid-1990s and 'falling love' with the komodo dragons.

The fact that the Komodo dragons conservation efforts initiated and led mostly foreigners, recognized by Ariefiandy as 'shameful'. "Komodo is the Indonesian national animals, Indonesian people should be done more for the komodo research and another protection efforts," he said. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | BBC]

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Already extinct, the Zebra sub-species back to life

In 1883, after its population was reduced drastically due to act of the hunter, the world's last quagga died in the Amsterdam zoo. Quagga is a sub-species of zebra from South Africa, the only difference is they do not have dappled in the leg.

More than 100 years after the quagga extinct, scientists claimed that has been brought back the sub-species back to life, through selective breeding that diligently done for 30 years.

In the project called The Quagga Project, that begun 30 years ago, when Reinhold Rau, an inventor from the University of Cape Town, analyzing a collection of DNA samples from the quagga's skin. When the results arrived, he was surprised and delighted to discover the once-extinct creature is genetically the same as the zebra. In other words, quagga and zebra not a different species.

This knowledge is important, as it proves, the real difference between a zebra and quagga is located on fur patterns. With this information, Rau was planning to 'awaken' the species by selective breeding zebra to bring the quagga characteristics.

Scientist found that the Quagga genetically the same as the Zebra. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1WxuPA)

The main difference between the two species is the quagga graded stripes of black and white to brown or white plain towards the hind legs. Quagga in the 19th century sort of looks like the zebra after sat in the mud.

After breeding for 30 years, the team claims that the quagga has returned. Since the zebra and quagga have same DNA, scientists say, this latest generation was the extinct animals back to life.

"By all intents and purposes, the quagga back in. The project was a huge success," said one researcher, Eric Harley, as quoted ScienceAlert.

Although this sounds awesome project, many are critical of it and call it 'violates the natural law' and 'efforts to find public attention'. The team also responded that they did not use genetic modification to revive the quagga, and the project was responsible for the act of a hunter, and bring back the South African native animals they killed brutally.

However, the team agreed to call this new animal as 'Rau-quagga,' not quagga, to distinguish it. It is hoped this will silence the protesters.

One of the amazing aspects of this project, is that although rau-quagga were the breeding results animals, they are fertile. This is because, rau-quagga not the result of interbreeding. They are sub-species retain his genes, so that they can successfully breed.

The team hopes to continue the project to eventually create rau-quagga herd so that they could live freely in South Africa should their ancestors in the 19th century. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | THE QUAGGA PROJECT | SCIENCEALERT]

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Zebra stripes not for camouflage

More than 100 years that's why black and white pattern on Zebra has been a perennial secret. In fact, has invited a lot of debate among scientists. However, after reaching a general consensus that the zebra line is for camouflage. But, it turns to a recent study dispelled that argument.

Scientists from the University of Calgary and UC Davis shows a digital image of a group of zebra. Taken from Tanzania through spatial and color filter, and the simulation shows how the animal will be seen by their primary predators (such as lions and hyenas) as well as other zebra.

Zebra stripes not for camouflage, scientists confirm. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1PRypaU)

They also measure the width and luminance or brightness of the lines to estimate their maximum distance which can be detected by different species, using information about their vision.

The study, published in the PLoS ONE journal, found that the stripes on the zebra was not used to camouflage. Predator can smell them and can still see the black and white motif on their body, as reported by Independent on Tuesday, January 26, 2016.

Researchers found, at a distance of 50 meters during the day and at 30 meters at dusk, when most predators hunt, the lines can be detected by humans but difficult for predators to distinguish. On a moonless night lines that make it difficult for all of the species to see zebra exceed nine meters.

Thus, this research says that the lines are not for camouflage, where a strip of black is considered the tree and white is the light that appeared between the trees.

What is the use of black & white pattern on the Zebra?

Amanda Melin, lead author of the study and assistant professor of anthropology biological at the University of Calgary, says, "The longest hypothesis for zebra stripe is crypsis, or camouflage, but until now the question is always through human eyes."

"Instead, we performed a series of calculations in which we were able to estimate the distance at which the lions and hyenas, as well as zebra, can see zebra stripes during the day, dusk, or during a moonless night."

Tim Caro, co-author of the study and associate professor of wildlife biology at UC Davis said, "The results of this new study does not provide any support at all for the idea that the zebra stripes provide some kind of anti-predator camouflage effect.

"On the contrary, we reject the hypothesis that has long been debated by Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace."

After reviewing the location of striped animals and a number of variables that overlap, they concluded that the lines it is the evolution of the zebra to avoid blood-sucking flies.

Unlike other African mammals that live in the same area, zebra fur shorter than the length of the mouth of the blood-sucking insects. Making them particularly vulnerable. Allegedly, black and white are the result of evolution (a reaction to the problems they face). To repel those biting insects. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | INDEPENDENT]

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Extinct tree frogs rediscovered in India after 145 years

Tree frogs are thought to have become extinct 1 century ago was found again in India. This remarkable discovery was found by Sathyabhama Das Biju and his team in the jungle northeast India.

This discovery gives hope that the tree frogs may be found in other areas of China to Thailand. Not only that, the study of these findings make the experts have to reclassify the entire genus.

Unusually, the frogs (Frakixalus Jerdonii) feed mostly on vegetation, rather than insects or larvae. (Picture from: http://bbc.in/1RAWVmE)

The frog with the size of a golf ball that live in tree holes as high as 6 meters from the ground. That is why their presence is hidden and difficult to detect. This unique species of frogs. Females do not release eggs into the water, but incubated in the tree holes containing water. When it became a tadpole, they fed 'children' with the eggs failed to hatch. Unlike other frogs that eat larvae and insects, the adult tree frogs eat the moss.

Sathyabhama Das Biju eventually known as the Frog Man of India, because he has found 89 of the 350 species of frogs.

Instead of teeth, the tadpoles have smooth mouths, to suck in the eggs they eat. (Picture from: http://bbc.in/1RAWVmE)

"At that time, we heard the lovely orchestra sound were playing. There was a very magical, and when examined we found them," Biju said as quoted by the BBC on Thursday, January 21, 2016.

The tadpole's eyes are closer to the top of its head than most - possibly so it can see eggs being dropped into its tree pond at feeding time. (Picture from: http://bbc.in/1RAWVmE)

After the DNA test, Biju and his colleagues say the tree frog is a new kind. In other words, the animal was entitled to a new name. Frogs were originally named Polypedates Jerdonii was then given the name of the inventor Thomas Jerdon. Jerdon is a British biologist who first discovered this species in 1870 or 145 years ago.

Now the amphibians is called Frakixalus Jerdonii - taken from the name of amphibians and reptiles expert, Frank Bossuyt, a Biju's adviser when he studied in Belgium. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | BBC]

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Ninja lantern shark found hiding in the Pacific Ocean

A new species of sharks, named Ninja lantern shark was found hiding in the Pacific Ocean. Sharks with the Latin name 'Etmoterus Benchleyi' live in waters around 2,742 - 4,734 feet from the coast of Central America.

The new species has been discovered is called owes its name to a young cousin of Vicky Vasquez, one of the scientists that involved in the study of this new species. Research results published in the Journal of the Ocean Science Foundation.

A "Jaws" inspired view of the newly identified lantern shark species Etmopterus benchleyi. (PIcture from: http://bit.ly/1QWOm5F)

"Its general name, Ninja lantern shark, referring to the black sleek shark color as well as the fact that it has fewer photophores (the organs that emit light) than others lantern shark," said Vasquez to Mashable via e-mail.

Based on that, the scientists feel the unique characteristics would make this species is hidden like a ninja. "The unique name was proposed by my niece who was 8-14 years old," added Vasquez.

This map shows where researchers collected the first (holotype) and later (paratype) specimens of the newfound shark. (PIcture from: http://bit.ly/1QWOm5F)

In contrast to other types of lantern shark, the Ninja lantern shark creating less of light - possibly as a form of camouflage. That is why this shark is referred to as ninja shark. Furthermore, Vasquez called the ninja lantern shark as "lost shark" that covered by the other sharks which is more popular as the Great White.

The jaws of an adult female Etmopterus benchleyi. It's likely that the top teeth are used for grasping and the bottom for cutting. (PIcture from: http://bit.ly/1QWOm5F)

Since 2010, researchers have recently found some eight specimens of these sharks. To get more detailed information and answer their biological conditions, scientists must find a specimen more.

"If it is found more, we can explore new biological details of these sharks, such as 'how its maximum size?'. The largest specimens we found along 515 mm, and since it is spawn and we know that's adult female sharks," said Vasquez. "While we have not found adult male."

As for the scientific name of this species-Etmoterus Benchleyi-also has a unique story. The Benchleyi name is taken from the name of the author of Jaws, Peter Benchley.

"Although many people know the negative reaction to the film, but most do not realize that Benchley make something positive by creating Benchley Awards, which appreciate the people who contribute to marine conservation," said Vasquez.

According to Vasquez, the scientists in between 2000-2009 have discovered about 18 new species of Chondrichthyans (sharks and its relatives like stingray, shoes, and chimaeras) every year. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | LIVESCIENCE]

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Scientists successfully breeding the Goats with Spider's DNA

Researchers from the University of Wyoming, claims to have discovered how to breed the goats with Spider's DNA that can produce spider silk. Referring to Phys.org, these findings have contributed to medical purposes such as to create the artificial tendons and ligaments.

The man who contributed behind the invention is Randy Lewis, a professor of molecular biology at the university. Working together with other researchers, he managed to extract the spider silk genes and incorporate them into a goat to produce a (silk) protein in their milk. However, not all goats can be infiltrated with spider genes.

Goats that produce spider silk protein in their milk could enable researchers to collect large quantities of the silk. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1Ud2mFS)

Evidently, only three of the seven goats that could produce silk protein in the experiments occours in 2010. In spite of that, from this discovery Lewis earned its reputation as a biology scientist; he managed to collect thousands of pounds of recombinant spider silk from goat milk that he bred.

The good news, the goat does not show odd behavior after the injection of spider's DNA. It still behaves like goats in general; eating grass and still can not be united with rain.

Currently the scientists have to do the same discourse of the alfalfa plants -- the plants are used as animal feed. These plants can reliably generate the amount of silk more than goats. This plant is believed to generate as much as 20% to 25% of protein, and is ideal to produce silk protein. Moreover, according to them, these plants spread in a wider places.

Spider silk has become an important component for medical and industrial purposes. As mentioned earlier, spider silk is usually used to create a artificial ligaments, fixing jaw, and sew the eye. Spider silk is also used in several other applications such as bullet-proof vests and car airbags. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | PHYS.ORG]

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