Artiodactyls, classified in the order Artiodactyla, are even-toed ungulate mammals characterized by bearing weight primarily on the third and fourth digits of each limb, which are usually of similar size and aligned symmetrically. This order includes diverse families such as Bovidae (cattle, antelopes, goats), Cervidae (deer), Suidae (pigs), and Hippopotamidae (hippopotamuses), and, in many modern treatments, is combined with Cetacea in the clade Cetartiodactyla based on molecular and morphological evidence. Artiodactyls exhibit a wide range of digestive specializations, notably ruminant foregut fermentation in many lineages, and occupy varied terrestrial and semi-aquatic ecological niches.
New research has uncovered the complex biological history preserved within DNA traces found on the Shroud of Turin, offering fresh insights into one of the world's most studied and debated historical artifacts.
Cell & Microbiology
Jul 20, 2026
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Bones preserved in underwater caves offer a rare and powerful window into the past—but until now, researchers have had limited tools to understand how the remains of extinct megafauna and other animals came to rest in their ...
Paleontology & Fossils
Jul 15, 2026
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Ancient DNA can be a powerful tool for helping us reconstruct the long-dead past. Most surviving genetic material comes from the bones and teeth of animals that lived in cold environments, where freezing temperatures help ...
An invasive species found across West Texas may pose a greater threat to native bighorn sheep than previously understood.
Plants & Animals
Jul 13, 2026
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Virtual fences could make managing grazing livestock on farms more flexible and more efficient while improving animal welfare. A new study by the University of Göttingen shows that virtual fences trigger behavior in cattle ...
Biotechnology
Jul 11, 2026
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Steep hillsides and mountainsides in many regions worldwide are often covered in characteristic step-like patterns, also known as terracettes. These repeating landforms have fascinated scientists for more than a century, ...
An international research team has for the first time investigated how an unfolding armed conflict influenced the behavior of wild animals. Using camera traps, the scientists documented how the Russian occupation of the Chornobyl ...
Plants & Animals
Jul 9, 2026
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Two new studies examining gray wolves in California paint a complex picture of life on the state's ranching landscapes: Wolves eat cattle more than anything else, and the presence of the predators causes significant stress ...
Plants & Animals
Jul 8, 2026
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Movement data from wild predator–prey encounters and controlled human catch-tag games have been combined to create realistic simulations of high-intensity movement dynamics and energetics—before being transformed into a publicly ...
Ecology
Jul 7, 2026
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There could be fewer leopards living across sub-Saharan Africa than previously believed, according to a new study that has analyzed suitable habitat and conditions. It is hoped that the research, led by conservation scientists ...
Ecology
Jul 6, 2026
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