Bacteria in scent glands give information about hosts’ species, sex and reproductive state. The hordes of microbes that inhabit every nook and cranny of every animal are not just passive hitchhikers: they actively shape their hosts’ well-being and even behaviour. Now, researchers have found evidence that bacteria living in the scent glands of hyenas help […]
animal behaviour
Bats use ear trumpets for social calls
Mammals roost in megaphone-shaped leaves that amplify calls from friends. Bats that nest inside curled-up leaves may be getting an extra benefit from their homes: the tubular roosts act as acoustic horns, amplifying the social calls that the mammals use to keep their close-knit family groups together. South American Spix’s disc-winged bats (Thyroptera tricolor) roost […]