Tag Archives: Dodo

Diminishing giants

Posted on December 10, 2021 by twilightbeasts

Island dwarfism is perhaps one of the most beautiful examples of evolution through natural selection. Large animals that arrive on an island, evolve smaller sizes to survive on less food, and because there are fewer (if any) predators. (Similarly, small … Continue reading →

Posted in Cebu Tamaraw | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Foolish dogs

Posted on November 11, 2021 by twilightbeasts

In 1870 another species was wiped off the face of the Earth. The warrah, or the Falkland Islands wolf, was only known to science in 1792. Less than 100 years later it was gone. The last known induvial died in … Continue reading →

Posted in Dusicyon avus | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The most (and least) read posts of 2018!

Posted on December 31, 2018 by twilightbeasts

A year goes far too quickly. But a lot has happened. Rena is now Dr Rena after successfully completing her PhD. Ross has finished his book (The Missing Lynx) which is coming out in Summer 2019 (very exciting!). And Jan … Continue reading →

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Under the boot of man

Posted on May 18, 2018 by twilightbeasts

Working in a museum I come face to face with life’s extraordinary diversity every day. Specimens a few hundred years old tell us of the richness of life right beneath our feet. Older specimens provide a glimpse into amazing animals … Continue reading →

Posted in great auk | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Lost Animals

Posted on January 23, 2018 by twilightbeasts

[This book review was written when the book was first published] I’ve been a big fan of Errol Fuller’s thoughtful prose for about 13 years. When I was finishing my undergraduate degree I had my imagination fired by reading some … Continue reading →

Posted in Extinction, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

On the shoulders of giants

Posted on April 11, 2017 by twilightbeasts

In 1835 the young, and somewhat cavalier, Charles Darwin landed for the first time on the Galapagos archipelago. As well as sending hundreds of specimens back to England, Darwin enjoyed exploring the islands and watching the local species in their … Continue reading →

Posted in Giant Tortoise | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

How do you weigh a Dodo?

Posted on February 3, 2016 by twilightbeasts

Extinction is something as real today as it has always been. What makes it even more real, and for our particularly emotional species, extremely sad is that these animals and plants are gone forever. We will never feel a dozen … Continue reading →

Posted in Dodo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

The last squawk of the dodo

Posted on August 28, 2015 by twilightbeasts

Extinction isn’t preordained. Species have no idea if they will vanish from the face of the Earth forever. Yet they do. An animal’s daily life is a struggle for survival: find the next meal, avoid being eaten. Many individuals die. … Continue reading →

Posted in Dodo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 20 Comments