Weekend Reading Sept. 13, 2013

Yet another example of the intelligence of octopus.  These animals continually amaze me with their complex skills, their curiosity and their ability to learn and play.  Imagine what they could do if they lived more than a year or two!

http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/content.php?sid=5116

Competition for the baddest of oceanic badness.  The infamous Mantis Shrimp must now compete with the poorly known, up to 10 foot long, Bobbit worm.  Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water...

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2013/09/absurd-creature-of-the-week-bobbit-worm/

Excellent article from last year on dealing with urban coyotes.  Yes, there are coyotes in this area, including in the city of Boston.  This would be a GREAT article to base a presentation on.

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/24/learning-to-live-with-urban-coyotes/?_r=1

An excellent essay on the current state of animal cognition (thinking) research.

http://danbrubaker.blogspot.com/2013/09/animal-cognition-science-ruffling-more.html

More cool ants!  Ants do an awful lot of amazing things for such a small, seemingly simple organism.  Fortunately they are heavily studied so we get cool stories like this.  It does make me think - what else could we learn if we put as much effort into other insects and invertebrates?  What else super-deluxe-cool is out there just waiting for an entomologist who can afford to do research on something other than "pest control"????

http://phenomena.nationalgeographic.com/2013/09/09/mercenary-ants-protect-farmers-with-chemical-weapons/

BONUS ARTICLE:  a little long but worth the read - Tickling Rats for Science.  Yes, Scientists tickled rats and the rats responded by laughing.

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2013/09/tickling-rats-for-science/