Reptiles
Reptile urine crystals may inform future approaches to gout and kidney stones
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Scientists reporting in the Journal of the American Chemical Society examined solid urine from more than 20 reptile species and found tiny uric‑acid spheres that package waste while conserving water. The study, highlighted by the American Chemical Society and ScienceDaily, also suggests uric acid helps convert toxic ammonia into a less harmful solid, a mechanism that could guide future strategies against gout and kidney stones.
Scientists have named a new snake species, Paradoxophidion richardoweni, based on fossils discovered over 40 years ago at Hordle Cliff in England. The snake lived about 37 million years ago during a warmer Eocene period. This find offers insights into the early evolution of modern snake groups.
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Researchers have discovered a new species of wolf snake on Great Nicobar Island in India, naming it Lycodon irwini in honor of the late conservationist Steve Irwin. The glossy black, non-venomous snake measures up to one meter and faces vulnerability due to its limited habitat. The finding highlights the underexplored biodiversity of the Andaman and Nicobar region.