Neat science stories

Ancestor of the camel was an Arctic giant

The ancestors of the modern camel included an Arctic giant that lived in chilly coniferous forests about 3.5 million years ago. The ancient ungulates were 30 percent bigger than living camels today, weighing about a ton.

UF scientists discover new crocodilian, hippo-like species from Panama

University of Florida paleontologists have discovered remarkably well-preserved fossils of two crocodilians and a mammal previously unknown to science during recent Panama Canal excavations that began in 2009.

The two new ancient extinct alligator-like animals and an extinct hippo-like species inhabited Central America during the Miocene about 20 million years ago. The research expands the range of ancient animals in the subtropics — some of the most diverse areas today about which little is known historically because lush vegetation prevents paleontological excavations — and may be used to better understand how climate change affects species dispersal today. The two studies appear online today in the same issue of the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.

The fossils shed new light on scientists’ understanding of species distribution because they represent a time before the formation of the Isthmus of Panama, when the continents of North and South America were separated by oceanic waters.

You can have a camel fall on you and live

Years ago, I knew a couple whose four year old daughter was hit by a car. When asked if she'd learned anything, she replied, 'You can get hit by a car and live.'

At the time it was a scary thing. Later, it became an amusing anecdote. Well, several people will no doubt recount the Christmas a camel fell on them in Florida.

Everybody sing!: For onto us a camel's fallen ...: Animal topples into audience in rehearsal at Fla. church Christmas pageant

No animals (or humans) were harmed in the making of this Christmas pageant. The camel was supposed to kneel and, well, being a camel, it balked and stepped sideways instead, toppling off the stage and into the pews. But everyone's okay, so like I said, it'll be one of those amusing family Christmas stories.