Scott Travers

Contributor|Science

I am an American evolutionary biologist, based at Rutgers University, where I specialize in biodiversity, evolution, and genomics. Drop me a note, here. Thanks for your readership and support.

SOCIAL
article image
6,677 viewsMay 18, 2024

Meet The World’s Foremost ‘Venomous-Poisonous’ Snake, Revealed In 4 Dazzling Photos

The tiger keelback snake, native to east Asia and Japan, is perhaps the most well-defensed animal known to science. Here’s why.

article image
404 viewsMay 17, 2024

Meet 5 ‘Poisonous Birds’ Of Nature—Introduced In 6 Beautiful Sketches

Poison is a well-known defense mechanism in the animal kingdom. What’s not as well known is that there are several species of birds that use it to their advantage.

article image
1,339 viewsMay 16, 2024

Meet The Asian Snake That Feasts On ‘Toxic Toads’—Here Are The Photos To Prove It

Some frogs and toads secrete poison through their skin glands to deter would-be predators, but the tiger keelback snake doesn’t seem to mind. Here’s why.

article image
712 viewsMay 15, 2024

AI Pet Translator Apps? We’re Closer To Decoding Animal Language Than You Think

Imagine a future where you could have real heart-to-hearts with your pets. This future is near, thanks to the unprecedented boom in machine learning technology.

article image
1,954 viewsMay 14, 2024

Meet The 3 Deadliest ‘Rear-Fanged Venomous’ Snakes—Shown In 4 Stunning Photos

Snakes deliver their venom in one of two ways: through front fangs or rear fangs. Here’s a look at three rear-fang venomous snakes that it’s best to keep a safe distance from.

article image
4,276 viewsMay 11, 2024

4 Eye-Popping Photos That Show How Animals ‘Fake Death’ To Save Themselves

We all know that animals “play dead” in certain situations. But do you know the reasons behind the “feigning death” phenomenon?

article image
6,679 viewsMay 10, 2024

4 Pairs Of Animals That Look Identical, But Couldn’t Be Farther Apart (Genetically)

Evolution often crafts distant creatures into startling look-alikes. Here’s how to tell them apart.

article image
132 viewsMay 9, 2024

Hope Lives On For The Near-Extinct ‘Jambato Frog’—But Not For Its 2 Close Cousins

The Jambato harlequin frog has been teetering on the edge of extinction for decades. Here’s a close-up look at this impressive amphibian–as well as two of its extinct relatives.

article image
1,490 viewsMay 8, 2024

North Pacific Orcas Might Be Reclassified As 2 Distinct Species—Here’s Why

Genetic evidence shatters prior assumptions, revealing two distinct killer whale species deep in the eastern North Pacific.

article image
22,794 viewsMay 6, 2024

Meet The 3 Rarest Marsupials In The World—Presumed Extinct, Then Miraculously Rediscovered

Scientists aren’t always correct in their assessments of species endangerment and extinction. Here are three examples of times they’ve missed the mark.