Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales

Neanderthal’s heel: How the Neanderthal’s external calcaneal shape uniquely differs from that of modern humans

Neanderthals exhibit unique morphological adaptations in their calcaneus compared to Homo sapiens , shedding light on distinct evolutionary pressures and functional requirements shaping their respective foot anatomy. This study assesses which calcaneal traits represent plesiomorp...

Molecular investigation of tick-borne pathogens in Ixodes ricinus feeding on lizards in the Central Pyrenees, Spain

Abstract Ixodes ricinus is the most widespread tick species in Europe, parasitizing a broad range of vertebrate hosts, including reptiles. However, the role of lizards in the ecology of tick-borne pathogens remains poorly understood. This study investigated tick infestation level...

Improving methods for identifying pair bonds in animal social networks

In social animals, maintaining strong bonds with conspecifics can be important for reproduction and survival. However, it remains unclear how best to quantify these bonds. Existing social network techniques typically focus on building robust overall networks of co-occurrences but...