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They reproduce through gynogenesis. Their offspring are clones of the mother. According to established theories, the Amazon molly should have become extinct a long time ago. Well, why didn’t it?

Researchers have just published an extensive phylogenetic tree for the Eurasian green toads. This phylogenetic tree shows that polyploid species are hybrids and only descend from parental species with a very high degree of genetic divergence.

A constant race to keep up: the co-evolutive dynamics of parasite-host interactions show analogies to a well-known children's book.

Experts from all over the world have developed the basis for a global network for improving research, protection and public outreach in the field of freshwater biodiversity.

A huge international research collaboration catalogued the planet’s microbial diversity at unprecedented scale and compiled the world's first reference database of bacteria colonising our planet.

83 per cent of all the world’s threatened freshwater species occur in the same areas as the “imposing” freshwater species examined within the study – all of which are potential ambassadors for their ecosystem.

Online survey open until 30 November 2017: People around the globe who work or have an interest in the research and protection of freshwater biodiversity are invited to contribute their experience and know-how.

It is known that some sulphur bacteria such as Achromatium oxaliferum can be extremely large and may contain several genome copies. But the fact that a single bacterial cell harbours hundreds of different(!) genomes is new – brand new.