In July 2017, an investigation into the cause of neurological signs in a black flying fox ( Pteropus alecto , family Pteropodidae ) identified a putative novel hantavirus (Robina virus, ROBV, order Bunyavirales , family Hantaviridae , genus Mobatvirus ) in its brain. Analysis of the evolutionary relationship between other hantaviruses using maximum-likelihood, a systematic Bayesian clustering approach, and a minimum spanning t...

It is possible that the reproductive strategy of the short-beaked echidna is related to seasonal changes in fat deposition and energy availability, regulated by seasonal changes in endocrine function. We predicted that circulating leptin levels would be directly proportional to adiposity during most of the year, but that a change in this relationship would occur during the pre-breeding season to allow increased fat deposition....