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/sci/ - Science & Math

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2862618 No.2862618 [Reply] [Original]

Scientists are baffled by a wildlife mystery: Why are some penguin chicks losing their feathers?

The illness known as feather-loss disorder has hit colonies on both sides of the South Atlantic and no one knows what is causing the condition.

Researchers from Washington, South Africa and Argentina have just published a paper into the phenomenon of 'naked' penguins.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1375231/Mystery-naked-penguin-chicks-lost-feathers.html

what does /sci/ thinks?

>> No.2862626
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2862626

>> No.2862629

I haven't heard of this phenomenon.

I think that birds can lose their feathers if they are overheated, malnourished, or stressed though...

>> No.2862640

it's always a fungus infection of some kind

>> No.2862666

>>2862629
yeah stress has been known to cause loss of hair in mammals, and loss of feathers in birds

>> No.2862677

>>2862666

What could be making them stressed?

>> No.2862679

>>2862677
penguins have feelings just like people

what makes you stressed, probably seek an analogy in the penguin population

>> No.2862686

>>2862666

Cos they can sense death in the air?

>> No.2862694

>>2862618

>Scientists have missed the boat here, perfect explanation for them is global warming, missed a chance there scientists, too bad.

>> No.2862710
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2862710

>>2862626