• A competitive first round of the Wikicup ends, with eight TOL editors moving into the second round: AryKun, GhostRiver, Ealdgyth, Wretchskull, Charlesjsharp, Dracophyllum, Guettarda, and Casliber.

Dudleya cymosa subsp. pumila

A Golden Retriever retrieving a shot game bird

Rhododendrons at Sheringham Park

Seagrass in La Ciotat, France

• ... that Ozzie was the first gorilla to take his own blood pressure voluntarily? (February 1)
• ... that the Sonoran blue butterfly uses Dudleya cymosa subsp. pumila (pictured) as a larval foodplant and hummingbirds feed on its nectar? (February 2)
• ... that the spotted lanternfly has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat swelling since the 1100s? (February 2)
• ... that all Golden Retrievers (example pictured) descend from a golden-coloured Flat-coated Retriever named Nous and a Tweed Water Spaniel named Belle? (February 4)
• ... that Fagus langevinii is considered to be the oldest extinct species of beech tree? (February 5)
• ... that the white-headed fruit dove (Ptilinopus eugeniae) was named after Eugénie de Montijo, Empress of the French? (February 5)
• ... that Coleman's melibe is said to look like a "string of snot in the water"? (February 6)
• ... that Mini ature is the largest frog in its genus? (February 7)
• ... that the New Zealand stonefly Stenoperla prasina was the five millionth specimen digitised by the Natural History Museum in London? (February 8)
• ... that Wallace's fruit dove has been described as being one of the most beautiful fruit doves? (February 9)
• ... that the woodland garden (example pictured), "colourfully planted with exotic shrubs and herbaceous plants, dominated English horticulture from 1910 to 1960"? (February 17)
• ... that seas are being rewilded with seagrass (example pictured)? (February 17)
• ... that Potamophylax coronavirus's range has been described as a battlefield between scientists and hydropower plant management? (February 23)
• ... that the genus Xochiquetzallia was named after the Aztec goddess of flowers? (February 26)
• ... that despite being nicknamed a "lanternbug", Lycorma imperialis does not actually emit any light? (February 28)
• ... that although it is a bird of prey, the white-fronted falconet is only 14 to 17 cm (5.5 to 6.7 in) long and mainly feeds on insects? (February 28)

• A discussion is ongoing over whether the pencil icon for editing taxonomy templates should be changed.

Elysia timida

Humbertium covidum

Door Tree

• ... that although it is a bird of prey, the white-fronted falconet is only 14 to 17 cm (5.5 to 6.7 in) long and mainly feeds on insects? (March 1)
• ... that Squatina mapama was named after Spain's Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Food and Environment? (March 3)
• ... that the sea slug Elysia timida (example pictured) absorbs its colouration from its algae-based diet? (March 3)
• ... that Seal Rescue Ireland comforts orphaned seal pups with fake mothers made of wetsuits? (March 4)
• ... that the flatworm Hum­ber­tium covidum (pictured), named after the COVID-19 pandemic, was classified in a study written mostly during the initial lockdown? (March 6)
• ... that the Door Tree (pictured), which stood for nearly 200 years, was cut down because of a brother's hatred? (March 8)
• ... that the nature documentary The Green Planet, narrated by David Attenborough, has been compared to both horror films and a "plant porno"? (March 10)
• ... that the colour of the markings on Nesticus cellulanus can vary depending on the light level of the habitat, with darker habitats causing lighter markings? (March 15)
• ... that the gonads of the banded bullfrog remain ripe during dry periods so that it can mate soon after rainfall? (March 17)
• ... that Gea eff has the shortest scientific name of any spider species? (March 18)
• ... that the discovery of Bianchengichthys may shed new light on the evolution of all jawed vertebrates? (18 March)
• ... that Alaska marmots take turns acting as sentries to protect their colonies? (March 20)
• ... that some of the calls of the bare-headed laughingthrush have been described as "comical"? (March 25)
• ... that the Bornean stubtail forages more like a mouse than a bird? (March 29)
• ... that the rare Somali pigeon urgently needs a population survey? (March 31)

• The second round of the WikiCup ends with three TOL editors moving into the third round: AryKun, Ealdgyth, and GhostRiver.

Whitehead's broadbill

Anaea aidea

• ... that the rare Somali pigeon urgently needs a population survey? (April 1)
• ... that Darth Vader's anal shield has a "pronounced bell shape"? (April 2)
• ... that lichexanthone, a chemical found in some lichens, enhances human sperm motility and kills mosquito larvae? (April 3)
• ... that raptor persecution is a crime against birds of prey, and in Scotland, ravens are afforded honorary raptor status? (April 4)
• ... that the chestnut-hooded laughingthrush feeds on insects that have been hit by vehicles? (April 7)
• ... that the calls of Whitehead's broadbill (example pictured) resemble those of trogons, woodpeckers, and jays? (April 10)
• ... that the nests of Hose's broadbill have tails? (April 12)
• ... that butterflies of the genus Anaea (example pictured) are said to have "commanded the admiration of even the most gold-mad conquistadores"? (April 16)
• ... that despite being described in 1840, the chestnut-backed buttonquail was only confirmed in Queensland in 2020? (April 21)
• ... that a species in the genus of sponges Pseudoceratina produces a chemical that can help prevent migration of metastatic breast cancer cells? (April 22)
• ... that Ulmus chuchuanus had to be renamed due to another fossil already having its original name? (April 26)
• ... that a walrus was given his own pontoon to stop him damaging other boats in St Mary's Harbour? (April 27)
• ... that magnetoreception in birds works by quantum effects in their eyes? (April 28)

This month has seen an incredible amount of activity creating high quality content, with 3 FAs, 3 FACs, and a veritable flood of GAs and GANs, not to mention the FLs and FLCs. To help maintain this high level of activity going forward, WikiProject Tree of Life is starting a new monthly rolling contest, inspired by the contest run by WikiProject Military History. This contest should hopefully help incentivize editors to contribute in ways that are less daunting than writing articles that are GA and FA-quality. Even improving articles from stub to start class, or helping other editors by reviewing their work at GAN, FAC, or FLC, gets you points, with bonus points for articles with especially high page views. Make sure to participate in any way you can, and help improve the 'pedia while having fun and winning Barnstars!

Two salt marsh snakes

Blackburnian warbler

• ... that orcas have been teaching each other to attack boats? (August 2)
• ... that Ameles decolor has one of the most complex mating rituals of any praying mantis? (August 4)
• ... that salt marsh snakes (examples pictured) drink only rainwater? (August 6)
• ... that by 1967, staff at the Home Office were told not to feed Peta morsels of food as she had become "inordinately fat"? (August 8)
• ... that the perigynia of the few-flowered sedge spring outward when brushed against? (August 16)
• ... that three burnt golf balls are preserved at Kew Gardens as a "rare fungal species"? (August 19)
• ... that the chemicals responsible for the smell of freshly cut grass are a plant defense mechanism? (August 20)
• ... that the Blackburnian warbler (example pictured) is named after Anna Blackburne, who provided specimens to Thomas Pennant? (August 22)
• ... that Tylocephale possibly used their domed skulls to fight one another? (August 24)
• ... that John Cleese once called Olivia Benson "the weirdest cat I've ever seen in my life"? (August 25)
• ... that Winston Churchill was often portrayed as a bulldog (pictured), but his personal pet dog during the Second World War was a poodle? (August 25)
• ... that a report by the philosopher Jonathan Birch and colleagues led to cephalopods and decapods being recognised as sentient under the UK's Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act? (August 27)
• ... that Mike Wingfield named a fungus after his first grandchild, Rachel? (August 27)
• ... that depending on who you ask, an anomochilid could be a dwarf or a giant? (August 28)

The first edition of our new monthly contest had perhaps a little less participation than I hoped for, but it still resulted in a huge amount of content work, mainly focussed on de-stubbing articles on little-known species, although we did also see two GAs for Holozoa and Hypericum perforatum. Overall, over 60 articles were improved, with most going from stubs or redlinks to fully fleshed out articles. The winner this month was Simongraham, who improved 21 articles about spiders, mainly to B and C class, and racked up 70 points, over twice the next highest. Hopefully, we'll continue to see such great work next month, with even more participants and even more articles improved.
Also anyone who wants to help coordinate the contest can just drop by at the talk page, I really need help.

Republicopteron douseae fossil

Male Phallichthys fish

Mimodactylus reconstruction

Adult ashy flycatcher

• ... that with all known Palae­orehniidae fossils (example pictured) being incomplete, the relationships of the family are uncertain? (September 2)
• ... that butterfly collector Ian Heslop was once required to supervise an execution? (September 3)
• ... that the Munich Mouser, Neville Chamberlain's pet, and Nelson, Winston Churchill's pet, had a rivalry during World War II? (September 6)
• ... that Phal­lich­thys (literally 'penis fish') species are so called because the males (example pictured) have "comparatively huge" sex appendages? (September 8)
• ... that merry widows like soft bottoms? (September 10)
• ... that Mimodactylus (reconstruction pictured) is the first complete pterosaur from the Afro-Arabian continent? * ... that small Poecilia gillii males have longer sex organs than larger males, to facilitate mating with females that flee from them? (September 12)
• ... that the dwarf merry widow is not very brave? (September 13)
• ... that dwarf mollies hit rock bottom when they grow up? (September 14)
• ... that the Siberian crane is considered more threatened than the whooping crane, despite there being an estimated ten times more of them? (September 15)
• ... that one way to tell the African dusky flycatcher apart from the ashy flycatcher (example pictured) is that the former is "cuter"? (September 18)
• ... that the spiky inedible grass Triodia scintillans tastes like salt and vinegar chips? (September 19)
• ... that the bicolor molly inevitably goes off the deep end in adulthood? (September 27)
• ... that the Waitangiroto Nature Reserve is the only known nesting area for the eastern great egret in New Zealand? (September 28)

The second edition of our monthly contest was even better than the last month, with 80 articles improved spanning the entire tree of life. The winner this month was Quetzal1964, who contributed to 47 articles, mainly relating to marine fish, and racked up 81 points in the process. In second place was simongraham, who got 60 points from 14 articles on various species of jumping spiders. simongraham is still at the top of our overall standings, with 130 points, and Quetzal1964's close behind on 108. The November edition of the contest is now open: feel free to drop by and participate if you work on any TOL-related articles this month.

Illustration of swordtail mollies

Lycorma meliae

Illustrations of the front foot (A) and hind foot (B) of Diplobune quercyi

• ... that the Siberian columbine has been crossed with another species in the genus Aquilegia to determine the gene behind the genus's nectar spurs? (October 2)
• ... that the swordtail molly (examples pictured) and the Petén molly have been named and renamed so often, one even ending up with the other's name at one point, that the swordtail molly's current scientific name means 'confusion'? (October 8)
• ... that the early big cat Pachypanthera may have weighed as much as 142 kilograms (313 lb) and had teeth similar to a hyena's? (October 9)
• ... that ancient Greek philosopher Xenophon thought the alopekis was part dog, part fox? (October 11)
• ... that the katydid-like fossil Republicopteron douseae possibly could not sing? (October 12)
• ... that a Brontosaurus stamp led to the United States Postal Service being accused of "fostering scientific illiteracy"? (October 16)
• ... that the wings of Lycorma meliae (example pictured) undergo multiple color changes throughout their lives? (October 16)
• ... that the three-toed species of Diplobune (fossils pictured) were mammals of the order of "even-toed ungulates"? (October 17)
• ... that although fossils of the extinct mammal Asiavorator were first found in 1922, the genus was not named until 73 years later, in 1995? (October 18)
• ... that in aquariums, the humpbacked limia is known to cannibalise the young? (October 21)
• ... that Hypericum perforatum was a common component of classical cure-all concoctions called theriacs? (October 21)
• ... that Aristotle classified living things based on whether they had a "sensitive soul" or, like plants, only a "vegetative soul"? (October 22)
• ... that in June 2022, a neurosurgeon found a roundworm in someone's brain? (October 23)
• ... that ancient permafrost can preserve viable microorganisms, some of which contain antibiotic-resistance genes that may be transferred to modern bacteria? (October 27)

The third edition of our monthly contest saw Quetzal1964 win for the second month in a row, scoring 68 points from 39 articles about a variety of marine fishes. In second place for the month is Olmagon, who scored 45 points from 10 articles on extinct crustaceans and geckoes. In the overall standings, Quetzal1964 leapfrogged over simongraham into first place, with 176 points from 109 articles; simongraham is now in second place with 136 points from 37 articles. The December edition of the contest is now open: feel free to drop by and participate if you work on any TOL-related articles this month.

Now, this newsletter is technically not new, but I have only recently become aware of its existence and am only a month late, so it still counts. Wikiproject Fungi's Lichen task force has a new newsletter that is very nicely formatted and also features much better writing than this newsletter. Anyone interested in receiving the newsletter can add their name here.

A bacterium that thrives in the deep ocean

Georges Cuvier's reconstruction of Anoplotherium commune

Paroedura maingoka

Field of Wyethia amplexicaulis in bloom

An adult dwarf pufferfish

Adult Balkan terrapin

Planocarina marginata, a hyalospheniid amoeba

• ... that a variety of the Connecticut field pumpkin is known as "the original commercial jack-o'-lantern pumpkin"? (November 1)
• ... that insects not only destroyed the personal plant collection of John Hunter Thomas, but also bear his name? (November 3)
• ... that life exists in every part of the biosphere, from the deepest parts of the ocean (bacterium pictured) to altitudes of up to 64 km (40 miles) in the atmosphere? (November 6)
• ... that Sivapardus was larger than a leopard, smaller than a lion, and had a face like a cheetah? (November 7)
• ... that Lillian V. Holdeman Moore identified a spike in hydrogen-gas-producing bacteria in Skylab astronauts? (November 8)
• ... that euglossine bees distribute the seeds of vanilla tlatepusco? (November 11)
• ... that in 1822, the Paleogene mammal Anop­lo­therium commune (reconstruction pictured) was the first fossil species to be subjected to a brain cast study? (November 12)
• ... that the island bronze-naped pigeon is a popular food at bars and parties on São Tomé? (November 12)
• ... that little pink elephants are parasitic? (November 12)
• ... that the gecko Paroedura maingoka (pictured) imitates venomous scorpions to discourage predators? (November 13)
• ... that the scenic fields of northern wyethia (pictured) found in the western United States are sometimes a sign that an area has been overgrazed? (November 15)
• ... that a 1950s album of frog calls developed a cult following? (November 15)
• ... that at a maximum standard length of roughly 2 cm (0.8 in), dwarf pufferfish are some of the smallest pufferfish in the world? (November 18)
• ... that the authors of The Neanderthals Rediscovered learned that their book proposal had been accepted on the same day they took their twin sons home from hospital? (November 20)
• ... that hatchling Balkan terrapins are only 3 to 4 centimetres (1.2 to 1.6 in) in length, while adults (example pictured) can grow as long as 25 cm (9.8 in)? (November 21)
• ... that organisms could harvest kinetic energy to survive? (November 22)
• ... that pollution in rivers scatters far-red light, making it harder for plants like Noveloa to germinate? (November 23)
• ... that many hyalospheniid amoebae (example pictured) construct shells by stealing mineralized particles from the shells of their prey? (November 28)
• ... that an ancient wildcat species is known only from a part of the jaw of a single animal discovered in Poland? (November 29)