Daily Roundup: December 22, 2010

Loud Mouse: Japanese scientists created a "singing" mouse by cross-breeding genetically modified rodents. The new mouse chirps like a bird. Discovery News

Two of a Kind: Africa's savannah-dwelling elephants are a separate species from the continent's forest-dwelling pachyderms, say scientists. The newly discovered distinction could affect conservation strategies.  Scientific American

Jaws of Life: Congress passed a bill that will protect sharks by banning the controversial practice of "finning." Ecorazzi

Birding From Space? Researchers from the University of Idaho are using data from NASA's Icesat spacecraft to monitor the state's woodpecker populations. TreeHugger

Pirates of the Amazon: Brazil is targeting "biopiracy" by issuing fines to companies that make medicine or other products from the country's plants and animals without compensating Brazil's government or its indigenous communities. Reuters

--Della Watson