Zoology

A look at an extinct species of duck whose history and downfall remain enigmatic.

A history of the bird after whom penguins were named.

It's been argued that humans are one of (if not the) most dangerous animal on Earth - but that doesn't stop us being preyed on by other beasts!

Interesting facts about an adorable bird.

How history's most abundant bird vanished.

A natural history of heath hens, an interesting species of grouse that went extinct on Martha's Vineyard in 1932.

The ability to change colour on demand is a big survival advantage. Here are 7 animals that change colour (along with how and why they do it) including the vanishing sea sapphire and an octopus master mimic...

A brief natural history of the awe-inspiring Barbary lion, one of history's most iconic big cats.

Beasts have been used in war since ancient times - here are 7 animals with weird warfare connections, including spy-cats and a penguin of rank...

The animal kingdom spans a huge range of creatures—here are nine strange beasts found on Earth today, including fruit-eating "wolves" and fanged deer...

What's more disturbing than a scuttling spider? How about one that cartwheels almost as fast as a human walks? This article looks at 5 odd forms of animal motion, including flying squid and leaping leeches...

Psychologists often talk about anthropomorphism - but here are 6 behaviours that really do seem to be shared by humans and other animals, including dancing rats and burying the dead...

Some animals rely on trickery, weaponize the environment or even manipulate the reflexes of their prey to obtain dinner. This article looks at 10 devious hunters, including an eagle that hurls goats and a mind-controlling water snake.

Biologically immortal creatures cannot die due to old age - you could say they possess eternal youth. This article looks at human "HeLa" cells, a jellyfish that can reset the biological clock and more...

Folklore often claims animals can sense things humans cannot—but is there a grain of reality behind that idea? Here are six animals with a sixth sense, including electricity-sensing spiders and seismic-signalling elephants.

Not every predator goes for a quick and simple kill. Here are six body-snatching parasites, including a wasp that zombifies ladybirds and bee backpacks!

This article looks at eight species that have changed little over millions of years.

Camouflage and speed are excellent ways to avoid being eaten—but some animals take a more direct approach. Here are eight animals with weird natural defences, including suffocatingly slimy hagfish and puking seabirds!

Frogs come in many forms, not all of which sit on a lily pad and croak. Here are 10 crazy frogs, including those with opioid-laced moisturiser or tarantula roommates.

Throughout the animal kingdom, there are creatures who use mimicry to get what they want. Here are seven creatures that lure their victims, including an ant-imitating spider and a bird that sings to attract supper.

2023 saw increased numbers of unprovoked shark attacks, while fatalities doubled. Here are 5 real-life shark attacks, including the deadliest in history.

Cultures can be defined as the collected customs of a group. Here are five nonhumans with culture, including grudge-holding crows and orcas who wear hats.

Hominids have been using and abusing substances for hundreds of millions of years. Here are five other animals that indulge, including monkeys that seem dunk and wallabies that get wasted!

This article praises Arctic reindeer, whose sleep habits have enabled them to adapt to their hostile habitat in surprising ways.

The natural world can be a noisy place—but some animals take it to the extreme. Here are eight of the loudest including overcompensating monkeys and a whale with a deadly voice...

Most religious rituals are staid affairs. Ranging from body-modification to sky burial, these six rites are rather different...

From pretty nudibranchs roaming on corals to brightly colored crabs, this article showcases 10 of the most sea creatures in the world.

Many organisms make use poisons. Here we look at some of the stranger examples, from snakes that steal toxins to spiders that could prevent brain damage in stroke victims.

This article showcases four kinds of fish that do not possess scales.

Hidden beneath the Earth lurk blind piranha, mineral-eating microbes, and salt-mining elephants - read on for seven weird creatures found underground...

Strange creatures lurk in the sea. From metal-fanged invertebrates to fish with bioluminescent search lights, here are eight denizens of the deep.

Rabbits are often thought lucky. Read on for how rabbits survive a world that wants to eat them, the origin of the "lucky rabbit's foot" and some species of rabbit that have definitely not been lucky...

Rodents include everything from the humble mouse to the capybara. From the coypu that cause floods to the mice that hunt scorpions, here are 5 impressive feats performed by rodents...

Medical experts are always searching for the next solution. From brain-preserving spider venom to pain-killing snails, here are eight strange medicines.

Where did the spotted green pigeon come from? This is one of many questions that can't be answered about this enigmatic species.

In the 1890s, an immigrant to the United States may have thought it was a good idea to import every bird species mentioned in Shakespeare’s collected works. Pity about the starlings.

Whether for food or to avoid the lethal cold, these animals brave epic journeys, some of which need multiple generations to complete. Here are eight creatures that perform massive migrations to survive ...

Humans are not the only ones to experiment with pharmacology. Between the ointments made by orangutans to the last-ditch alcohol baths used by parasitised fruit-fly larvae, here are five examples of zoopharmacognosy ...

There are plenty of "harmless" animals that have killed people. Here are 10 examples, ranging from livestock to bugs, beavers and even a swan ...

Snow can be beautiful but deadly. Some animals living in cold climates have found ways to survive being frozen alive – and have even incorporated it into their life cycles!

Natives to the North Pole, reindeers have adapted to contend with both the icy weather and the extreme day/night cycle of the Arctic.

The Florida panther is an endangered subspecies of the mountain lion. From habitat loss, disease, and car accidents, these mammals face a lot of dangers that has caused them to dwindle in number in the wild.

The Carolina parakeet, the only parrot endemic to the eastern United States, was officially declared extinct in 1939. But what do we know about these colorful birds who brightened up the scenery everywhere they went?

Native to northern and western South America, Andean bears live in the Andes Mountains. Find out what makes these bears so adorable.

The ivory-billed woodpecker has been believed to be extinct for decades, though it has never been officially declared so. But is it really gone? What do we know about this enigmatic bird’s fascinating history?

Prehistoric Earth was a dangerous place. From bipedal crocodiles to whale-hunting leviathans, here are 5 nightmares of the past.

Convergent evolution refers to the phenomenon where different species of plants and animals, often not closely related or sharing a common ancestor, independently evolve similar traits or adaptations in response to similar environmental pressures.

The Indri "singing lemurs" of Madagascar are known for their unique vocalizations that carry for long distances. They live in monogamous family groups, relying on their distinctive calls for communication, territory marking, and social cohesion.

This article explores the Atlantic lizard of the Canary Islands, including its origins, habitat, appearance, diet and breeding.

It's always wise to give snakes their due space, especially those that have been decapitated. Venomous snakes can still dispense venom through a reflexive bite post-decapitation.