Are there any black flowers?
Wondering why we don't see black flowers? Phil Gates explains
It looks half-zebra, half-giraffe and has a tongue nearly 50cm long. All you need to know about one of the world's weirdest animals
Learn more about these elusive African mammals, which are actually related to giraffes.
Where is Greenland?
Greenland has an Arctic climate – but could you pick it out on a map? Test your knowledge and find out where it is exactly.
Why The Gambia should be your next birdwatching holiday destination
Diverse landscapes, incredible weather and over 600 species of birds. Read on to discover what makes this West African country ideal for birdwatching trips.
Tiny killers, expert swimmers and the grumpiest cats: These are the weirdest wild cats in the world
From tiny but deadly hunters to grumpy-looking felines, the world is home to some truly bizarre wild cats
Could the extinct – and very cute – desert rat-kangaroo still be alive? Scientists think there's a chance...
Skull analysis provides new hope that extinct rat-kangaroos may be rediscovered
“Hunts up and down the country will be sticking two fingers up at the law” – Mark Cawardine on the UK’s fox hunts
It's been over 20 years since The Hunting Act banned hunting wild mammals in England and Wales – but evidence suggests that fox hunting never stopped.
This prehistoric monster is the largest dog that ever lived and was able to crush bone with its deadly teeth – but was wiped out by cats
Similar in size to the fictional dire wolves from George R. R. Martin’s A Game of Thrones, Epicyon is widely considered the biggest canid of all time…
Here's what humpbacks taught us about treating human heart conditions
From the depths of the ocean to the forefront of cardiac research, humpback whales are teaching us invaluable lessons about heart function.
Do animals enjoy sex? These are the species seeking pleasure as well as procreation
Humans and some animal species are known to get pleasure from the act of sex, but do other animals orgasm, masturbate and enjoy sex in the same way?
Birds
Meet the skeleton-eating bird that dyes itself the colour of blood
Bearded vultures, also known as lammergeiers, turn their feathers red on purpose - experts have several theories why.
“If an eagle fell, I had to carry it back up without being torn apart” How one woman helped save the bald eagle
In the 1970s, the bald eagle was on the verge of extinction. Thanks in part to the pioneering work of one young biologist, this magnificent bird has made a spectacular comeback.
Hawk Mountain: how a deadly hunting ground in the Appalachian range became a sanctuary for raptors
Every year, thousands of eagles, falcons and kestrels soar past this great mountain ridge in Pennsylvania – here's the story of how it became the world’s first raptor sanctuary.
It lays luminous eggs on the jungle floor and then abandons them with the father – is this nature’s worst mother?
In a "recipe for extinction", the creature dumps their DayGlo eggs on the jungle floor and leaves them.
Do penguins really ‘propose’ with pebbles?
Is it true that penguins exchange stones as marriage proposals? Stuart Blackman investigates the popular belief.
Birds of paradise ‘glow’ in secret biofluorescent courtship dance
For the first time, a study has found that birds of paradise are biofluorescent – a skill they likely use for unique mating rituals.
How to identify wildlife
Go behind the scenes of Tom Hanks’ new epic, The Americas! Plus, receive your first 6 issues for just £12 when you subscribe today
Go behind the scenes of Tom Hanks’ new epic, The Americas! Plus, receive your first 6 issues for just £12 when you subscribe today
How to identify mammal skulls - and work out the creature they once belonged to
Skulls can be found virtually anywhere, but skull identification can be difficult. Learn how to identify common mammal skulls in our expert guide.
Toad vs frog: How to tell the difference between a common frog and a common toad
Two of the UK's most familiar and widespread amphibian species are the common frog and the common toad, but do you know how to tell them apart?
How to identify animal droppings: Our guide to the wildlife poop you might find in your garden or out on a walk
Droppings or scats can tell us a lot about which animals have been visiting our gardens, parks and countryside, including hedgehogs, foxes and badgers. Our expert guide explains how to identify which poos belong to which species. Plus, animal droppings from species from around the world – and fungi and insects you might spot on droppings.
Swift or swallow: what's the difference between these two incredible long-distance migrants?
Know your swallows from your swifts? Tom Hibbert from The Wildlife Trusts takes a look at some of the differences…
Heron vs egret: what's the difference between these two leggy, long-necked, elegant birds?
Know your herons from your egrets? Tom Hibbert from The Wildlife Trusts takes a look at some of the differences…
Plants
How does the deadly Venus flytrap snare – and dissolve – its prey?
Once this plant's trap doors close there's no chance of escape...
Blazing star discovered in cloud forests of Peru
A new and striking species of plant from the blazing star family has been found in the high-altitude forests of the Peruvian Andes, highlighting the powerful role citizen science can play in conservation.
The strange tree whose trunk is a rainbow of colour
Why the eucalyptus tree is a multicoloured piece of art
Which plants existed in prehistoric times?
We know plenty about the dinosaurs that roamed the Earth in prehistoric times. But what do we know about the plants that the herbivores ate? Stuart Blackman explains