"Time is ticking" for world’s rarest turtle – this new DNA test could help save it from extinction
The portable eDNA test can detect incredibly rare Swinhoe’s softshell turtles in vast bodies of water, say scientists.
From the tiniest and most adorable to the most majestic, here's a group of stunning cat photographs showcasing beautiful species from across the world.
There are around 40 extant species of cat around the globe, ranging from the tiny rusty-spotted cat to the well-known big cats (including tigers, lions, jaguars and leopards).
What is the smallest owl in the world? Meet a tiny cutie
The world's smallest raptor is by no means the least deadly, despite weighing less than your average tennis ball. Here we introduce the elf owl, the smallest owl in the world
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.
Why scientists extracted blood from eight dogs in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone
The samples, taken from two different dog populations within the radioactive area, were analysed by the geneticists. Here’s what they found…
Why this San Francisco park has suddenly become a hunting ground for meat-eating squirrels
The carnivorous squirrels have been observed hunting, killing and eating California voles at Briones Regional Park in Contra Costa County.
It's slow, covered in algae, likes hanging out upside down and is always smiling - meet the rainforest cutie that is a surprisingly good swimmer
One of the internet’s favourite animals, sloths are native to Central and South America. Learn about them in our expert guide – plus, what happened to the giant sloth.
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Why are people scared of spiders? The weird reasons they give us nightmares
We take a look at just why people are scared of spiders
Limbless amphibians, vegetarian piranhas and murderous spiders: 15 weird and wonderful animals discovered in 2024
Natural History Museum scientists described and named nearly 200 new species in 2024. Here are some of the most extraordinary finds...
Birds
What exactly is echolocation and how does it work? The incredible adaptation that allows animals to ‘see’ and communicate in the dark
Discover how animals use echolocation to navigate, hunt, identify other species and avoid obstacles.
What's the loudest bird? Meet the strange bird that produces a deafening sound, more like a train horn than a sweet musical bird song
Just which bird has the loudest call? And how do they produce such a peace-shattering sound?
The UK's most spectacular winter bird flocks
Millions of starlings, tens of thousands of waders, hundreds of pied wagtails - the UK is home to some incredible winter flocks, and we've got everything you need to know to track them down.
Hidden in attics, offices and drawers: 6,000 illegal wild bird eggs seized by police in UK's largest-ever haul
In total 56,000 wild bird eggs have been recovered in police raids in the UK, Norway and Australia.
This poisonous bird is the world's most toxic bird - able to exude some of the most powerful poisons in nature
Just how poisonous is the hooded pitohui
It stinks of manure, has claws on its wings and eats tree leaves – meet the 'flying cow' of the Amazonian swaps
This avian marvel is also known as the stink bird, the skunk bird and the reptile bird
How to identify wildlife
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…
How to identify wildlife paths and beds
Tall vegetation in midsummer makes it easy to spot the regular paths that wild animals take - and where they rested.
How to identify mammal bones on the seashore
Mammal expert Steve Harris discusses which mammal bones you might find washed ashore, and how to identify them.
Plants
10 of the world’s most poisonous plants - including the world's deadliest tree, where every part, from the bark to the sap, is highly toxic
There is an incredible number of dangerous and deadly plants around the world. here are just 10, including some with the ability to kill
How tiny, overlooked, hornworts hold the keys behind plants' epic shift from living in water to smothering the land
A tiny but remarkable plant holds the key as to how plants made the transition from water to dry land over 450 million years ago, and also offers a hopeful new direction for sustainable agriculture
Can anything live on Mars?
We take a closer look at the possibility of microorganisms surviving on the Red Planet
Just how poisonous is ragwort to horses and livestock? Should it be pulled up?
Ragwort is an important plant for biodiversity, but it’s not popular on farmland. Veterinary surgeon Malcolm Morley explains why the species is poisonous to horses and livestock, and why it needs to be managed