It's the biggest snake den on the planet – 100,000 crammed into a small cavern
Not a place to visit if you're scared of snakes...
It existed 800 years ago, was home to 100,000 people – and was powered by poop
New research suggests that seabird guano may have been one of the main driving forces behind the rise of Peru's Chincha Kingdom.
Scientists spent 160 days collecting samples from the bottom of the ocean. They had “virtually no idea” what lived there before
A team of researchers have collected hundreds of previously unknown species to understand the impact of deep-sea mining
This unusual Asian gem is this summer's must-visit destination for elusive wildlife
See it before everyone else
It’s older than the Roman Empire, taller than the Statue of Liberty and as heavy as 7 blue whales
Meet the General Sherman tree – the largest tree on the planet.
It weighs up to a whopping 30kg, has a diameter of 50cm and is the biggest seed on the planet
BBC Wildlife section editor Sarah McPherson answers your wild question.
Why is oil so deadly for birds' feathers?
Oil spill incidents always involve birds being rescued and cleaned – but why is oil so damaging, and in many cases fatal, to birds?
Meet the animal that's part vegetable and able to embed plants into its own body tissue - yes really!
The Costasiella sea slug is a rare example of a photosynthetic animal, says Stuart Blackman. Here's what's so special about it
Weirdest sea creatures - meet 15 strange ocean animals, including one that's part vegetable and one that resembles a toast rack
Have you heard of the Johnson's abyssal seadevil? Read about this strange ocean animal and more in our guide to the world's weirdest sea creatures
1.6 million years ago, a bird flew over this mountain range in Haiti. It helped create a plant wonderland
Research reveals the flight paths of ancient birds kickstarted the evolution of an exceptionally biodiverse mountain range in the Caribbean nation.
Birds
Weighing a tonne and packed with hundreds of rooms – each home to a family — it can house a staggering 500 households. Is this the ultimate apartment block?
It’s the heaviest, largest, most densely populated bird nest… that's been built and extended over decades
9 brutal photos of the world’s most powerful bird that can rip monkeys and sloths from branches
These incredible images reveal the power and brutality of this extraordinary eagle
11 ferocious vulture photos that demonstrate the power and brutality of life for these scavenging predators
These striking images highlight the brutal (yet essential) behaviour of vultures
11 deadliest females on the planet: Discover some ferocious female animals that you wouldn't want to mess with
'For the female of the species is more deadly than the male' – here are our top 11 deadliest females that prove just that.
“It can make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up”
The call of a whooper swan is one of winter's most atmospheric sounds, says naturalist and author Ben Hoare.
It’s the size of a soccer pitch and is home to 1,000 adorable penguins – and the world’s most southerly post office
Known as the ‘penguin post office’, Port Lockroy is a former British military base-turned-research station
How to identify wildlife
Red squirrel vs grey squirrel: Think you know how they differ? Think again as the differences between these two squirrels will surprise you
We take a look at how the red squirrel differs to its American grey cousin
Brown rat or water vole: How to tell the difference between these two lookalike-rodents
When all you've seen is a flash of brown fur, it can be hard to know whether it was a water vole or rat. Though the two species tend to live in different habitats, there are areas where they overlap, potentially leading to cases of mistaken identity. So how do you tell rats and water voles apart?
Mink or otter? What's the difference between these two slippery, semiaquatic lookalikes?
How do you tell the difference between otters and mink?
LRPs, PG Tips and Jizz: Cracking the secret language of birders
You’re sitting in a hide and overhear other birders talking. The conversation ranges from ‘LRPs’ and ‘roosting Leos’ and you scratch your chin as you try to decipher their code – welcome to the world of birding jargon.
It's the fastest animal in the world and its deadly claws can catch prey mid-air: Meet one of the world's most incredible birds of prey
Peregrines are the ultimate urban predator. Learn all about them, including how to spot them ‘stooping’ to catch prey
Save 30% when you subscribe to BBC Wildlife Magazine, plus receive Simon Barnes’ latest release, Spring is the Only Season
Save 30% when you subscribe to BBC Wildlife Magazine, plus receive Simon Barnes’ latest release, Spring is the Only Season
Plants
Why wildfires are essential for some species’ survival
For some plants fire can help them survive
It's the equivalent of a humongous 1,500 soccer fields and is 8,650 years old
This humongous fungus is the biggest organism in the world
"Ingestion can lead to liver failure, kidney failure, encephalopathy, and death" – 10 deadliest poisons found in nature
The natural world has produced some of the most potent poisons known to science. Here are some of the deadliest to humans
This ancient plant helped scientists solve a homicide investigation. This is how
A team of researchers have demonstrated how moss can act as a forensic ‘fingerprint’ when confirming details about a crime