"Out of the hole rushed the biggest spider I had ever seen. We were totally unprepared for the speed and ferocity"
After trekking in the scorching heat, Ben Aldiss came across a giant arachnid lurking in the shadows.
Its body might be a tiny 1cm, but that doesn't stop this deadly predator kill prey up to a metre long and an enormous 355 times its weight
Tough webs and an arsenal of neurotoxins allow small spiders to eat remarkably big snakes.
Watch brutal BBC footage of honeybees killing a humongous Japanese giant hornet in the most horrifying way
These vulnerable bees have been living alongside this seemingly unbeatable prey for millions of years. But they've got a secret weapon.
Inside the world's most otherworldly wildlife destinations
"Poisoning causes lung collapse, brain haemorrhage and death" – discover the world’s 10 most poisonous, deadliest plants
There is an incredible number of dangerous and deadly plants around the world. here are just 10, including some with the ability to kill
This whopping, record-breaking wasp's nest was 7 metres long – that's bigger than a Cadillac – and found inside a house
The world’s biggest wasp nest is longer than a Cadillac and shaped like a nose
Firestarter: They set the land ablaze from the sky – and then wait for their prey to run
Feathered arsonists spread fire to fill their bellies
It chewed off its entire body, from the neck down... You might think fully-functioning, disembodied heads are the stuff of nightmares – but think again...
Video shows a seaslug chewing off its entire body at the neck
“I was almost bulldozed by a humpback whale on New Year’s Day.”
Underwater photographer Kate Vylet on tumbling in surfgrass and dodging humpback whales
Can birds understand each other? Just how do they team up to fight predators?
Birds speak different languages – but when danger strikes, some learn to listen, decoding unfamiliar calls through the voices of others
Birds
Buzzing chainsaws, clattering machine guns and metallic hammering: 7 of the weirdest bird noises on Earth
Not all birds have a sweet-sounding melody, as this raucous bunch proves...
Rare 9ft-tall 'camel birds' released into Saudi Arabian desert
The release is a milestone for an ambitious rewilding project in the country's northwest.
This bird’s song sounds exactly like dripping water. Scientists just worked out how it does it
New research reveals how cowbirds make their astonishing liquid song.
Were these colourful parrots released into London by rockstar Jimi Hendrix, or on the set of a famous adventure movie?
Noisy flocks of emerald-green birds are becoming an increasingly common sight in the UK, from London's Hyde Park to as far north as Glasgow. Naturalist Mike Dilger tells you everything you've ever wanted know about this exotic non-native bird.
Is this the world's biggest owl gathering? During winter nearly 1,000 owls descend onto a tiny Serbian town centre – and at night it's party time
A huge parliament of long-eared owls has made an unlikely home in a Serbian town square
10 fastest birds of prey in the world – able to reach speeds of almost 200 MPH, these deadly aerial predators strike in a blink of an eye
Able to reach speeds of almost 200 MPH, these aerial predators are nature’s ultimate hunters
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
A zombie spider-killing fungus and a bloodstained orchid: Kew Gardens reveals the strangest plants new to science in 2025
Kew Gardens has revealed the most bizarre plant and fungi discoveries new to science in 2025 – but some are already nearly extinct.
What can tree rings tell us, apart from a tree's age?
Naturalist and author Amy-Jane Beer sheds light on what tree rings can tell us.
It may look like ice – but don't be fooled for this is a rare and alive eerie woodland phenomenon that even astounds the experts...
Nick Baker takes a look at the weird phenomenon that produces hair ice, a rare winter wonder formed by a bit of alchemy magic
On the brink of disappearing forever: Kew Gardens reveal the world’s rarest, most threatened plants
We take a look at 10 rare plants on the brink of extinction (or already extinct) in the wild, with the experts at Kew Gardens