Animal Facts
Kidnapping isn’t just a human crime: 7 of nature’s most shocking, brutal – and sometimes ballsy – abductors
From ants to birds, these 7 species don’t just hunt – they steal, kidnap, and turn others into unwilling servants.
Do crocodiles get a taste for human flesh?
When saltwater crocodiles become a risk to people’s safety, they are often killed or taken into captivity. Is this fair? Do they really develop a preference for human meat?
It has hundreds of teeth on its eyeballs? Yes - well sort of...
Did you know whale sharks hide a curious armour of tooth-like scales across their eyes?
Deadly, bird-eating insect kills and devours thousands of seabird chicks a year
On this remote island there is a deadly and hungry centipede...
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
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Pobblebonk, Chachalaca, dik-dik – 10 crazy animals who sound like their bizarre names
Animals are often given very descriptive names, whether after their fur colour or scale pattern, or a particular aspect of their size or shape. And some are named after the sounds they make, which can have sometimes humorous results. Here are 10 of our favourites.
"A flying block of ice the size of a truck nearly knocked our helicopter out of the air” – A stark reminder of the colossal power of nature
A sober reminder never to underestimate the power of nature.
"22% of US men believe they could beat a chimpanzee in a fight" – Here’s how humans actually stack up against the world’s 10 strongest primates
Discover the strongest primates on the planet…
"Trying to pull the hook out might have driven it in further and caused the turtle serious pain and distress. And we had nothing with us to remove it..."
A group of snorkellers found themselves face-to-face with a hooked turtle. Could they free it from the caught line without anything on them?
It's equal to 6.5 tennis courts, has 178 entrances and 50 rooms and can rival some of our grandest, ancestral homes
Badgers are the only members of the weasel family to live communally, and that requires the building of spacious accommodation. So how big do badger setts get?
Amphibians
A huge ancient predator is lurking in Japan’s rivers – and it’s eating frogs and crabs
This enormous amphibian can grow up to 1.5 metres long – a new study reveals how it has reached the top of the food chain in Japan's waterways.
6 surprising incestuous animals – and why these species prefer to keep it in the family
From wolves to cichlid fish, inbreeding has been observed in a surprising amount of species
Watch amazing, brutal close up BBC footage of male bullfrogs fighting for the right to mate
In this gripping BBC Earth footage, the pond becomes a boxing ring as opponents fight for the prized central position
Animal ID
It's sleek, black, incredibly beautiful and very fast – and is known as the 'cheetah of the deep sea' despite weighing over a tonne
Learn all about the unmistakable pilot whale, from their diet and size to life in the pod and why, sadly, they're prone to beaching
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?
Birds
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
Fish
These enormous invasive fish almost exterminated local fish stocks. Now they’ve started snatching pigeons
Measuring up to 2 metres long, this monstrous fish lurks in rivers throughout Europe
"Never seen before.” Scientists make astounding discovery on Australian island
Researchers in Australia found an endangered species of lamprey far outside its usual range and hope this could help them better understand how to protect it.
How and why do seahorses change colour?
Marine biologist and photographer Matt Doggett answers your wild question.
Insects & Invertebrates
Looks that kill: It has 12 eyes and a fearsome array of biting, slicing mouthparts that are able to tear prey to shreds
Is this nature's best looking killer beetle?
Is the purple kneed tarantula from Paddington in Peru actually real? Meet the real-life creepy-crawlies found in the jungles of South America
In the depths of the Peruvian jungle, the Brown family encounter the purple-kneed tarantula. But does it actually exist?
It can be seen from space and contains a staggering two hundred million mounds, each one nine metres across and two and a half metres tall
Are termites the best builders in the business?
Mammals
Fascinating facts about our warm blooded friends - the mammals.
What is ivory and is it any different to bone? And is it just elephants that have ivory?
What is ivory? Is it just elephants that have ivory? JV Chamary explains all you need to know about ivory
It stretches up to 2.5 miles, is 2.5 metres deep and is home to 300 of the weirdest, most rule-breaking animals on the planet
Hundreds of these mammals can be found in vast subterranean networks in East Africa
Is it really safe to airlift rhinos by their ankles, dangling two-tonne giants in midair?
In Southern Africa, white and black rhinos are often translocated to avoid inbreeding or overpopulation of an area. Previously, rhinos were moved, fully awake, in crates or on pallets, but there were problems, including the possibility of injury to the huge herbivores. When lifted by helicopter, the crates also had a tendency to swing around dangerously. The preferred technique has often been to dart rhinos with anaesthetic from the air, then blindfold the immobilised pachyderms and airlift them in a giant sling, suspended by their ankles. After a short flight, the animals are transferred to a truck. A 2021 study
Marine Animals
It's 15 metres long, weighs a humongous 45 tonnes, is covered in barnacles and travels up to an amazing 20000km a year
Discover all you need to know about gray whales, including how big they are, what they eat, lifespan and where they live
Researchers sink listening devices 1,100m deep off the Louisiana coast and hear the sounds of an elusive animal
Scientists used 3D acoustic technology to learn more about the diving behaviour of beaked whales – this is what they found.
Deep-sea explorers film massive animal drifting through darkness in South Atlantic Ocean
The rare giant phantom jelly was spotted during a science expedition off the coast of Argentina.
Reptiles
It's nearly 1.5 metres wide and 55cm high and houses one of the longest, most venomous animals in the world
Romulus Whitaker explains why and how the impressive king cobra snake build their nests
Is Harry the lizard real in Death in Paradise? And just what type of lizard is the beloved TV fan favourite?
Is Harry the lizard real in Death in Paradise? What type of lizard is he? We take a look
Why did dinosaurs get so darned big?
Palaeontologist Jon Tennant discusses the reasons behind dinosaurs' colossal size.