Animal Facts
Brits are going crazy for pet snakes. And it’s getting out of hand
The reptile pet trade is thriving, but demands are increasing for tighter regulatory controls
This bee might look like a flying, fluffy narwhal – but this is no bee. It’s the ultimate trickster
Bee-flies are found in gardens and allotments around the British Isles – so you might be lucky enough to spot one engaging in its unusual reproductive behaviour
"To a hungry, ravenous bear, a human is just a Goretex-clad, vertical seal..." World's 7 most dangerous, deadliest mammals for humans
What are the most dangerous mammals in the world? James Fair takes a look at the contenders... and includes some unlikely ones
It's pink, able to swim backwards AND upside down and is a mighty 2.5 metres long – not bad for a river creature...
All you need to know about the amazing Amazon River Dolphin from the experts at Whale and Dolphin Conservation
"It's one of the speediest snakes in the world, capable of moving at 20kph. Its venom affects the nerves and heart, and victims can die very quickly"
All you need to know about one of the world's deadliest snakes - the black mamba
What's new?
"It conjures horror images of wide-eyed insanity, foaming at the mouth and an excruciating death." 10 deadliest diseases humans can get from animals
From rabies to plague, the world’s deadliest zoonotic diseases have shaped human history — and continue to threaten millions today.
Scientists have started milking koalas. Here's what they're up to
Understanding the dynamics of koala milk can lead to improved care for orphaned joeys.
It’s the size of Belgium and contains the highest waterfall on Earth – and it's home to monkey-hunting eagles
Huge table-top mountains, tumbling waterfalls and extraordinary wildlife – welcome to Venezuela's Canaima National Park.
White-tailed eagle vs osprey: what's the difference between these two majestic, powerful birds of prey?
Although the osprey and white-tailed eagle look similar and are sometimes both called fish eagles, the two birds of prey are quite different, says Scottish Wildlife Trust ranger Sara Rasmussen
"It preys on animals 6 times its size and hides in walls..."
Scientists have discovered a tiny wall-dwelling spider in Colombia – and named it after the iconic band Pink Floyd
Amphibians
“This huge ‘cloud’ seemed to come out of nowhere. Suddenly frogs started to fall from the sky. I thought a plane carrying frogs had exploded..."
Which species are named after Sir David Attenborough? And how many of them are there?
Sir David Attenborough has over 50 species named after him, ranging from a prehistoric marine reptile to a native British flower only found in the Brecon Beacons of South Wales.
"With the flex of a muscle, it can produce an arsenal of sharp, curved claws that snap out of its toes like switchblades" 11 weirdest, bizarrest frogs on the planet
Discover the weird and wonderful oddballs from the world of frogs
Animal ID
Mountain chicken, guinea pig, honey bear, bearcat – 10 animals with completely the wrong names, misleading monikers and curious cases of mistaken identity
Common names for animals are often easier to remember than their Latin names, but they can often lead to confusion. Here are 10 animals with some very misleading names.
A snake the weight of a grizzly bear and a giant centipede that hangs from cave ceilings – meet 11 of the Amazon's deadliest animals
From a huge carnivorous centipede to a tiny poisonous frog, here are some of the of the deadliest creatures in the Amazon.
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
Birds
"It sees two summers per year, and more daylight than any other animal on earth..."
Two summers a year? Yes please! Meet the bird that, thanks to its mammoth migration, enjoys two summers a year
Researchers put a big pair of eyeballs on the coast of Denmark and left them there for 46 days. Here's why
Fish-stealing seabirds can cause problems for fisheries and aquaculture companies so scientists tried to find a harmless way of putting them off their seafood feast.
This bizarre bird's entire annual cycle follows the rhythm on the moon, groundbreaking study reveals
Moonlight plays a huge part in how red-necked nightjars feed, migrate and raise their young, reveals new study.
Fish
"It's rather splendidus, with dazzling hues of blue, orange and green..." The 8 most beautiful, stunningly exquisite fish on the planet
From dazzling colours to intricate patterns and graceful shapes, these spectacular fish showcase the incredible beauty thriving in our oceans
“Piranha can strip a fish to the bone in minutes.” Watch David Attenborough-narrated footage of a brutal feeding frenzy
In a clip from Planet Earth, a shoal of red-bellied piranhas make light work of an injured dorado
"If some stop swimming they will suffocate..." Did you know fish can do maths, walk, fly AND pee? 15 fish facts that leave you scratching your head
Think you know fish? Think again. From farting herrons to maths geniuses, these underwater wonders continue to surprise us
Insects & Invertebrates
It looks like a crab, runs sideways, can change colour, and lurks in meadows, waiting for unsuspecting prey to wander by
Meet the flower crab spider – the nemesis of meadow-loving insects.
"The longer it stays latched onto your skin, the more toxin it pumps in until your legs start to give way and your face and breathing muscles begin to freeze..."
It’s not much bigger than a sesame seed but its toxin will leave you unable to walk
It's as big as a rolling pin and can drain a tablespoon of human blood in a single meal, thanks to its razor-sharp hypodermic needle-like mouth
Deep in the Amazon, a giant leech lurks, quietly feeding off victims in rivers and swampy waters, largely unseen.
Mammals
Fascinating facts about our warm blooded friends - the mammals.
Scientists studied dolphins in French Polynesia – and noticed something “odd-looking” about one of the pods
Scientists documented a case of interspecific adoption among bottlenose dolphins – but it’s not the only example in the natural world
Not a wild dog, not a tame wolf: just what exactly is a wolfdog?
All you ever needed to know about the wolfdog
David Attenborough narrates astonishing BBC footage of grizzly bears hunting during the annual salmon run – one of nature’s greatest spectacles
Marine Animals
"It delivers a fatal stab with a barbed tip that impales the prey ready to be dismembered..." The world's fastest, deadliest punch
It’s so deep it could swallow 24 Empire State Buildings stacked one on top of the other – and they’d still be submerged
More than 10km deep, 80km wide and 1,375km long – the Tonga Trench in the South Pacific Ocean is truly enormous.
Underwater robot stalks barracuda for 10 minutes – and discovers this
Experts say footage recorded by the underwater robot will make it easier to discover and study unexplored coral reefs around the world.
Reptiles
This slithering, fork-tongued creature may look like a snake – but it does something no snake can do
It's mating season for this legless lizard, making it easier to spot – here's how to be sure it's not a snake you're seeing.
"Its venom disrupts the blood-clotting system, causing haemorrhage and kidney failure. Without prompt treatment bites can be fatal..."
Inconspicuous, quick to anger and armed with potent venom, the saw-scaled viper is one of the most dangerous snakes in the world.
Crocs swallow rocks for two reasons. The second will amaze you
Crocodiles and alligators have been found with rocks in their bellies. They swallow these stones on purpose
