Animal Facts
"Balloons don’t get much bigger than a gas-filled whale": Just why do whales explode?
Just why do whales explode? What causes these giants of the sea to fill ip with gas when they die? Stuart Blackman explains
Spinning around: This is probably the most joyful, adorable video you'll see all day...
Spinning apes give clues on why humans seek out mind-altering experiences, according to new research
"What is that?" When scientists put a camera on a nurse shark in Florida, they never expected it to film this
The researchers were using camera tags to learn more about shark behaviour.
13 deadliest snakes: Meet the world's most venomous snakes whose lethal bites can kill a human...
Snake bites constitute a major cause of animal-related deaths, with the WHO describing it as a “a neglected public health issue”. Here is our list of the deadliest snakes with bites that can kill...
Do animals get Alzheimer’s?
Though principally a human disease, there are signs cetaceans can suffer a similar condition
What's new?
Can animals be conscientious?
Can other animals can be conscientious?
Do animals have accents?
Do animals have accents? Ellen Husain takes a look at the evidence
Which animal sleeps the most?
We take a look at the world's most sleepiest animal
Can animals catch yawns off humans? And why on Earth do we yawn anyway?
Although it might not be exactly clear why humans and animals yawn, the contagiousness of yawns is undoubtable – but how does it work in the animal kingdom?
Giant 'phantom' animal filmed swimming over the seafloor in Antarctica
A remotely operated vehicle stumbled across the creature – which can reach lengths of up to 10 metres – on an eight-day expedition near the Bellingshausen Sea off Antarctica.
Amphibians
It breaks its own bones in the battle for a mate, can regenerate and is oddly hairy – meet this bizarre 'Wolverine'-like creature
Meet the amphibian with hair, claws and the ability to regenerate.
11 bizarrest frogs you (probably) haven't heard of - from ultrasonic screamers to a species that glue themselves together when mating
Discover the weird and wonderful oddballs from the world of frogs
This strange animal survives winter by stopping its heart for 8 months and 'dying' before leaping back to life in spring
This frog survives winter by spending it frozen solid - literally
Animal ID
10 animals with the wrong names: Discover 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.
How to identify mammal skulls - and work out the creature they once belonged to
Skulls can be found virtually anywhere, but skull identification can be difficult. Learn how to identify common mammal skulls in our expert guide.
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.
Birds
Fish
David Attenborough narrates amazing BBC underwater footage of the fastest fish in the sea using their 'swords' to 'disarm' their prey
Giant predatory sailfish use their swords to 'disarm' their fish prey rather than to dismember them.
The incredible fish that scale 120 metre high waterfall rock faces with an astonishing climbing technique – watch amazing video to see how they do it
Did you know fish can climb? Meet the amazing waterfall-climbing goby
Fish can do maths, walk, fly AND pee: 14 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
This bizarre Australian bug looks ‘like a chipolata sausage’, has cannibalistic tendencies and swims through sand
Meet the seldom-seen subterranean insect that swims beneath your feet in Australia.
Scientists just solved one of Yellowstone’s greatest animal mysteries
For two decades, researchers have been trying to work out how a remarkable animal can survive among the scalding thermal springs of Yellowstone National Park. Now they finally know.
"Females should prefer to mate with older males because they work harder and care less about infidelity."
Being a good father is not easy for male burrowing beetles
Mammals
Fascinating facts about our warm blooded friends - the mammals.
What on Earth is a puggle?
This may be one of the oddest-looking animal babies in the natural world.
"Extremely rare event": why an ancient bone found at Dinosaur Cove in Australia has got evolution scientists so excited
The small bone was discovered 30 years ago, but it wasn't until now that its significance was fully understood.
10 animals that can kill a lion
Although they are apex predators, lions do face threats from other animals. Here are 10 that are capable of killing lions.
Marine Animals
Time-lapse camera records elusive tentacled animal 5,000m deep in Atlantic Ocean
The footage gave researchers new insights into a type of deep-sea creature only previously captured through still photography.
“Utterly spectacular”: incredibly rare 'pack ice' killer whale filmed swimming in Antarctic snow
Pack ice killer whales are a unique type of orca that live in Antarctica – and there are fewer than 100 left.
Underwater vehicle stumbles across never-seen-alive 'glass' animal in Antarctic abyss
The tentacled denizen of the deep was found drifting through the darkness 687 metres beneath the surface.
Reptiles
9 weirdest snakes in the world, from flying serpents to spider-tailed vipers. There's even a spiky species that looks more like a dragon...
Discover the planet's most bizarre and frankly weird snakes, including one that can glide through the air
Why do snakes slough their skin?
You might have seen a ghostly snake skin left behind on a walk – but have you ever wondered how snakes shed them?
"Insanely lucky" drone pilot catches rare glimpse of ancient animal in Australia
The endangered sea creature has only been sighted around 60 times in New South Wales – this lucky photographer caught three different individuals on film.