Animal Facts
When researchers strapped tiny cameras to 15 ocean birds in Japan, they made an unexpected discovery
New research has revealed that streaked shearwaters poop mid-flight every 4-10 minutes, potentially delivering vital nutrients to marine life far from shore.
Looking for beavers? These are the tell-tale signs that a beaver is nearby
Beavers are back in Britain's waterways – and they rarely go unnoticed. From gnawed tree stumps to muddy dams, here’s how to tell if one has been at work nearby
Sneezing iguana among 20 mind-blowing images from Ocean Photographer of the Year 2025
The finalists for this year's Ocean Photographer of the Year competition have been announced.
Panda-monium: These hilarious and adorable giant panda videos capture them at their clumsiest – and very cutest
From bamboo banquets to clumsy capers, this is pandas at their most charming
Baited cameras capture slit-eyed creature in middle of Indian Ocean. It's the first time it has ever been filmed here
When scientists put underwater cameras on unstudied seagrass beds on the Great Chagos Bank, they captured a sliteye shark on film.
What's new?
Cuddles, knuckle-walks and snack breaks: These 12 photos show just how human gorillas are
From their tender parenting to their surprising agility and quirky habits, we offer an intimate look at the daily lives of one of nature’s most captivating primates
Strongest bites on the planet: For many animals their jaws are their deadliest weapons - able to pierce skulls, crack bone and crush prey
We take a look at the animal kingdom's strongest biters
Do any animals get malaria?
Malaria is a deadly disease for humans in many tropical and subtropical countries – but is it the same for the animals living there?
Humans descend into huge deep-sea canyon for first time ever. What they find is astounding
It's the first time scientists have directly observed the bottom of the Mar del Plata Submarine Canyon off the coast of Argentina – and they made some extraordinary discoveries, including coral fields, sparkling squid and 40 suspected new species.
It's as big and as cute as a pet cat and has a top speed of 15 MPH — yet this shy, rare agile predator prefers to stay hidden
Although they are present across Wales, much of England and parts of Scotland, polecats are elusive and rarely seen. Our expert guide by the Vincent Wildlife Trust takes a look at this marvellous mustelid.
Amphibians
“They parasitise their sexually reproducing cousins’ sperm for their own purposes”: Meet the self-replicating sisterhood
These unisexual gene thieves have survived for millions of years by cloning (and sometimes stealing) DNA
It sounds like a chicken, tastes like a chicken and raises its young like a chicken – but it isn't one
Despite its name, the mountain chicken isn't actually a chicken...
Why do frogs scream?
Jules Howard discusses possible reasons frogs scream
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
131 feral cats removed from remote Japanese islands – then something exceptional happens
Since the trapping and removal of cats from Japan's Ogasawara Islands, a native animal has recovered from the brink of extinction.
Scientists amazed to discover birds 'speak' in code – and it's the same one humans use
Birds talk just like us scientists find
Why are flamingos pink?
Fish
Mekong River megafish are rapidly shrinking, say scientists. And they know why
Once weighing hundreds of kilograms, these giants of the Mekong are decreasing in size, highlighting the need for enhanced protection.
A 'shark-like' animal is lurking in this US river. And scientists say it's breeding
Once extinct in Georgia’s Coosa River, lake sturgeons – which can grow more than two metres long and weigh almost 100 kilograms – are now naturally reproducing thanks to long-running conservation efforts.
It is as long as a cricket pitch, weighs a mighty 30 tonnes (that's three-times the weight of a T-rex) and can live for a century
The whale shark is the world's largest shark and fish species, with a maximum age estimated to be 100 years and it's thought they can reach up to 20 metres in length.
Insects & Invertebrates
7 prettiest - and possibly weirdest - insects in the world that you might not know
There some amazingly beautiful, yet little known, insects on our planet. Stuart Blackman picks a few of his favourites
6 terrifying, spine-chilling worms that'll give you nightmares, from one that slices its prey in half to an eye worm that affects humans...
Prepare for a scare as we take a look at some of the most terrifying worms on the planet.
10 rarest shells on the planet, from a gigantic deep-sea snail the size of a shoe box to a bizarre comb-shaped shell with delicate prongs
We take a closer look at the world of ultra-rare shells – where the molluscs that create them live and why they're so hard to find
Mammals
Fascinating facts about our warm blooded friends - the mammals.
"Weird" poop crawling with parasites found on US riverbank. DNA analysis reveals exactly what's going on
The strange scat was first seen on a dock in Chesapeake Bay – an enormous estuary on the east coast of the US.
Watch agonising BBC footage of a bison calf being lured away by a wolf pack – will the herd save him in time?
Grey wolves are one of Yellowstone National Park's apex predators – but even bison can pose a deadly threat. So they change tack and focus on a calf...
14 stunning photos of water-loving bears – from the icy rivers of Alaska to Russia's crystal-clear lakes
From fishing in icy streams to cooling off in forest ponds, bears rely on water for food, travel and play – as this set of spectacular images proves.
Marine Animals
Scientists send soft-bodied robot 4,071m into deep ocean. They say it can "sense the environment"
Researchers believe the underwater robot – which looks and swims like a fish – could help improve deep-sea exploration.
"This was bizarre": underwater photographer captures curious interaction on Papua New Guinea reef
The researcher was observing Christmas tree worms at Kimbe Bay when he noticed the surprising behaviour.
Man finds remains of "little whale with big eyes and a mouth full of slicing teeth" in Australia
The 26-million-year-old fossil – comprising part of a skull with ear bones and teeth – was found on the coast of Victoria in 2019. A new study reveals exactly what the remains are.
Reptiles
It has iron-coated razor-sharp teeth, weighs the same as a beer keg and delivers its deadly venom by raking its teeth through its prey’s flesh
Komodo dragons have inspired myths and legends for centuries. We take a look at the fearsome predator
There's a peculiar animal in the Amazon that has a triangular head and looks like a log
As if that wasn't odd enough, the mata mata also has webbed claws and a snorkel-like snout – surely a contender for one of the planet's weirdest creatures.
10 most beautiful snakes in the world – from sunshine-coloured vipers with beguiling eyelashes to monochrome marvels of the sea
Snakes get a bad rep, but these top 10 species prove they are some of the most enchanting animals in the world