Animal Facts
It bites its own tail to become a brutal spiked wheel: Is this nature’s bizarrest defence mechanism?
Coiled in self-defence, this armoured creature turns its body into a formidable fortress to evade predators
It looks like a spider and moves like a spider, but this is no spider – it’s an evolutionary nightmare. Watch the deadly killer in action
A flycatcher thinks it's found a spider for lunch – but all is not what it seems...
There’s a mysterious bird in England nicknamed the ‘phantom of the forest’. And it’s making a secret comeback
Rewilding projects are happening across the land, but there’s one species on a quiet rewilding mission of its own
4 animals that can cheat death again and again: Meet the creatures that refuse to die...
Do these animals really live forever?
Can a human outrun a crocodile? Just how fast are these deadly reptiles?
Just how fast are crocodiles?
What's new?
10 silliest bird names on the planet
This ‘phantom of the forest’ was popular among medieval nobility and mates up to 600 times per brood
Discover more about this large woodland bird of prey.
‘Tusked’ animal found living at bottom of 5,000m-deep ocean. It was carrying something strange
Scientists say it's the first time this behaviour has ever been seen.
They're one of the largest animals to have ever lived on Earth – so why do these ocean giants eat such tiny animals?
Despite being some of the largest animals in the ocean (and Earth), whales feast on miniature animals – why?
Why do tigers have stripes?
We take a look at the reasons behind the tiger's iconic stripes
Amphibians
Lizard vs newt: Just what's the difference between these 2 similar looking – but worlds apart – species...?
Newts and lizards can be mistaken for each other, despite being very different. This guide, from Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, explains how to tell them apart.
This bizarre animal creates its own sunscreen by secreting a waxy substance 40 times more powerful than morphine
It produces a natural sun cream to protect itself from the elements, and also walks rather than hops and has opposable thumbs
The bizarre paradoxical frog shrinks as it grows up – and could help treat diabetes in humans
This amphibian’s colossal tadpole breaks one of nature's biggest rules and shrinks down into adulthood
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
Bird flight has fascinated humans for thousands of years – and now we know just how they do it: 4 secrets of bird flight you need to know
Birds are the world’s greatest flyers - but how do they do it?
The bird that eats itself to survive: During its epic migration it consumes its internal organs – including its kidneys – which then regenerate
12 brutal birds of prey photos that capture their deadly power, grace and majesty
Stunning images reveal the raw power and regal beauty of nature’s most formidable aerial predators.
Fish
“It’s like swimming inside a snow globe.” When this diver dropped into a remote reef, dozens of huge animals appeared from the darkness
The South Pass, in French Polynesia, is home to the densest population of grey reef sharks on the planet
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.
Watch terrifying, close up footage of a great white shark stalking a lone, vulnerable spear fisherman deep in the ocean
Incredible footage shows the moment a lone spearfisher encounters a great white off Sydney, Australia.
Insects & Invertebrates
It can survive without water in one of the driest, deadliest places on Earth, where just 1cm of rain falls a year. Meet the ultimate survivor
It looks like a gothic demon – complete with spiky horns – and has a bizarrely large, square aerodynamic head, which allows it to fly...
The sizeable forest insect that glides because its life depends on it
Scariest spiders on the planet: 9 creepy arachnids that may send shivers down your spine
Here are some of the scariest spiders on the planet - but remember only a very few pose any real threat to humans, so rather than hate them, marvel at their prowess and ingenuity instead
Mammals
Fascinating facts about our warm blooded friends - the mammals.
They should be enemies… but what these 2 animals do for each other have left experts speechless
Research reveals cross-species co-operation between warthogs and mongooses.
Watch the adorable moment this lost native species is officially restored to UK national park
After a 100-year absence, pine martens are once again exploring the woods of Exmoor National Park
Why the sperm whale's head is built for ramming - and why ramming doesn't give them headaches
Researchers discovered that the sperm whale's head is suited to high-impact clashes.
Marine Animals
Diver finds colossal animal skeleton off Australian coast. We know what killed it
The gigantic creature was discovered on the seabed in a remote part of Western Australia.
When researchers tracked 24 giant manta rays into the deep, they discovered an amazing new behaviour
Scientists now think that oceanic manta rays dive hundreds of metres below the surface to get their bearings.
Disoriented dolphins are stranding more often – and scientists say a disturbing cause is emerging
Toxins from harmful algae can cause Alzheimer’s-like symptoms, such as disorientation, in dolphins
Reptiles
What are the most dangerous snakes in Australia? Discover the country's top 4 deadliest serpents
Learn about the potent venom of these dangerous reptiles, as well as habitats, and the risks they pose to humans.
Iguana filmed “blowing snot rockets" in Galápagos
Unlike other lizards, marine iguanas can forage at sea – and have a clever strategy to get rid of the excess salt from their diet.
It squirts toxic blood from its eyes, has armoured spiky skin and can self-inflate to twice its size. Is this one of the weirdest animals on the planet?
Also known as the horny toad, the North American horned lizard has an impressive arsenal of novel, powerful - and frankly weird - defences says Alex Morss