Animal Facts
Winking, dancing, giving a finger, hailing a cab... 11 hilarious wild animal moments caught on camera
Welcome to our comedy animals gallery...
Scientists embark on 1,200km 'megatransect' of Patagonian kelp forests. What they find could be crucial
Researchers are surveying one of the world's largest intact kelp forests to learn more about the species that live there and the ecosystem's role as a powerful natural carbon sink.
“Big surprise!” Birdwatchers stunned as unexpected visitors turn up at a hide in South Africa
Wildlife photographers come nose-to-nose with a pair cheetahs, with just a pane of glass separating them.
Scientists lower camera 260m to Arctic seafloor and film strange creatures lurking in the darkness
Researchers in Greenland catch elusive deep-sea creatures and a backwards-swimming fish on camera.
Mount Rushmore is a tourist hotspot. But it’s also home to rare and deadly predators
Millions of visitors flock to the memorial each year, while other creatures remain out of sight
What's new?
‘The leopard was crouched 3m away, its golden eyes locked on mine. What happened next is still a blur’
Be careful when joking about leopards – they may take inspiration, as Elliot Connor found out while on safari
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
“They make the hardships seem worthwhile.” Researchers spent 33 years trekking through the Costa Rican forest. Here’s why
The social groups of white-faced capuchins are changing – and it could be due to extreme climate events
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.
Drone captures incredible 10-tonne whale rescue in Australia
Watch remarkable footage of rescuers freeing a stranded whale and releasing it back to the ocean.
Amphibians
"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
“Faced with a rugby scrum of suitors, females have little choice over who to mate with.” Here’s why these weird frogs suddenly turn blue
For a short spell in spring, these male amphibians are suddenly and vividly transformed
When 30 tiny concrete 'apartments' popped up in an Australian rainforest, a bunch of elusive animals moved in
Scientists built tiny shelters for ground-dwelling frogs in Queensland to see which ones they liked the best. Here's what they discovered...
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
"Incredibly emotional." Red-and-green macaws return to Brazil’s Atlantic Forest after 200-year absence
Freshly fledged red-and-green macaw chicks mark a major milestone in the recovery of the colourful birds along the Brazilian coast, say conservationists.
Bald eagle vs golden eagle: what's the difference between these two gigantic raptors?
How exactly do you tell the difference between a golden eagle and a bald eagle?
"They can survive up to an hour in the icy water and use razor-sharp protruding teeth to scrape away ice."10 amazing, remarkable Antarctic animals...
Discover the most remarkable, captivating wildlife that thrives in one of the least hospitable places on Earth – Antarctica
Fish
Scientists drop recorders into Amazon stream – and catch predators hunting like orcas
Electric eels 'switch off' their electronic pulses to sneak up on prey – a hunting strategy similar to that of orcas using (and not using) echolocation.
When a mountain collapsed in Mexico, light fell upon an underground lake. What happened next was remarkable
How a unique cave ecosystem helped researchers understand the genetic basis of blindness in cavefish.
Each year, thousands of fish fall from the sky in Utah. This is why
The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources has been aerially stocking fish for decades
Insects & Invertebrates
What happens when a fly lands on your food? It’s not so much about the fly as where it's been... (poop!)
The time a fly spends stomping around your meal increases the associated health risks, so the natural instinct to swat it away immediately is right on the money.
It doesn’t have gills but spends most of its life underwater – thanks to a special oxygen tank it creates
Wondering which spider wins the record for spending the longest time underwater? Step forward the diving bell spider
What's the most common spider in the world?
Wondering which spider is the most common in the world? We asked the experts and everyone is scratching their heads
Mammals
Fascinating facts about our warm blooded friends - the mammals.
"Females can afford to be choosier in their social relationships because of their higher ranking..."
Find out why females are in charge of the complex social systems of laughing hyenas
Rabbit vs hare: Just what's the difference between these two hopping marvels?
A hare might look very similar to a rabbit, but they are two very different species, with very different social structures. Nicole Wallace takes a look at how they differ
It might be called a fox and look like a fox, but don't be fooled as this is no fox...
All you ever needed to know about the culpeo fox
Marine Animals
Giant squid detected in deep-sea canyon off coast of Australia
Scientists have found evidence of giant squid and numerous other rarely seen marine creatures off the coast of Western Australia.
23 extremely rare North Atlantic right whales born off US coast
There are fewer than 400 North Atlantic right whales on the planet, so a strong birthing season gives conservationists hope for the future of the critically endangered species.
Scientists attached satellite tags to sharks. What they recorded was unexpected
Researchers from the University of Miami have discovered that tagging sharks can provide insightful climate data
Reptiles
A venomous pit viper has been hiding in China's misty mountains
Scientists describe new species of amber-eyed, grass-green snake from China's Giant Panda National Park.
"They can deliver an agonising bite and its venom attacks the nervous system, causing severe pain and a drop in blood pressure..."
Jo Price explains all you need to know about the Gila monster, including how its venom has helped save lives
"It’s all very well squeezing the living breath out of your victims before swallowing them whole, but how do you avoid asphyxiating yourself in the process?"
Researchers reveals how these heavy-bodied snakes consume prey while inhaling and exhaling.
