Animal Facts
"They are the only canid with fur on the pads of their feet, like built-in snowshoes." 11 Arctic animals that thrive in this inhospitable freezing landscape
Although the Arctic may be a cold and harsh place to live, it is home to many fascinating animal species. Here are our top 10 Animals that live in the Arctic
Rare 9ft-tall 'camel birds' released into Saudi Arabian desert
The release is a milestone for an ambitious rewilding project in the country's northwest.
This bird’s song sounds exactly like dripping water. Scientists just worked out how it does it
New research reveals how cowbirds make their astonishing liquid song.
“It seems so cruel.” Steve Backshall’s disturbing killer whale encounter on a beach in Patagonia
TV presenter and wildlife filmmaker Steve Backshall recounts a pod of orcas engaging in ‘surplus killing’
Exploding comet may have wiped out mammoths and other enormous Ice Age mammals
Did mammoths, sabre-tooth tigers and other Ice Age megafauna face a similar, impact-induced fate to the dinosaurs? That’s what new evidence may be starting to suggest…
What's new?
In the dead of the night, this diver saw a bizarre thing scuttling out of the darkness
During a night dive in Bali, an underwater photographer happened upon a fascinating example of symbiosis between a carrier crab and an upside-down jellyfish.
A venomous viper, ‘psychedelic’ tarantula and a fish shaped like a guitar are on the brink of extinction, say experts
Conservation charity Fauna & Flora has released its 2026 Species to Watch list, which spotlights some of the most endangered animals on the planet
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
"A bull elephant appeared from the bush. Ambling over to the carcass, the immense creature used his tactile trunk to gently caress the bones of his fallen comrade"
A cheery safari trip takes a solemn turn
When scientists went to a group of remote South Pacific islands, they weren’t expecting to find so many of these giants
A new study has revealed that giant clams are thriving in American Sāmoa thanks to protections from traditional community management.
Amphibians
Watch amazing, brutal close up BBC footage of male bullfrogs fighting for the right to mate
In this gripping BBC Earth footage, the pond becomes a boxing ring as opponents fight for the prized central position
This extremely rare starlit frog may be slipping into extinction – are wildlife photographers to blame?
Photography tourists are posing a threat to this star-studded frog as they damage its precious habitat.
Think toads are ugly? Think again – as these stunning beauties will change your mind
These toads are definitely the princes of the amphibian world...
Animal ID
Brown rat or water vole: How to tell the difference between these two lookalike-rodents
When all you've seen is a flash of brown fur, it can be hard to know whether it was a water vole or rat. Though the two species tend to live in different habitats, there are areas where they overlap, potentially leading to cases of mistaken identity. So how do you tell rats and water voles apart?
Mink or otter? What's the difference between these two slippery, semiaquatic lookalikes?
How do you tell the difference between otters and mink?
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.
Birds
Were these colourful parrots released into London by rockstar Jimi Hendrix, or on the set of a famous adventure movie?
Noisy flocks of emerald-green birds are becoming an increasingly common sight in the UK, from London's Hyde Park to as far north as Glasgow. Naturalist Mike Dilger tells you everything you've ever wanted know about this exotic non-native bird.
Is this the world's biggest owl gathering? During winter nearly 1,000 owls descend onto a tiny Serbian town centre – and at night it's party time
A huge parliament of long-eared owls has made an unlikely home in a Serbian town square
10 fastest birds of prey in the world – able to reach speeds of almost 200 MPH, these deadly aerial predators strike in a blink of an eye
Able to reach speeds of almost 200 MPH, these aerial predators are nature’s ultimate hunters
Fish
"We owe our existence to an unlikely moment 350- million years ago when a prehistoric fish hauled itself out of the water. But why did this just happen once?"
Study suggests adapting to life on land wasn't the biggest challenge facing fish coming ashore millions of years ago.
It's 7 metres long, can weigh almost a tonne and can live for 400 years or more – meaning some around today were born in 1625...
The mystery of the lifespan of Greenland sharks has finally been unveiled thanks to new research.
What's the rarest fish on the planet? And can they be saved?
Despite just around 38 left scientists are hopeful these beautiful vibrant blue fish can be saved from extinction
Insects & Invertebrates
This parasitic creature penetrates its host with potent venom and injects its eggs – and could be lurking in a pond near you
Discover the fairy wasp, a dastardly winged insect that parasitises beetle eggs in the depths of garden ponds
"It may sound freaky, but it can actually 'see' with its genitals"
Are these the weirdest genitals ever?
They look like ants, they act like ants – but these destructive, house-wrecking little terrors are no ants
Mammals
Fascinating facts about our warm blooded friends - the mammals.
He was a ‘wrestler’, went to the pub and starred in a James Bond movie. Oh, and he was a 65-stone grizzly bear
A BBC documentary looks back on the extraordinary life of Hercules, the Scottish grizzly bear
It can mimic facial expressions like humans and is the smallest of its kind in the world – meet this charismatic creature
What are sun bears? Where do sun bears live? Learn all about this beguiling and elusive bear in Heidi Quine's expert guide
What is the biggest bear in the world? Clue: it towers overs humans and weighs almost a tonne
There are two contenders for the biggest bear in the world title, says Stuart Blackman, and it's difficult to pick a winner between them.
Marine Animals
Researchers extract DNA from 25 Killer whales off the coast of Japan – and make "crucial" new discovery
New research reveals that orcas around the island of Hokkaido can be split into two distinct forms, offering conservationists important information that can help protect the animals.
Can any animals kill sperm whales?
Discover the animals take on the mighty sperm whale?
11 jaw-dropping killer whale moments captured in photos and film that reveal the brutal hunting techniques of the ocean’s top predator
Discover the unstoppable force and awe-inspiring dominance of the ocean’s ultimate hunter.
Reptiles
It can be up to 5 feet long and hold its breath underwater for an hour – meet one of the ocean’s strangest survivors
Described as “imps of darkness” by naturalist Charles Darwin, marine iguanas are a unique species. Our expert guide by the Galapagos Conservation Trust reveals more about these amazing reptiles.
Watch mesmerising, heart-stopping BBC footage – narrated by David Attenborough – showing baby turtles freezing alive
These baby painted turtles survive temperatures as low as -10°C for months, keeping alive with a natural 'antifreeze'
"The sight is extraordinary and overwhelming. An entire beach studded with expectant mothers packed so tightly there’s barely room to step in between"
How one solemn maternal quest has morphed into one of nature’s greatest spectacles