Megan Shersby
Naturalist, writer and content creator
Megan is a naturalist, writer and content creator. She is also a bookworm and a keen board gamer. She is the former editorial and digital co-ordinator at BBC Wildlife, and wrote features and sections for both the print magazine and discoverwildlife.com, including the Q&A and Go Wild sections, Poo Corner and News Species Discovery, the weekly e-newsletter and the social media accounts. Her features have included olms (cave salamanders) in Slovenia, arapaima (very big fish) in Guyana, and the role of hippos as ecosystem engineers in Zambia. She has also contributed to the website and magazine of BBC Countryfile Magazine, and has hosted some its podcast episodes. Prior to joining BBC Wildlife in 2016, she gained a degree in BSc(Hons) Animal Science, undertook behavioural research on zebras and dwarf mongooses, and worked in environmental education for a number of conservation charities.
Recent articles by Megan Shersby
Four new tarantulas with huge genitals have just been discovered. Apparently males use them to fend off cannibalistic females
The newly described species of spider live on the Arabian Peninsula and the Horn of Africa.
26 new UNESCO World Heritage Sites named - including this wildlife paradise in Sierra Leone
The Gola-Tiwai Complex in Sierra Leone is one of four new sites in Africa and 26 worldwide, joining the Great Barrier Reef, the Galápagos Islands and Stonehenge.
Gigantic insect as long as a cat found in Australia. It may be the country's heaviest ever, say experts
Measuring 40cm in length, the giant stick insect is new to science.
Is it a tutu on stilts? With its fabulous pink plumage, beautiful long legs and elegant neck this bird is the supermodel of the avian world
Instantly recognisable, learn about the flamboyant flamingo in our expert guide, including how to identify each species, diet and best places to see flamingoes in the wild.
When helicopters poisoned a tiny island in the Galápagos, a 'once-extinct' animal appeared
Thought to be extinct on Rábida Island, the leaf-toed gecko has reappeared after conservationists worked to rid the island of invasive, non-native rats.
It’s bigger than your thumb, has immense jaws and is nicknamed the flying bulldog – Meet the largest bee on Earth
Discover the giant bee of Indonesia.
It weighs the same as a cat, looks like it's covered with moss and prefers hiking and climbing to flying – meet one of the world's weirdest birds
All you need to know about one of the world's strangest birds
How to help your garden wildlife in a heatwave: don't let them suffer in silence
As temperatures soar and we revel in the summer sunshine once again, our local wildlife could be struggling to cope! Find out how you can help them through the heatwave.
What’s the world’s largest cat? The answer may not surprise you but which species is it?
Th largest cat in the world weighs an impressive 300kg
At a staggering 33 metres long it's not only the biggest animal in the world today, it is the biggest animal to have ever lived...
Our guide to the world's largest ever creature, the blue whale
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...
Strange bird from New Zealand set for rare breeding event as 'blood' tree fruits
2026 is a mast year for the rimu tree, meaning critically endangered Kākāpo are due to breed. Here's what conservationists – who say it could result in the largest haul of chicks in recent years – are doing to be ready in time.
It's bigger than a king-size bed and is as flat as pancake: Meet the deadly ambush predator lying in wait on the ocean floor
Our guide to the strange looking angelshark, once common in British waters.
This tree is one of the most toxic in the world, with just 50g of foliage able to kill a human within hours
Old and gnarled, yew trees are a familiar tree in our landscape and are often associated with churchyards. Our expert guide explores this native tree.
"Absolutely stunning": astonishing footage shows falcon attacking foxes in Los Angeles
A wildlife photographer has filmed the moment a peregrine falcon fiercely protects her chicks from red foxes.
See the first-ever photo of Africa's 'forgotten' animal
The image was captured during a recent survey in the Upemba National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
BBC Winterwatch will be returning in 2026 – but with a new location next to the largest sea lough in the British Isles
Everything you need to know about BBC Winterwatch, including when it's on and how to watch
10 animals that can kill and devour prey twice their size, thanks to either their unbelievable strength, cunning teamwork or deadly venom
Gruesome warning alert! Here are 10 animals that can kill and eat prey twice their size - often in rather a gruesome way
Springwatch 2025: All you need to know about the 20th series – including its new location
As part of its 20th anniversary, there are a few changes to this year's Springwatch. Here's everything you need to know
From a tender family group hug to a cheeky, adorable baby elephant wanting to play – 14 beautiful 'ele' photographs from the book 'Remembering Elephants'
Remembering Elephants is the first instalment in the Remembering charity book series and features images donated by 65 of the world's top wildlife photographers.
Do you know your Zygomorphic from your Anthropocene? No? Then you need our scientific and biological terms glossary
Have you ever puzzled over the meaning of a particular wildlife word or phrase? Then puzzle no more! From the 'Fraser Darling effect' to the 'K-T Boundary', our glossary provides the explanation – in plain, simple English.
Cordyceps and Orphiocordyceps: the zombie fungi made famous by The Last of Us
Cordyceps and Ophiocordyceps are the stuff of nightmares – if you’re an insect, or if you've played or watched The Last Of Us.
How to watch Our Changing Planet: Don't miss the global BBC nature series
In an unprecedented BBC series, six presenters will visit six locations across the globe across seven years to see how these vulnerable habitats change.
From adorable badger cubs to an owl hunting at dusk, these photos capture the beauty of British springtime
The stunning springtime images were all taken by members of Young Wildlife Photographers UK.