Professor Ben Garrod
Ben Garrod is Professor of Evolutionary Biology and Science Engagement at the University of East Anglia. As well as being an evolutionary biologist and primate conservationist, he is also a T and radio broadcaster and has written several books, covering a range of subjects from evolution and anatomy to animal behaviour and natural history.
Recent articles by Professor Ben Garrod
“A mouse can’t be ‘stretched out’ to the size of an elephant.” How to make the largest animal that could ever live – according to an evolutionary biologist
Supersized animals should not be taken for granted – Earth’s great, hulking giants are biological phenomenons
Why do tigers have stripes?
We take a look at the reasons behind the tiger's iconic stripes
How do whales breastfeed underwater?
Do whales produce milk? Do whales have nipples? How does it all work underwater? Read on to find out all the whale nursing facts you've been wondering about.
Which animal has saved the most human lives?
Evolutionary biologist Ben Garrod answers your wild question.
Do any primates use weapons to kill?
Discover the animals that use spears to kill their prey
Do birds have knees? Why do they look so strange?
Do birds have knees? Why do they look like they are on backwards? Ben Garrod explains
"99 per cent of the species that have ever lived have gone extinct": Why life needs extinction and how it can be a force for good
Today, extinction is a term we associate with the spiralling loss of species at human hands. Yet it is also an entirely natural phenomenon that is as creative
as it is destructive.
Can wild animals survive a broken bone?
A broken bone does not necessarily mean life over for a wild animal, says Ben Garrod
Do animals get arthritis?
Arthritis is a condition that plagues humans, especially in old age, but do animals suffer in the same way? Do animals get arthritis? Ben Garrod takes a look at the evidence
Can colour blindness in animals be beneficial?
Ben Garrod takes a look at how colour blindness in animals can be beneficial
Can all primates swim?
Well we know humans can swim, but what about other primates? Ben Garrod takes a look
What is a living fossil?
Ben Garrod takes a look at what is meant by a living fossil
Which species has the strongest skeleton?
Bigger doesn't necessarily mean stronger says Ben Garrod. In fact its the smaller animals that have the strongest skeletons
Do spider monkeys have thumbs?
Not all primates have thumbs says Ben Garrod, as they can be a hinderance
Expert guide to mammoths: all your questions answered
Discover key facts about the different species of mammoth – where they lived, what they ate, and why they went extinct.
Why do aye-ayes have such long middle fingers?
The aye-aye is nocturnal lemur, known for its long and thin fingers, which it uses for finding food – and for picking its nose!
Do any primates self-medicate?
BBC Wildlife contributor Ben Garrod answers your wild question.
What's the difference between horns and antlers?
Bone vs keratin, branched vs unbranched, shed vs permanent - Ben Garrod explains what sets antlers apart from horns.