Think you’re seeing a giant, humongous spider? Think again… as all is not what it seems
Meet the puppet master...
Deadly prehistoric snakes the length of a bus, 7 tonne crocodiles and supersized penguins almost 2 metres high - 11 animals that used to be bigger
Discover the extraordinary prehistoric giants – from mega-sloths to monster sharks – that once made today’s animals look miniature.
Do birds sweat, like other animals, to cool down?
Mike Toms explains how birds keep cool in hot weather
Inside the world's most otherworldly wildlife destinations
What’s the rarest bird in the world? Discover the ones on the brink of extinction
What are the rarest birds in the world? Stuart Blackman takes a look at the contenders
Sharp fangs, black eyes, translucent skin: The world's top 10 scariest-looking animals look like they've been dragged back from the dead
These creatures will have you squirming.
11 ferocious big cat photos that reveal the savage strength of these ruthless, brutal apex predators
These incredible images are raw and powerful.
It spans 6000 km of the coasts of Portugal, Spain, France and Italy – the animal that builds cities
How one super-sized ant colony could house half a billion ants
“A baby sloth reached out a claw and I was hooked.” My week in the remote Amazon jungle
Going deep into the Amazon on a river cruise offers a different way of experiencing this extraordinary place
Drones capture lemon sharks hunting 'jaguar' fish in Brazil. It has never been recorded before
Researchers observed the unique behaviour near Fernando de Noronha, an archipelago 220 miles off the coast of mainland Brazil.
Birds
“I watch as a hissing, jostling scrum of over 60 vultures tears into the remains of a zebra foal”
Raptors have declined across Africa, but a new effort to safeguard them is underway
Why don't birds have weapons, like many other animals? Apart from lethal beaks and claws that is...
When it comes to fighting birds are ill-equipped compared to other animals
It's called a wader but doesn't wade – and doesn't like to fly either. Discover the bird that's regarded as something of an oddity
The non-wading woodland wader...
“These parrot apartment blocks can be the size of a small car” – and they’re causing chaos in a city near you
The monk parakeet has been a colourful, not to mention noisy, addition to the cityscapes of Madrid
How do diving gannets avoid breaking their necks when entering the water at speeds of nearly 100 km/h?
The sight of gannets diving into water for their prey is impressive to behold, but how do they avoid breaking their necks at such a high speed?
Dove vs pigeon: one gets bad rep, while the other is a symbol of peace – but what is the difference between these two similar-looking birds?
What's the difference between pigeons and doves? Are doves and pigeons the same bird? Tom Hibbert from The Wildlife Trusts takes a look
How to identify wildlife
Red squirrel vs grey squirrel: Think you know how they differ? Think again as the differences between these two squirrels will surprise you
We take a look at how the red squirrel differs to its American grey cousin
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?
LRPs, PG Tips and Jizz: Cracking the secret language of birders
You’re sitting in a hide and overhear other birders talking. The conversation ranges from ‘LRPs’ and ‘roosting Leos’ and you scratch your chin as you try to decipher their code – welcome to the world of birding jargon.
It's the fastest animal in the world and its deadly claws can catch prey mid-air: Meet one of the world's most incredible birds of prey
Peregrines are the ultimate urban predator. Learn all about them, including how to spot them ‘stooping’ to catch prey
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Save 30% when you subscribe to BBC Wildlife Magazine, plus receive Simon Barnes’ latest release, Spring is the Only Season
Plants
Is this very ordinary plant a secret, yet deadly, meat eater?
The thistle that has a taste for meat
It has bizarre tentacles, oozes yucky black goo and stinks of death – and could be near you right now
The octopus stinkhorn, also known as devil's fingers, is a type of fungus that grows from egg-like spores
A team of scientists spent 4 years studying savannah grasses that had been set on fire – and discovered something astonishing
Researchers from the University of Fort Hare wanted to discover the long-term effects frequent wildfires have on burnt grasses
This is the rarest colour in nature – an expert explains why
The natural world is full of colour – but some are more common than others. So what's the rarest hue?