
It was home to 400 million chattering residents and almost the size of Ireland – and was deep underground
In 1901, an ecologist discovered an enormous animal 'town' in West Texas

This deadly creepy crawly is a foot long with 21 legs, venomous enough to kill a bat - and a small child – and has eaten flesh from a human corpse
Meet the biggest - and most venomous - centipede in the world

5 animals that can turn themselves inside out - from reversible anuses to exploding intestines
When it comes to these animals, the natural world proves that internal body parts shouldn't always stay that way...

Inside the world's most otherworldly wildlife destinations

“I know it’s natural but it’s bloody hard to watch.” There’s one rule in wildlife filmmaking – but this BBC team broke it
In a now-viral clip from BBC's Dynasties, the filming crew were faced with a tough decision

This extremely rare, yet stunningly beautiful, starlit frog may be slipping quietly into extinction – needlessly
Photography tourists are posing a threat to this star-studded frog as they damage its precious habitat.

5 animals that can kill you without touching you – or at least cause serious harm...
From venomous sprays to lethal toxins , these animals can seriously injure—or even kill – without ever laying a claw, tooth or tentacle on you

"They can eat almost anything." Pumas caught hunting surprising prey on coast of Patagonia
The novel hunting behaviour was observed on the windswept shores of Monte León National Park in south-east Argentina.

16,000 dinosaur footprints discovered in Bolivia. It's the largest collection ever found
Some of the footprints recorded are 30 cm in diameter – that's the size of a large frying pan.

9 beautifully intimate photos that capture the raw vulnerability and power of endangered species that could be lost forever
Wildlife photographer Paul Goldstein's latest book combines conservation and photography focuses on nine endangered species

Birds

They strike with clenched talons at 200mph, crush skulls, shred prey, and can inflict deep head wounds on humans – 10 deadliest birds of prey on the planet
Silent wings, razor-sharp talons, and killer precision—these apex aerial predators rule the skies. Here are the world’s deadliest birds of prey

Do birds sweat, like other animals, to cool down?
Mike Toms explains how birds keep cool in hot weather

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

“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...
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

Save 30% when you subscribe to BBC Wildlife Magazine, plus receive Simon Barnes’ latest release, Spring is the Only Season
Save 30% when you subscribe to BBC Wildlife Magazine, plus receive Simon Barnes’ latest release, Spring is the Only Season
Plants

After nuclear disaster, sunflowers were planted. And they could transform the landscape in a very interesting way
From golden fields to buzzing pollinators, the sunflower is more than just a pretty face – it’s a powerhouse of nature that could help clean nuclear pollution

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