Animal Facts
Bird flight has fascinated humans for thousands of years – and now we know just how they do it: 4 secrets of bird flight you need to know
Birds are the world’s greatest flyers - but how do they do it?
What are the most dangerous snakes in Australia? Discover the country's top 4 deadliest serpents
Learn about the potent venom of these dangerous reptiles, as well as habitats, and the risks they pose to humans.
The bird that eats itself to survive: During its epic migration it consumes its internal organs – including its kidneys – which then regenerate
It can survive without water in one of the driest, deadliest places on Earth, where just 1cm of rain falls a year. Meet the ultimate survivor
Iguana filmed “blowing snot rockets" in Galápagos
Unlike other lizards, marine iguanas can forage at sea – and have a clever strategy to get rid of the excess salt from their diet.
What's new?
Diver finds colossal animal skeleton off Australian coast. We know what killed it
The gigantic creature was discovered on the seabed in a remote part of Western Australia.
When researchers tracked 24 giant manta rays into the deep, they discovered an amazing new behaviour
Scientists now think that oceanic manta rays dive hundreds of metres below the surface to get their bearings.
Remember the Chicago Rat Hole, found on a city sidewalk? Turns out it wasn't a rat after all...
First-ever scientific study of the famous animal-shaped hole reveals likely culprit.
Mice, dogs, primates...10 animals that have been to space: Discover the incredible, tragic creatures that paved the way for human exploration
Animals were the early pioneers of space flight, taking one giant leap into space, and often losing their lives in the process. But what animals have been in space, and how many animals have died in space?
It squirts toxic blood from its eyes, has armoured spiky skin and can self-inflate to twice its size. Is this one of the weirdest animals on the planet?
Also known as the horny toad, the North American horned lizard has an impressive arsenal of novel, powerful - and frankly weird - defences says Alex Morss
Amphibians
Lizard vs newt: Just what's the difference between these 2 similar looking – but worlds apart – species...?
Newts and lizards can be mistaken for each other, despite being very different. This guide, from Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, explains how to tell them apart.
This bizarre animal creates its own sunscreen by secreting a waxy substance 40 times more powerful than morphine
It produces a natural sun cream to protect itself from the elements, and also walks rather than hops and has opposable thumbs
The bizarre paradoxical frog shrinks as it grows up – and could help treat diabetes in humans
This amphibian’s colossal tadpole breaks one of nature's biggest rules and shrinks down into adulthood
Animal ID
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.
How to identify mammal skulls - and work out the creature they once belonged to
Skulls can be found virtually anywhere, but skull identification can be difficult. Learn how to identify common mammal skulls in our expert guide.
How to identify animal droppings: Our guide to the wildlife poop you might find in your garden or out on a walk
Droppings or scats can tell us a lot about which animals have been visiting our gardens, parks and countryside, including hedgehogs, foxes and badgers. Our expert guide explains how to identify which poos belong to which species. Plus, animal droppings from species from around the world – and fungi and insects you might spot on droppings.
Birds
12 brutal birds of prey photos that capture their deadly power, grace and majesty
Stunning images reveal the raw power and regal beauty of nature’s most formidable aerial predators.
Why researchers studied over 4,000 preserved songbirds from London’s Natural History Museum
Scientists wanted to find out why tropical songbirds are more colourful than their non-tropical counterparts – so delved into the Natural History Museum's collections
Do birds count the eggs in their nests?
Science writer Stuart Blackman answers your wild question.
Fish
“It’s like swimming inside a snow globe.” When this diver dropped into a remote reef, dozens of huge animals appeared from the darkness
The South Pass, in French Polynesia, is home to the densest population of grey reef sharks on the planet
It is as long as a cricket pitch, weighs a mighty 30 tonnes (that's three-times the weight of a T-rex) and can live for a century
The whale shark is the world's largest shark and fish species, with a maximum age estimated to be 100 years and it's thought they can reach up to 20 metres in length.
Watch terrifying, close up footage of a great white shark stalking a lone, vulnerable spear fisherman deep in the ocean
Incredible footage shows the moment a lone spearfisher encounters a great white off Sydney, Australia.
Insects & Invertebrates
It looks like a gothic demon – complete with spiky horns – and has a bizarrely large, square aerodynamic head, which allows it to fly...
The sizeable forest insect that glides because its life depends on it
Scariest spiders on the planet: 9 creepy arachnids that may send shivers down your spine
Here are some of the scariest spiders on the planet - but remember only a very few pose any real threat to humans, so rather than hate them, marvel at their prowess and ingenuity instead
It burrows deep underground, has horns like a bull and is named after a terrifying Greek monster – meet this awesome minibeast
Deep in its labyrinth, a horned beast quietly works a kind of alchemy
Mammals
Fascinating facts about our warm blooded friends - the mammals.
They should be enemies… but what these 2 animals do for each other have left experts speechless
Research reveals cross-species co-operation between warthogs and mongooses.
Watch the adorable moment this lost native species is officially restored to UK national park
After a 100-year absence, pine martens are once again exploring the woods of Exmoor National Park
Why the sperm whale's head is built for ramming - and why ramming doesn't give them headaches
Researchers discovered that the sperm whale's head is suited to high-impact clashes.
Marine Animals
Disoriented dolphins are stranding more often – and scientists say a disturbing cause is emerging
Toxins from harmful algae can cause Alzheimer’s-like symptoms, such as disorientation, in dolphins
Giant deep-sea beasts aren’t just the stuff of legend – here’s how they got so massive
Ever wondered why deep-sea animals are larger than those found nearer to the surface? Ben Hoare dives into theories of gigantism
What the deep-sea robots saw when they went to the darkest depths of our oceans
Reptiles
Snake more lethal than we thought: Scientists find deadly mambas have a secret second strike that's more dangerous than their first. here's why...
Antivenom doesn’t always work against mamba bites, and scientists have just figured out why.
Watch slow-motion BBC footage of how alligators use the gruesome ‘death roll’ to kill their prey
Ever wondered how alligators can take down much larger prey? It's all thanks to the death roll
What’s the deadliest snake in USA?
The USA is home to around 250 different of snake – but which is the deadliest? The answer lies in the potency of its venom.