Why longer penises make sex safer
When it comes to this species, size is everything as it can affect survival.
"These are not ordinary teeth as not only are they razor sharp and coated with iron, they have a pair of venom glands in their lower jaws" World's 7 deadliest reptiles
Uncover the deadly secrets of the world's most deadly reptiles.
9 animals that decapitate their prey in the most gruesome ways – nature at its most brutal
From powerful birds of prey to tiny songbirds, and blind snakes to miniscule flies, an impressive range of species have converged on a single method of killing: decapitation.
This unusual Asian gem is this summer's must-visit destination for elusive wildlife
See it before everyone else
It's 6 metres long, ugly with translucent skin and looks like a goblin with a witch’s nose and has the strangest jaw ever seen. Oh and it lives deep in the ocean too
This jaw-dropping shark is pink, nightmarishly ugly and can slingshot its jaw out of its face when it’s hungry
"The elephant crashed into the vehicle again, trying to roll it. I shouted to get out and the students slid out of the tilting car."
Elephants are responding to poaching and human-wildlife conflict in unpredictable ways, and even an experienced guide can find themselves in trouble.
How to avoid a bear attack – information that could save your life
Knowing how to avoid an attack could save your life, because if a bear decides to pick a fight, you’re in a tight corner.
With speeds of 100 miles per hour, it leaves birds like swifts and albatrosses eating its dust.
did you know the fastest flying animal in the world isn't a bird
From two penises to regrowing teeth and playing dead – discover 14 amazing snake facts you (probably) won't have heard before
Celebrate the Year of the Snake with our fascinating snake fact file, made up of the weirdest and most surprising things you may not know about snakes
It’s 2 miles deep, close to a volcano, the size of 233 soccer fields and home to a whopping 20,000 creatures
The world’s biggest octopus aggregation is made up of thousands of these usually solitary creatures
Birds
Caught, plucked, and kept ALIVE: Does this deadly predator take ruthlessness to a new level, inflicting a fate worse than death on its prey?
Do Eleonora’s falcons cach migrant birds alive to eat later?
Villagers in Mozambique talk to birds to help them hunt. How they do it is amazing
In an astonishing parallel to how human language evolves, communities in Mozambique use different ‘dialects’ to coordinate cooperation with wild birds.
“It will perish.” A penguin chick has a lucky escape from being crushed to death. Then disaster strikes
In footage filmed for the BBC's Penguins: Meet the Family, a chick gets separated from its parent – will they reunite?
10 jaw-dropping eagle moments captured in photos and film that reveal the brutal hunting behaviour of this powerful bird of prey
Discover the raw power of this striking bird, as well as the fierce clashes it will endure to ensure a meal
Gigantic 10ft-wide raptors released in Patagonian mountains
The Andean condor is the largest raptor in the world and can live for up to 70 years.
“It seemed like a matter of urgency – who knew if these sounds would be accessible to me if I put things off for another year?”
Progressive hearing loss prompted a memorable quest to absorb nature’s calls and choruses
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
"Ingestion can lead to liver failure, kidney failure, encephalopathy, and death" – 10 deadliest poisons found in nature
The natural world has produced some of the most potent poisons known to science. Here are some of the deadliest to humans
This ancient plant helped scientists solve a homicide investigation. This is how
A team of researchers have demonstrated how moss can act as a forensic ‘fingerprint’ when confirming details about a crime
"Poisoning causes lung collapse, brain haemorrhage and death" – discover the world’s 10 most poisonous, deadliest plants
There is an incredible number of dangerous and deadly plants around the world. here are just 10, including some with the ability to kill
A zombie spider-killing fungus and a bloodstained orchid: Kew Gardens reveals the strangest plants new to science in 2025
Kew Gardens has revealed the most bizarre plant and fungi discoveries new to science in 2025 – but some are already nearly extinct.