
One of the biggest fish ever, this deadly prehistoric killer was the size of a small car, had lethal jaws that resembled a guillotine and the biting power of a T rex

This prehistoric arachnid monster was the size of a house cat with a deadly sting in its tail...
You wouldn't want to come across one of these in the woods

10 weirdest toilet habits in the animal kingdom – including stacking poop, eating it for breakfast and peeing out your mouth
Wild, weird and seriously messy animal bathroom habits

Why are a peacock’s eyespots frozen in place even when the rest of the train ripples and moves? Why does that matter? The secret is hidden in the feathers
The vibrant colours of the male birds’ spectacular display conceal a miracle of engineering.

Why do females often live longer than males?
Female animals tend to live longer their male counterparts, but why?

Who thinks of these? 11 animals with the weirdest, bizarrest names, including chicken turtle, sarcastic fringehead and even a striped pyjama squid

32 staggering crocodile facts: Amazing truths about one of the deadliest – and oldest – predators on the planet, including their rather tender mating strategy...

Do snakes pee? Depends how you define wee...
Reptiles don’t just pee – they crystallise their waste. Here’s what that actually means…

This deadly paradise hosts one of the largest gatherings of the biggest, most brutal marine predators on the planet...
The southern tip of Africa hosts one of the largest gatherings of big marine predators on the planet. Explore the bay where sharks, killer whales, dolphins and seals fight for food , - and supremacy.

Are any snakes poisonous? The answer may surprise you - here's why...
there are only a few poisonous snakes in the world - although there's plenty of venomous

Birds

Do hens have teeth?
Stuart Blackman explains why just because hens don't have teeth at the moment it doesn't mean they won't ever have teeth...

Purple is nature's rarest colour but purple animals do exist: Meet 9 beautiful, incredible purple animals that look like they've been painted

Would a flamingo turn blue if it ate blue food?
Could we ever see blue flamingos?

36 extraordinary, astonishing bird facts, including a bird that has killed humans, a bird that likes to get drunk and one that can fly backwards
Impress your friends and family with your newfound bird knowledge.

This bizarre Galápagos bird hunts giant deep-sea squid at night. How it does it is astonishing
Far away in the Galápagos Islands, a peculiar nocturnal seabird is finally starting to give up its secrets

8 craziest, weirdest bird beaks on the planet: Meet the most bizarre beaks in the world – where evolution let its imagination soar
Uncover the secrets behind their extraordinary beaks and what they reveal about their lifestyles.
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

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?