This underground web of fungi is so huge it could reach the sun 1 billion times. Scientists have mapped it for the first time
The worldwide network of mycorrhizal fungi has been mapped out – and its length is astonishing
Deep-sea scientists just filmed an elusive predator with “grotesquely protruding jaw” alive for the first time
Goblin sharks are one of the most baffling species of sharks, with jaws that can protrude out of their face like a slingshot
It's now raining 'Forever Chemicals' – and it might never stop...
Chemicals used to heal the ozone layer may be fuelling a sharp rise in trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), a persistent “forever chemical” whose global levels have more than tripled in just 20 years.
“It survives microwaving and temperatures up to 150ºC and as low as -273ºC.” These 7 biologically bizarre animals are so weird they could be aliens
From a jellyfish that cheats death to a tiny indestructible animal that can survive the vacuum of space, Earth is home to some creatures so biologically bizarre they seem like they shouldn't belong here
These baby iguanas must run for their lives – or they’ll be constricted to death by snakes. Will they make it?
Iguana hatchlings are faced with a fierce race straight after hatching in this now-iconic clip from the BBC's Planet Earth II
Toxic killers and 4m giants – meet the 9 weirdest crabs on the planet
Meet the ocean’s most extraordinary crabs – including a few that aren’t actually crabs at all
“No one’s ever seen tigers do this before.” A film crew flew a drone over an island full of big cats – and captured something extraordinary
Think you know everything there is to know about tigers? This new footage from the BBC's Tiger Island has left experts amazed
What's the most common snake in the world?
Wondering what the world's most common snake is? The answer might surprise you
This Turkish mountain has been ablaze with flames for thousands of years. Scientists think they know why
The burning flames of Mount Chimaera is a natural geological phenomenon that has occurred for thousands of years.
A remote tropical paradise is home to the world's most dangerous reptile that's armed with iron-tipped, razor-sharp teeth and a deadly venomous bite
Situated off the coast of Indonesia's Lesser Sunda Islands lies Komodo National Park, one of the planet's most extraordinary wildlife sanctuaries.
Birds
The weirdest bird nests on the planet – including a 2-tonne giant and one bound together with spider webs
Discover a host of weird nests built by remarkable birds that steal, sew and regurgitate to look after their chicks
A mighty hawk has made a home in New York City's Central Park. This is its story
Red-tailed hawks have taken up residence in the heart of Manhattan.
“It attacks with a short movement, sucking up the prey with an expansion of its tubular snout.” Meet 8 weirdest, bizarrest animals in Hawai'i
From a squid that projects moonlight to hide from predators to a snake that reproduces by cloning itself, Hawai'i's wildlife is stranger than you'd expect
“They simply moved in.” Thousands of tiny falcons are taking over this ancient Italian city
Thousands of lesser kestrels have been living in and around the ancient Italian city of Matera for centuries
It’s the fastest animal on Earth and ruthlessly kills prey in mid-air – and it’s taking over London’s skyscrapers
The fastest animal on Earth is proliferating
among the skyscrapers of central London
“They produce 7 tonnes of guano – nightly”: Romans in biohazard suits are facing a relentless rain of oily poop. Here’s what’s going on
Millions of starlings descend upon Rome every year, creating spectacular murmurations – and a mess
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
"It looks like lots of pink tongues and smells like rotting flesh." 10 weirdest orchids on the planet, including one that looks rather gruesome
We might think we know all about orchids, but these might surprise you - from stinky orchids to ghost orchids, here are ten that are weird and wonderful
“Its fruits explode when ripe, firing toxic seeds in all directions at speeds of up 160mph…”
You’ll want to steer clear of this tree if its moniker ‘dynamite tree’ is anything to go by…
Fungi vs plants: what’s the difference?
Fungi were grouped with plants by early taxonomists. While the two kingdoms share some superficial similarities, modern analysis has shown them to be incredibly different.
“Untreated, the progression is grim: nausea and vomiting give way to cardiac arrest. Death can come within an hour.”
It bears white flowers and green fruit – but hidden inside its seeds is a potent cardiac poison called cerberin.
