It's tiny, covered in hair, and has spines filled with venom potent enough to cause long-lasting, painful, effects, like muscle spasms, in humans
This is one caterpillar you shouldn't touch says Stuart Blackman
What happened to the remains of the last known thylacine?
The remains of the last known thylacine were thought to be forever lost ...
It lays record-breaking eggs, has nostrils on its beak and flirts by tapping butts – meet this bizarre yet adorable bird
The baffling but cute endangered bird is often thought of as an honorary mammal due to its unique characteristics.
Why The Gambia should be your next birdwatching holiday destination
Diverse landscapes, incredible weather and over 600 species of birds. Read on to discover what makes this West African country ideal for birdwatching trips.
26 best animal jokes ever!
If you're looking for a good laugh, this selection of our favourite animal jokes will have you roaring with laughter! Why do giraffes have long necks? What do you call a camel with three humps? Find out here...
The deadly Asian hornet: how to identify, what they like to eat, why they are a grave worry- and how to report a sighting
Considered a pest, and a particular threat to honeybees, Asian hornets were accidentally introduced to Europe in 2004.
The terrifying 3 metre, deep sea Bobbit worm can not only cut its prey in half, but is also venomous enough to cause permanent numbness in humans
The Bobbit worm is a fearsome marine predator that burrows into the sand and waits for unsuspecting prey. Stuart Blackman explains all you need to know about this terrifying marine worm
Ostriches vs emus: what’s the difference between these large, striking flightless birds?
Ostriches and emus are both large, flightless birds with slightly comedic reputations – but what's the difference between these two species? Stuart Blackman takes a look
Something breathtaking has just been pulled from the steaming springs of Yellowstone National Park
Researchers say that what they found in the thermal springs could help them understand how ancient life adapted to an oxygen-filled world.
Why do males have nipples?
Are they completely pointless? Or is there a reason behind nipples on male mammals?
Birds
Storm bird: this 22-second video of a barnacle goose flying in heavy rain is pure bliss
These majestic birds spend winter in south-west Scotland, commuting daily between feeding areas and roost sites.
Why do coots have such weird feet?
A coot's feet are perfectly designed to cope with a life on both dry land and water, says Stuart Blackman
"Seeing these iconic birds marching through the wilderness fills me with wonder": a day in the life of a penguin researcher
In celebration of Penguin Awareness Day, fieldwork assistant Natacha Planque offers an insight into the dramatic life of a penguin researcher in the Antarctic wilderness.
Snake skins draped from trees in popular New York State forest – here's what's going on
It may sound like something out of a horror movie, but it's all part of a scientific experiment to understand more about the ingenious survival behaviour of birds.
What is the smallest owl in the world? Meet a tiny cutie
The world's smallest raptor is by no means the least deadly, despite weighing less than your average tennis ball. Here we introduce the elf owl, the smallest owl in the world
What exactly is echolocation and how does it work? The incredible adaptation that allows animals to ‘see’ and communicate in the dark
Discover how animals use echolocation to navigate, hunt, identify other species and avoid obstacles.
How to identify wildlife
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.
Bring the wonders of nature to your doorstep in 2025 and save 50% on the shop price!
Bring the wonders of nature to your doorstep in 2025 and save 50% on the shop price!
Toad vs frog: How to tell the difference between a common frog and a common toad
Two of the UK's most familiar and widespread amphibian species are the common frog and the common toad, but do you know how to tell them apart?
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.
Swift or swallow: what's the difference between these two incredible long-distance migrants?
Know your swallows from your swifts? Tom Hibbert from The Wildlife Trusts takes a look at some of the differences…
Heron vs egret: what's the difference between these two leggy, long-necked, elegant birds?
Know your herons from your egrets? Tom Hibbert from The Wildlife Trusts takes a look at some of the differences…
Plants
10 of the deadliest poisons found in nature – including the most lethal mushroom you might find the woods
The natural world has produced some of the most potent poisons known to science. Here are some of the deadliest to humans
It reeks of rotten flesh, blooms for 24 hours and heats itself up – meet one of the world’s most fascinating plants
The world's smelliest plant draws in thousands of visitors, and often makes global headline news when it blooms
10 of the world’s most poisonous plants - including the world's deadliest tree, where every part, from the bark to the sap, is highly toxic
There is an incredible number of dangerous and deadly plants around the world. here are just 10, including some with the ability to kill
How tiny, overlooked, hornworts hold the keys behind plants' epic shift from living in water to smothering the land
A tiny but remarkable plant holds the key as to how plants made the transition from water to dry land over 450 million years ago, and also offers a hopeful new direction for sustainable agriculture