9 weirdest snakes in the world, from flying serpents to spider-tailed vipers. There's even a spiky species that looks more like a dragon...
Discover the planet's most bizarre and frankly weird snakes, including one that can glide through the air
This desert cutie is the smallest dog in the world - and also the dog with the biggest ears
All you ever wanted to know about the fennec fox
James Bond: Secret agent and ornithologist? How Ian Fleming’s writing revealed himself and 007 to be covert naturalists
Commander James Bond was a naturalist and his creator, Ian Fleming, a nature writer. We reveal how wildlife infuses the 007 books.
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.
Flying foxes: These extraordinary tropical flying mammals can travel 30km a night in search of food
All you ever wanted to know about flying foxes
This bizarre Australian bug looks ‘like a chipolata sausage’, has cannibalistic tendencies and swims through sand
Meet the seldom-seen subterranean insect that swims beneath your feet in Australia.
What were the fastest dinosaurs – and just how fast were they? Meet 10 prehistoric speed machines
Not all dinosaurs were lumbering giants, some were streamlined speedsters that would have given today’s fastest animals a run for their money…
Scientists just solved one of Yellowstone’s greatest animal mysteries
For two decades, researchers have been trying to work out how a remarkable animal can survive among the scalding thermal springs of Yellowstone National Park. Now they finally know.
"Females should prefer to mate with older males because they work harder and care less about infidelity."
Being a good father is not easy for male burrowing beetles
"A male's penis may be all that a female has to go on when assessing the quality of her suitor."
When you can't choose your suites by sight you have to rely on other attributes
Birds
Do seabirds drink saltwater?
We take a look at the drinking habits of seabirds
Do birds have ears?
How are birds able to hear so well? Sheena Harvey investigates
Magellanic penguin: meet the unlikely companion (and real-life acting superstar) in Steve Coogan’s film The Penguin Lessons
It’s not often a penguin gets a starring role in a hit film, but Steve Coogan’s The Penguin Lessons has ensured that the Magellanic penguin has landed the role of a lifetime
Meet the 10 bonkers birds that break the rules of nature
Discover the extraordinary birds that defy nature’s norms.
When explorers went to the Falkland Islands, a group of curious animals surrounded them
The huge birds approached the researchers “before giving a trademark side-eye and waddling off”.
"Mission Penguin was born": How one woman’s epic quest to photograph every penguin species helped heal her grief
Mourning her late husband, photographer Ursula Clare Franklin needed a new direction. Soon she was travelling the world, on a journey to photograph her favourite animal, the penguin – all 18 species of them.
How to identify wildlife
Go behind the scenes of Tom Hanks’ new epic, The Americas! Plus, receive your first 6 issues for just £12 when you subscribe today
Go behind the scenes of Tom Hanks’ new epic, The Americas! Plus, receive your first 6 issues for just £12 when you subscribe today
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.
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
Why do flowers point up or down?
Botanist Phil Gates discusses the adaptations of flowering plants.
How can you spot an ancient woodland?
Naturalist and author Amy-Jane Beer answers your wild question.
Weirdest plants in the world: Discover 9 of the planet's wackiest flora
Meet some of the weirdest and oddest plants on Earth.
Cordyceps and Orphiocordyceps: the zombie fungi made famous by The Last of Us
Cordyceps and Ophiocordyceps are the stuff of nightmares – if you’re an insect, or if you've played or watched The Last Of Us.