Animal Facts
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
From a chocolate chip sea star to a tomato frog (yes really!) here are 10 animals named after food
Evolution has produced some curious and comical-looking animals, including some that look uncannily like food! Here are some of our favourites, from a fried egg jelly fish to a chocolate chip sea star
Huge outcry as Australia shoots 700 koalas from helicopters
The cull took place following a large bush fire that destroyed thousands of hectares of habitat in Budj Bim National Park, Victoria.
What's new?
20 of the most epic wildlife photos on Earth revealed
Sun-basking leopards, battling rhinos and playful mountain gorillas all celebrated in the landmark Remembering Wildlife photo contest.
From a 'shrewdness of apes' to a 'bloat of hippopotamuses' here are the weirdest collective nouns
Discover some of the more unusual collective nouns for different groups of animals, from ‘a bloat of hippopotamuses’ to ‘a confusion of wildebeest’.
This fossilised 'hell ant' found in a Brazilian museum has been hiding a mighty secret
Experts say the 113-million-year-old fossil is the oldest ant specimen ever discovered.
David Attenborough narrates amazing BBC underwater footage of the fastest fish in the sea using their 'swords' to 'disarm' their prey
Giant predatory sailfish use their swords to 'disarm' their fish prey rather than to dismember them.
Do seabirds drink saltwater?
We take a look at the drinking habits of seabirds
Amphibians
It breaks its own bones in the battle for a mate, can regenerate and is oddly hairy – meet this bizarre 'Wolverine'-like creature
Meet the amphibian with hair, claws and the ability to regenerate.
11 bizarrest frogs you (probably) haven't heard of - from ultrasonic screamers to a species that glue themselves together when mating
Discover the weird and wonderful oddballs from the world of frogs
This strange animal survives winter by stopping its heart for 8 months and 'dying' before leaping back to life in spring
This frog survives winter by spending it frozen solid - literally
Animal ID
10 animals with the wrong names: Discover misleading monikers and curious cases of mistaken identity
Common names for animals are often easier to remember than their Latin names, but they can often lead to confusion. Here are 10 animals with some very misleading names.
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.
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.
Birds
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.
Fish
The incredible fish that scale 120 metre high waterfall rock faces with an astonishing climbing technique – watch amazing video to see how they do it
Did you know fish can climb? Meet the amazing waterfall-climbing goby
Fish can do maths, walk, fly AND pee: 14 fish facts that leave you scratching your head
Think you know fish? Think again. From farting herrons to maths geniuses, these underwater wonders continue to surprise us
Dragon of the abyss: this rarely seen deep-sea creature is like a shadow with fangs
Dragonfish are often very dark in colour, making them almost invisible to prey in the deep ocean.
Insects & Invertebrates
Curious animal isolated for 40,000 years found living in Rocky Mountains
Researchers think the creature managed to survive in a glacial ‘refuge’, a pocket of land that didn't freeze over during the last ice age.
"It's like finding a diamond": 16-million-year-old animal found encased in amber on Caribbean island
The remarkable discovery offers fresh insights into the history of one of the world’s most elusive animal groups, say scientists.
Last seen in Brazil in 1905, this tiny insect just reappeared – in a dramatic way
A species of cricket that exploits ant colonies has not been detected in Brazil for over a century – but scientists just found specimens in their own homes.
Mammals
Fascinating facts about our warm blooded friends - the mammals.
Bite marks found on York skeleton provide first evidence of Roman gladiators fighting lions
The skeleton offers the very first physical evidence in Europe of human-animal combat, say researchers.
How much wildlife do cats ACTUALLY kill – and should we keep our pet cats indoors?
We may love our pets, but the truth is that they can be a real problem for wildlife, says James Fair
Weirdest primates in the world: These are the planet's most peculiar (and most wonderful) primates
From the guttural scream of the howler monkey to the ever-growing rat-like teeth of the aye-aye, the primate world is full of weird and wonderful creatures
Marine Animals
Time-lapse camera records elusive tentacled animal 5,000m deep in Atlantic Ocean
The footage gave researchers new insights into a type of deep-sea creature only previously captured through still photography.
“Utterly spectacular”: incredibly rare 'pack ice' killer whale filmed swimming in Antarctic snow
Pack ice killer whales are a unique type of orca that live in Antarctica – and there are fewer than 100 left.
Underwater vehicle stumbles across never-seen-alive 'glass' animal in Antarctic abyss
The tentacled denizen of the deep was found drifting through the darkness 687 metres beneath the surface.
Reptiles
Why do snakes slough their skin?
You might have seen a ghostly snake skin left behind on a walk – but have you ever wondered how snakes shed them?
"Insanely lucky" drone pilot catches rare glimpse of ancient animal in Australia
The endangered sea creature has only been sighted around 60 times in New South Wales – this lucky photographer caught three different individuals on film.
An enormous snake-friendly zone is being created in this English national park – here’s why
Conservationists hope that the 250-hectare area will provide a safe refuge for adders, smooth snakes and other UK reptiles, including sand lizards.