Reptiles
This tiny, but intimidating, reptile protects itself by forcing its ribs through its skin to launch poison at predators
The Spanish ribbed newt has one of the most spectacular defence mechanisms out there. Find out how it fights back...
10 amazing snake facts you (probably) won't have heard before
Celebrate the Year of the Snake with our fascinating snake fact file, made up of the weirdest and most surprising things you may not know about snakes
Year of the Snake: Discover what this elusive reptile signifies in the lunar calendar
Contemporary art and literature may paint the snake in a negative light – as a deadly, fearsome reptile. But in ancient China it was a revered animal
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.
Tiny creature with very hairy toes discovered on hillside in Cambodia
Scientists suspect the animal is endemic to this single hill in Cambodia's Battambang Province.
"Time is ticking" for world’s rarest turtle – this new DNA test could help save it from extinction
The portable eDNA test can detect incredibly rare Swinhoe’s softshell turtles in vast bodies of water, say scientists.
At 10 metres long this snake is not only the world's longest and heaviest, but one of the deadliest too, capable of swallowing a human whole
A familiar snake species to zoo visitors, the reticulated python is a very impressive reptile and on record as the world’s longest snake.
Discover the fascinating world of one of nature's weirdest creatures - the chameleon - and the secrets behind its colour-changing talents
All you need to know about the amazing chameleons
How do snake fangs work? How snakes quickly strike prey twice their size
Snakes can easily take down creatures twice their size, thanks to their fangs which quickly inject venom. But how do snake fangs work? Stuart Blackman investigates
An immense creature is moving through the vast swamps of the Everglades National Park
A new study suggests that the animal could be an even more adept hunter than experts in Florida first thought...
How many times could a lizard regrow its tail?
Some lizards boast the amazing skill of detaching and regrowing their tails to escape predators. John Baker explores whether they can do this multiple times
Discover the world of the beautiful, yet much-feared, sea snake: do these venomous serpents deserve their deadly reputation?
All you ever needed to know about the much-feared sea snake
5 British dinosaurs you've (probably) never heard of
Professor Paul Barrett from the Natural History Museum, London, celebrates some of lesser known dinosaurs from the British Isles.
Meet southern Africa's golden Cape cobra: A stunning yet lethal predator that's as deadly as the black mamba
Mouths are for eating and drinking right? Not always... Meet the animal that pees out of its mouth
This peculiar habit enables this turtle to enjoy the best of both worlds says Stuart Blackman
What to do if a snake bites you
If you get bitten by a snake stay calm, seek medical treatment and follow the following steps on your way to the hospital
Tiny 'backpacks' are being strapped to baby turtles on a remote island in the Great Barrier Reef. Here's why
The unusual-sounding conservation project could have important implications for turtle populations around the world, say scientists.
Scientists uncover ‘sixth sense’ in geckos – and they say it could help humans with hearing disorders
It's thought that other reptiles may also possess this hidden talent.
What are the most dangerous snakes in Australia? Discover the country's top venomous serpents
Learn about the potent venom of these dangerous reptiles, as well as habitats, and the risks they pose to humans.
Snakes that can fly? Yes! Learn all about flying snakes and how they soar through the air to catch and kill their unaware victims...
All you ever needed to know about flying snakes, from how they fly to where they live
Spider-tailed horned viper: meet the "snake in spider's clothing" that fools its prey into a shocking death
This is surely a contender for the world's weirdest – and trickiest – snake.
Cannibal animals: 11 creatures that eat their own species - there may be some surprises...
It may seem gruesome, but many animals have been recorded feeding on their own species. Here are 11 cannibalistic animals, including some that might surprise you.
"They're like the chicken nuggets of the forest." But these tasty lizards have an ingenious life-saving trick
The semi-aquatic lizards from southern Costa Rica use the special adaptation to avoid being eaten by birds, snakes and numerous other predators.
One-metre long indigo snake vomits up live rattlesnake
Wildlife technician sees one snake become three in bizarre twist during a routine survey in southeast Georgia