Leoma Williams
Animal behavior researcher and science writer
Leoma Williams is an animal behavior researcher and science writer. She is currently studying for a PhD at the University of Manchester, investigating the evolution of sociality in primates, with a focus on cooperation in monkeys and apes, as well as studying social birds such as ravens. In autumn 2019, she was an editorial intern at BBC Wildlife, writing news articles, fact-files, and quizzes for the website, as well as news articles for the magazine. She now writes periodically for both the website and print magazine, mostly as a frequent ‘ask an expert’ in the Q&A section, answering questions like “Can other animals lie?” and “Is trade unique to humans?”. She is interested in figuring out how animals think and interact, and what guides their behavior. In her spare time she can be found cooking, painting, and talking to her cat.
Recent articles by Leoma Williams
"Their real super-power is their ability to shoot blood from their eyes." The 23 weirdest, strangest animals on the planet - including the striped pyjama squid
Often it is the cute and cuddly animals that get the most attention, but let's spare some time and love for the freaks and oddballs of the natural world! Meet our 18 weirdest animals
"It causes confusion, comas, and extreme daytime sleepiness and without treatment, it is generally fatal" 10 deadliest, most terrifying parasites on the planet
They may be microscopic but that doesn't mean they can't be lethal. Leoma Williams takes a look at the deadliest parasites in the world, from a zombie fungus to a worm that emerges from your foot
"These fearless snake hunters stun their prey with rapid blows to the head, then finish them off with a bite to the neck" – 10 desert animals that thrive in extreme temperatures
From the deathstalker scorpion to the screaming hairy armadillo, meet the desert animals that thrive in extreme conditions
It weighs as much as a piano and is nearly as tall as a basketball hoop: The 10 biggest, heaviest birds on the planet
You wouldn’t want to find these beasts at your bird feeder…
"They have been seen to use use sticks as weapons against humans, and clean their ears with grass" – 11 animals that use tools in surprising and clever ways
It is not just humans that regularly use tools to solve problems and make our lives easier. Other animals do it too!
Jedi ants, Skywalker apes, Stormtropis spiders... 10 crazy animals named after Star Wars characters
Perhaps unsurprisingly, there are quite a few Star Wars fans among biologists. These ones have used their opportunity to name a new species to make reference to their beloved franchise.
Mountain chicken, guinea pig, honey bear, bearcat – 10 animals with completely the wrong names, 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.
On the brink of extinction: 11 rarest cats in the world, from the beautiful Arabian leopard to the weird flat-headed cat
There are more wild cats out there than just lions and tigers. Get to know some of the world's most elusive and rarest felines.
"It doesn't come much weirder than having a see-through head!" 16 strangest, weirdest fish in the world, including one that can incredibly live out of water
Our seas are brimming with strange and wonderful creatures. Meet 13 of the weirdest fish in the world, which sport everything from super-long noses to golfball heads
"Eating it leads to liver failure, kidney failure, and death." 9 deadliest fungi on the planet – mushrooms you don't want to mess with
Mushrooms can be a great and tasty source of food, but foragers beware, some should be avoided at all cost!
"Sometimes it works with remarkable success and sometimes with disastrous consequences..."
Leoma Williams explains all you need to know about biological pest control
"Standing at a whopping 3.7m and weighing 4 tonnes they were truly colossal." 10 extraordinary Ice Age, prehistoric, beasts that thrived in a frozen world
The temperatures were low, but the animals were immense! Our expert guide examines some of the truly massive animals that dominated Ice age landscapes
What animals mate for life? 10 most devoted, loved-up couples in the animal kingdom
We meet some of the animals that mate for life, but are monogamous relationships in animals as sweet as they seem?
Pobblebonk, Chachalaca, dik-dik – 10 crazy animals who sound like their bizarre names
Animals are often given very descriptive names, whether after their fur colour or scale pattern, or a particular aspect of their size or shape. And some are named after the sounds they make, which can have sometimes humorous results. Here are 10 of our favourites.
"The entire family of a deceased matriarch surrounded her corpse, gently touching her with their trunks, as if trying to lift her" – Do animals understand death...?
Do animals grieve for their dead? Do they have an awareness of what death is? Researchers have been trying to find out…
Back from the dead: meet 10 incredible animals once thought extinct
Feel-good stories are rare in animal conservation, but these ‘back from the dead’ species are a cause for celebration.
"Poisoning causes lung collapse, brain haemorrhage and death" – discover the world’s 10 most poisonous, deadliest plants
There is an incredible number of dangerous and deadly plants around the world. here are just 10, including some with the ability to kill
"They are the only canid with fur on the pads of their feet, like built-in snowshoes." 11 Arctic animals that thrive in this inhospitable freezing landscape
Although the Arctic may be a cold and harsh place to live, it is home to many fascinating animal species. Here are our top 10 Animals that live in the Arctic
"Death can result very quickly" - Discover the world's 10 most venomous animals
It's not just particular snakes and spiders you have to watch out for! Here are our top ten venomous animals, from surprising sea creatures to primates.
10 astonishing brainless animals that are remarkably clever – proving you don't always need a brain to be smart...
What is cleverness? Do animals need a brain to be clever? Leoma Williams investigates...
10 strongest animals in the world - including the deadliest bear on the planet and a creature that can pull 1,141 times its body weight
Discover some of the world's most powerful animals
11 blind, extraordinary creatures that live and hunt for prey in complete darkness
Many animal species have adapted to survive and even evolve without sight, often relying on other senses - here are 10 blind animals with next to no vision
10 animal killer plants that trap and devour their prey
Not all carnivores have teeth… Read on to learn about 10 ingenious - and deadly - meat-eating carnivorous plants.
