Author Stuart Blackman

Stuart Blackman

Recent articles by Stuart Blackman
The White Bellbird is the loudest bird

"It sounds like the two-tone horn of a fast train approaching a station. Unfathomably, females find the noise attractive…"

Just which bird has the loudest call? And how do they produce such a peace-shattering sound?
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Bush viper shedding its skin

Why do snakes shed their skin?

You might have seen a ghostly snake skin left behind on a walk – but have you ever wondered how snakes shed them?
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With deadly, long, lethal jaws that drain their prey dry, this is one of the world’s most spine-chilling animals — and it's known as an assassin

Rain frog

"It's not unknown for males to get stuck in the wrong position - back to front, or sideways on - or for groups to become hopelessly welded together…"

How these rain frogs get stuck in when mating
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what's the difference between a crab and a lobster

Crab vs lobster – They look similar… but what actually makes a crab a crab – and a lobster a lobster?

Just how do crabs differ from lobsters? Stuart Blackman explains
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Do any animals have periods like humans?

Yes some animal species do menstruate and have periods, like humans, says Stuart Blackman
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The terrifying, deadly island off Brazil that only scientists and soldiers can visit

Discover the island where there's a snake for every square metre - including one of the world's deadliest...
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Biggest eagle in the world

What’s the biggest, heaviest eagle in the world? Meet the contenders – including a giant with a monster 3-metre wingspan

Eagles are one of the most majestic birds in the sky. We take a look at the biggest and most impressive
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"Observations suggest that they can float to the surface for air and then sink down again – all without waking up…"

How exactly have these notoriously aggessive animals evolved to function under the water?
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Why do captive killer whales have drooping dorsal fins?

Orca in captivity live very different lives from those in the wild, and this can affect their physical features
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natures cruellest tricksters

"They too can lull passing fish into a relaxed stupor, but they do so in order to bite rather than pamper…" 10 cruellest, most devious schemers in animal kingdom

Behind every innocent façade lurks a predator, a thief or a schemer — and nature has perfected the art of the con
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Could piranhas actually kill a human

You've seen the horror films but can piranhas ACTUALLY kill a human?

Could piranhas actually kill a human? Stuart Blackman takes a look at the evidence?
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The spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta), also known as the laughing hyena or tiger wolf, is a species of hyena native to Sub-Saharan Africa. Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya. Mouth open wide showing its teeth from anterior to posterior.

10 strongest, most powerful bites on the planet – able to pierce skulls, crack bone and crush prey

We take a look at the animal kingdom's strongest biters
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Rhinella proboscidea

"It's the only known example of necrophilia having an evolutionary advantage - to both the male and the unfortunate female…"

Why necrophilia is an evolutionary advantage for the Rhinella proboscidea
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Liger

Forget the liger… the astonishing wild animal hybrids that prove why nature – and love – is far stranger than you think

We may think of cross-breeding as something that just happens with domestic animals, but it can happen in the wild as well says Stuart Blackman
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Biggest wolf

The world's biggest wolf is one fearsome apex predator…

Wolves are one of the deadliest apex predators on earth. We take a look at the biggest wolf - and how do they compare to dogs?
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"Working together they can subdue prey a whopping 700 times their weight - even birds aren't safe..."

If one spider is enough to get you sweating, how about webs full of thousands of them?
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High venomous scorpion

Its deadly sting causes paralysis and 2,600 deaths a year…

Do scorpions deserve their fearsome reputation? Stuart Blackman takes a look
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Bottle of Mezcal with worm. © Esdelval/Getty

The truth about the famous 'worm' in the alcoholic drink mezcal is a lot stranger than you think

Biologists have finally identified the ‘worm’ added to bottles of mezcal
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Rattlesnake fangs. Credit: Getty

"Many simply slash at their prey and retreat, returning to feed once the venom has done its worst..." How snakes inject their deadly venom

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
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Do ants use toilets?

How one species of ant even have toilet attendants...
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What's India's deadliest animal

What's the deadliest animal in India for humans? Clue - it's responsible for a staggering 20,000 deaths a year and it's not the mosquito…

India is packed with venomous and dangerous animals, but which one is the deadliest? Stuart Blackman looks at the contenders for India's deadliest animal
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Longest coastline

Which country has the longest coastline? Clue – there's a colossal 265,523km of it...

Which country has the longest coastline? Well, it depends on what you include, says Stuart Blackman
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Do elephant graveyards exist?

Are elephant graveyards a real thing? Is there any truth in the legend elephants go to a special place to die?

Stuart Blackman goes in search of the truth behind the famous legend of elephant graveyards.
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