Writer for A-Z Animals

Kenna Hughes-Castleberry

Kenna Hughes-Castleberry is a writer at A-Z-Animals.com primarily covering octopuses, animal intelligence, and environmentalism. She has over 8 years of experience in science journalism with a master's degree in Science Communication from Imperial College London. She is also writing a book about the Larger Pacific Striped Octopus. Kenna is based in Colorado and loves to do crosswords in her free time.

30 Articles

October 2025 Member Since

Articles by Kenna Hughes-Castleberry

30 articles published

Primates and monkeys, protection area and environmental education, South American zoo

Zoochosis: The Hidden Cause Behind Abnormal Animal Behavior

A tiger walks the same worn groove along the edge of its exhibit, like a broken record. A parrot methodically…

The Pinocchio Chameleon Is Actually Two Species

For nearly 150 years, herpetologists have recognized a quirky group of Madagascar chameleons by one unmistakable feature: a long, pointed…

How Wolves Changed Yellowstone in Unexpected Ways

For much of the 20th century, some of North America’s most iconic predators were pushed to the brink of extinction.…

Why the Dinosaur Store in Cocoa Beach Is a Must-Visit Florida Attraction

If you’re headed to Florida, whether driving, flying, or sailing, and you’re looking to weave in a memorable stop—a blend…

Zebrafish (Danio rerio) aquarium fish

This Tiny Fish Uses a Dimmer Switch System to Blend Into Its Environment

If you’ve ever watched an animal seem to “melt” into its surroundings, you’ve seen background adaptation in action. An octopus…

vampire bats flying

When Vampire Bats Become Best Friends, They Start Sounding Alike

If you’ve ever caught yourself picking up a friend’s accent or slang, you already understand a little bit about vampire…

Cute toddler boy looking at an alpaca at a farm zoo on autumn day. Children feeding a llama on an animal farm. Kids at a petting zoo at fall. Active leisure children outdoor.

The Rise of Llama Therapy: These Gentle Animals Transform Lives

As National Llama Day arrives on December 9, 2025, it’s the perfect moment to recognize an unexpected yet rapidly growing…

Scientists Reevaluate Cleveland’s Iconic Sea Monster

For generations, Dunkleosteus terrelli, also known as Ohio’s state fossil fish, has been a familiar figure for those in the…

ballooning spider

The Natural Antifreeze That Helps Spiders Endure the Cold

During the cold and quiet winter, most insects and their predators vanish from sight. But tucked into silken sacs under…

New Discovery Reveals a Mega-Predator Shark Older Than Megalodon

Long before Jaws, long before Megalodon, and even long before Tyrannosaurus rex prowled the land, a colossal shark patrolled the…

The Friendship Lessons Hidden in Parakeet Behavior

Making new friends can feel awkward, uncertain, and—at times—a little risky. As it turns out, humans are not the only…

Moai statues in the Rano Raraku Volcano in Easter Island, Rapa Nui National Park, Chile

New Study Reveals the Real Culprit of Deforestation on Easter Island

For years, the story of Easter Island has been told as a grim fable: a small, isolated community cut down…

Ancient Dogs Were Surprisingly Diverse Long Before Modern Breeds

When most people picture ancient dogs, they imagine something wolf-like—sleek, long-snouted, and built for the hunt. But a major new…

Pair of Zebra finches sitting on a branch.

Zebra Finch Calls Have Meaning, Study Reveals

When most of us hear birds chirping, we may assume it’s just simple background noise. However, a new study from…

World animals day collage - concept with globe - art design with animals

The World Just Got 1,300 New Mammal Species — and Counting

New research has dramatically expanded the known roster of mammals on Earth. A new review published in the Journal of…

Meet the Newly Identified Predator from Triassic Times

A newly identified, armor-plated reptile from southern Brazil is rewriting what we know about life just before the age of…

International day for biodiversity or World Wildlife Day concept. Save planet, protect nature and endangered species, biological diversity. Wild animals, Earth globe and flock of butterflies in hand.

How AI-Generated Animal Videos Mislead Millions About Nature

A house cat stares down a leopard in a suburban backyard. The big cat growls, the child in the background…

Giraffe feeding at Monarto Safari Park, South Australia.

Why Zoo Giraffes Can No Longer Be Relied on to Sustain Wild Populations

Zoos and wildlife parks across North America are home to hundreds of giraffes that awe millions of visitors each year.…

walking back with pheasants after shoot

How Conservation Groups Support Pheasant Hunting

Across the vast patchwork of farmland, prairie, and rolling grasslands that once stretched unbroken across the Midwest, wildlife has long…

How Fringe-Lipped Bats Stalk Like Lions, and Win

In the dark forests of Panama, a bat no larger than your thumb is rewriting the rules of hunting. The…

TikTok Star Lindsay Nikole Explores Earth’s Wild Past in Her New Book

If you’ve ever scrolled through Instagram or YouTube and stumbled upon a zoologist wearing a bucket hat explaining why prehistoric…

Cincinnati Zoo Celebrates 150 Years of Wildlife Conservation and Wonder

Standing inside the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden today — surrounded by sprawling habitats, world-class veterinary facilities, and gardens bursting…

A young barbary macaques walking along a tree branch

Crows and monkeys show mental shortcuts when judging numbers

For centuries, humans have assumed that our thinking errors set us apart from the rest of the animal kingdom. From…

Ryukyu flying fox fruit bat

Six New Tube-Nosed Bat Species Discovered in the Philippines

As Halloween decorations fill neighborhoods across North America, scientists have unwrapped a real-life natural mystery: six brand-new species of bats…

Cheetah, Acinonyx jubatus, mother with cubs, Ndutu, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania, Africa

Cheetah Trafficking Networks Threaten Survival of the Species

For decades, some people have kept big cats like cheetahs and panthers as exotic pets, attempting to domesticate them. It’s…

Underwater view of a coral in the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Queensland near Cairns, Australia

Discovering the Underwater Wonder of at Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary

A recent expedition by scientists at Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary has unveiled previously inaccessible and poorly documented habitats along Georgia’s continental shelf, all…

Concept of treatment and adjustment of DNA molecule.

Synthetic Biology May Be the Future of Wildlife Conservation

Conservation scientists are racing against time, as hundreds of animal and plant species edge closer to extinction each year due to habitat…

3D rendering of a troodon running through a forest

Discover Troodon formosus: The Smartest Dinosaur to Ever Walk the Earth

When most people think of dinosaurs, they picture ferocious giants — the towering Tyrannosaurus rex or the armored Triceratops —…

A carrion crow perched on a branch.

Clever Carrion Crows Prove They Can Learn to Use Tools

These birds may not have evolved to use tools in the wild, but carrion crows, a member of the crow…

Morning hike viewing mountains and colorful forest along Hurricane Hill Trail | Hurricane Ridge, Olympic National Park, Washington, USA

The Most Commonly Encountered Animals You’ll See at Olympic National Park

Located on the Olympic Peninsula in the northwest corner of Washington State, Olympic National Park offers some of the most…