Articles
The Incredible Way Alligators Freeze in Ice and Survive
As winter sets in, many warm-blooded animals tuck themselves in to escape the cold and hibernate until conditions thaw. During…
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Articles
The Moment a Mama Elephant Kicked a Crocodile Away from Her Baby
Mama bears are notorious for their protective instincts, but that doesn’t mean other animals don’t fiercely protect their young as…
Articles
In Saving a Rescue Dog, You May Find One Who Saves You
Celebrated on May 20, National Rescue Dog Day shines a light on the millions of dogs in shelters and foster…
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Why a Crocodile’s Deadly Jaws Are Safe for Her 15 Babies
Crocodiles are not animals that many would describe as gentle. Surprisingly, when it comes to their young, female crocodiles are…
Articles
The Bugs You Casually Kill May Actually Feel Long-Term Pain
Somewhere along the way, most humans were taught that killing insects is not only common but occasionally even good. We’ve…
Articles
Too Many Trees Are Killing Wildlife on the Cumberland Plateau
When we think of forests, most of us picture something really lush and green. We envision towering trees. Shade to…
Articles
How to Tell Cottonmouths from Coral Snakes, According to an Expert
Cottonmouths and coral snakes both carry venom capable of killing a human, but a herpetologist reveals they differ in ways…
Articles
Study of 4,000 Dogs Finds a Path to Healthier Flat-Faced Breeds
Flat-faced dogs, specifically French bulldogs, bulldogs, and pugs, are among the most popular breeds. Years of selective breeding have produced…
Articles
How a Jellyfish Invaded Six Continents Without Anyone Noticing
There is a stealthy invader in European waters, and the people who live there are blissfully unaware. A freshwater jellyfish…
Blog
Animals That Rely on Faking Death to Stay Alive
Many animals survive predation by running, fighting, or hiding. However, some take a much stranger approach: they play dead. This…
Blog
Going From Transparent to Orange in an Instant is How This Octopus Fools Predators
A new MBARI video showcases Japetella diaphana, a rare open-water octopus that switches between transparent and opaque orange to evade…
Articles
Meet the Photographer Who Discovered a Bee New to Science
Fascination with the natural world can arrive in a person’s life through the most unusual pathways. Krystle Hickman was browsing…
Articles
How Lionesses Protect Newborns Through a Secret Creche System
This heart-warming Instagram post perfectly captures the dedication of a mother lion. It shows a very young cub being licked…
Articles
Magnus the Walrus Left Scotland. Will He Ever Return?
After spending weeks along the coast of Scotland, on what appears to have been a farewell tour, a local celebrity…
Articles
King Arthur’s “Ghost” Birds Return to Tintagel After 100 Years
After an absence of a hundred years, a bird steeped in English legend has returned to its atmospheric castle home.…
Articles
Horse Domestication Took 6,000 Years and Reshaped Civilization
Domestic horses have played a vital role in the development of human civilization. From agriculture and transport to warfare and…
Articles
How a Canary’s Unique Lungs Kept Coal Miners Alive
Idioms help people express complex ideas in familiar ways. Yet there is one saying in this category with a significant…
Articles
The Beavers California Once Killed Are Now Fighting Wildfires
California is no stranger to wildfires, but how is nature able to bounce back from these relentless events? When the…
Articles
How Bald Eagles Spot Fish from 1,500 Feet Away and Strike Fast
Bald eagles have exceptional eyesight. Nothing shows this better than an eagle soaring overhead, suddenly moving at high speeds to…
Articles
Do Animals Enjoy Music? Zoömusicology Has Surprising Answers
Have you ever heard of the term “zoömusicology”? Essentially, it refers to the study of sounds and communication produced and…
Articles
What Makes a Service Dog? The Traits That Can’t Be Trained
So much of the work that service dogs perform is happening within them, behind the scenes. Not every dog can…
Blog
Creatures So Strange They Were Once Mistaken for Monsters
Centuries before modern science could more accurately explain the natural world, brief animal sightings often inspired terrifying legends of mysterious…
Blog
Animal Behaviors Scientists Still Can’t Fully Explain
Animals have evolved some truly bizarre behaviors, and even after decades of research and the aid of modern technology, scientists…
Blog
What That Cold Wet Nose on Your Arm Is Really Saying
You’re lounging, watching your favorite TV show, and you feel a cold, wet nose nuzzle against your arm. It’s off-putting…
Blog
New York Has 52,000 Miles of Rivers. Meet the 5 Fish That Fill Them.
EDITOR’S NOTE: We get letters from time to time from A-Z Animals readers, and not only do they remind us…
Blog
Great Hammerheads Sweep for Prey Like a Living Metal Detector
Filmmaker Andy Casagrande's 360° footage of a great hammerhead offers a close look at a critically endangered predator whose unusual…
Blog
A 6.5-Foot Black Mamba Squeezed Inside a Leaf Blower
A call-out in KwaZulu-Natal turned up a two-metre black mamba coiled inside the tube of a leaf blower, a hiding…
Articles
Could New Hunting Rules Violate the Law That Created National Parks?
According to a memo published on April 21st, the government will make sweeping changes to the conservation policies that helped…
Articles
Bulls Can’t See Red. Here’s What Actually Triggers a Charge.
A matador swirling a crimson cape at a charging bull is an iconic image. Few animal myths are as persistent…
Articles
The Underwater Crop Circles that once Mystified Scientists Are Created by a 5-Inch Fish
You’ve likely seen videos of artistic animals on social media. I’m talking dogs and their humans making paw print art,…
Articles
Why Streetlights Are Sending Tiny Woodlice Into Mysterious ‘Death Spirals’
It’s hard to believe that something as seemingly innocuous as street lighting could cause such chaos among wildlife in Northern…
Articles
A Sea Lion Named Sierra Nearly Halted Traffic on US-101
Wildlife-vehicle collisions are a significant concern in California, with thousands of incidents reported statewide each year. Roadways are one of…
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The Tiny Frog With the Internet’s Most Dramatic Squeak
The sounds of summer always bring forth a chorus of amphibious croaks. For most, these are mating calls of frogs…
Articles
After Nearly 100 Years, Wildcats Are Breeding Again in Czech Forests
You’d be forgiven for mistaking a European wildcat for a regular domestic tabby. They are around the same size, and…
Education
Let’s Learn About Ecosystem Invaders: A Free Unit Plan on Invasive Species
Invasive species are plants, animals, and other living things that invade environments where they don’t typically belong and cause harm…
Articles
Panda Bears Left Zoo Atlanta in 2024. A New Pair Is on the Way.
Panda bears have been a staple at Zoo Atlanta for over two decades. Today, the enclosure sits empty after the…
Articles
This Deadly Fungus Can Kill Your Bearded Dragon Fast
If you have a bearded dragon or other reptilian pet, you might have heard of the dreaded, often deadly yellow…
Blog
Nature’s Most Incredible Animal Architects
The animal kingdom is filled with creatures that rival the most skilled engineers in both creativity and ability. A host…
Articles
This Donkey’s Story Has a Happily Ever After
The field of veterinary care can be the most rewarding or the most terrifying experience for people who love animals.…
Articles
This Croc’s Vertical Jump Rivals Michael Jordan
Crocodiles are more than just stealthy predators. They are also phenomenal athletes, hurling themselves vertically out of the water to…
Articles
This Spider’s Superpowers Rival Any Marvel Character
Portia spiders are endowed with some incredible superpowers. Their hunting skills are as ferocious as those of animals many times…
Articles
Dozens of Baby Tarantulas Molt at Once in Stunning Time-lapse
In a fascinating video from Andrea’s Arachnids YouTube Channel, we get an up-close look at dozens of baby tarantulas shedding…
Articles
Inside the Navy Program Where Dolphins Still Outperform Machines
Dolphins are notoriously smart – expressing emotions like joy and grief; maintaining cooperative social networks; and solving problems in nature…
Articles
Parasites Inside Sea of Galilee Fish Turn out to Be Jellyfish Kin
The Sea of Galilee has long been known for its proximity to both geopolitical and religious history. It turns out…
Articles
Jim the Wonder Dog Responded to Morse Code, and Scientists Couldn’t Explain How
1931 was a year rife with superstition and subtle, supernatural beliefs. One such belief involved a dog, whose owner claimed…
Articles
Watch a Black Mamba Move at Surprisingly High Speed
Black mambas have a reputation for being fast. If you want to know just how quickly they can move, check…
Articles
Bumpy the Baby Hippo Was Hours from Death. Now He’s a World-Famous Super-Napper.
The internet has a new favorite animal: Bumpy the baby hippo. This orphaned animal has gone viral thanks to adorable…
Articles
Watch a Spider Clean Its Fangs Like a Tiny Dentist
Nothing to see here, just a spider doing some personal grooming! But if you do want to take a peek…
Articles
This Bold Backyard Cat Tries Stalking a Bald Eagle
Every once in a while, cats get in over their heads. Whether they knock something over, claw through furniture, or…
Articles
New Footage Shows Remoras Invading Manta Rays
Nature can be many things: beautiful, strange, ever-changing, and downright bizarre. In the marine world, many species benefit one another.…