Wildlife

California Academy of Sciences botanist and moss expert Jim Shevoc inspects a collected specimen on Mt. Isarog.

A New Species Bonanza in the Philippines

Sharks, starfish, ferns and sci-fi-worthy sea creatures have been discovered in a new massive survey

Still from Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Rise of the Chimp Movies

Project Nim and Rise of the Planet of the Apes are very different movies, but both question the ethics of chimpanzee research

If these bones have been gnawed on, scientists can tell if it was an herbivore or a carnivore doing the chewing

Archaeologists May Have A Bone To Pick With Herbivores

Carnivores aren't the only creatures munching on bones, and herbivores are not the strict vegans we think they are

A baby Cavendish's dik-dik at the San Diego Zoo

What In The World Is A Dik-dik?

Unlike other African antelope species, there are no herds of dik-diks. They form monogamous pairs that stand guard over their own territory

Female Chilean rose tarantula (Grammostola rosea), also known as the Chilean flame tarantula.

Wild Things: Tarantulas, Jellyfish and More...

Hummingbirds, attacking bears, ancient hominids and other news updates in wildlife research

In the worst animal epidemic in years, white-nose syndrome threatens to wipe out some bat species.

What Is Killing the Bats?

Can scientists stop white-nose syndrome, a new disease that is killing bats in catastrophic numbers?

Scientists have found increasing evidence that culture shapes what and how orcas eat, what they do for fun, even their choice of mates.

Understanding Orca Culture

Researchers have found a variety of complex, learned behaviors that differ from pod to pod

Luna sought the company of humans on Nootka Sound.

Luna: A Whale to Watch

The true story of a lonely orca leaps from printed page to silver screen, with a boost from new technology

The Vine With Its Own Bat Signal

Specially shaped leaves lure the flying mammals. The bats get a meal, and the flowers get pollinated

What do you hate most about mosquitoes?

14 Not-So-Fun Facts About Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are attracted to the carbon dioxide, lactic acid and octenol found in our breath and sweat. They may have a preference for beer drinkers

Several crocodile species are known to attack humans

What Preys on Humans?

Most of us never come in contact with a deadly predator, but there are still enough encounters to remind us that humans are not the top of the food web

A leatherback turtle is just one of many predators in the ocean

Where the Pacific’s Predators Go

Scientists have found that predator species trade off between prey availability and water temperature in their travels

A stuffed solenodon in a museum Feedloader (Clickability)

Solenodons: No Bark But Plenty of Venomous Bite

Solenodons are unusual predators; they are among the few venomous mammals

A snow leopard caught in a camera trap in Afghanistan

The Vanishing Cats

In a recent bit of good news, snow leopards have been spotted at 16 camera traps in northeastern Afghanistan

The loss of wolves in the American West set off a cascade of changes to the region's food web.

What Happens When Predators Disappear

It's Predator Week here at the blog. What's your favorite predator, either existing or extinct?

Great White Egret, by Antonio Soto, photographed March 2009, South Florida

How the Great White Egret Spurred Bird Conservation

I was certain that the bird's plumage had to have been faked, but all the photographer did was darken the background. Those feathers were real

A pig-nosed turtle at the Shedd Aquarium

The Decline of the Pig-Nosed Turtle

Saving the turtle from extinction could be complicated, scientists find

Naked mole rats from the Smithsonian Institution's National Zoo

14 Fun Facts About Naked Mole Rats

Number 11: A mole rat's incisors can be moved independently and can even work together like a pair of chopsticks

Rhinos and pigs wallow and coat themselves in mud, which protects them from the sun and helps to keep moisture in their skin.

Ask an Expert: Do Animals Get Sunburned?

Staffers at the National Zoo clue us in to how animals like elephants and hippos protect themselves from harmful UV rays

Amber Firefly

The Insect That Creates Its Own Lightshow

There are about 2,000 species of fireflies, a type of beetle that lights up its abdomen with a chemical reaction to attract a mate

Page 102 of 134