A water buffalo moves slowly through a shaded woodland on Rinca Island. It’s the dry season, so the grass rustles with each footfall, and it’s oppressively hot. Without warning, a massive reptile—the size of a full-grown man—bursts through the shrubbery. It’s a Komodo dragon, and before the buffalo can react, it lands a deep, gouging […] More
This four-legged creature boasts both hopping and galloping capabilities — making for the distinctive appearance of a deer crossed with a rabbit. The Patagonian mara (Dolichotis patagonum) is perhaps one of the world’s most unusual creatures. This rare animal is found only in Argentina, persisting in diverse habitats ranging from lowland forests to barren plains. They especially favor […] More
If pigs could fly, we’d have a lot more bacon lying around, but if snakes could fly, we’d have a lot more fallout shelters everywhere. But here’s the thing: in real life, pigs can’t fly, but snakes CAN. Yes, snakes can fly. Well, glide actually, since they aren’t capable of flying like birds. But, still, […] More
A rare and mysterious octopus was recently filmed with prey for the first time ever, and it turns out it eats jellyfish. The giant octopus, named Haliprhon atlanticus, was spotted carrying an egg-yolk jellyfish in its mouth while taking care to let the toxic tentacles hang free. Researchers think the cephalopod might have been strategically […] More
Grizzly bears are making a comeback. Are you ready to coexist? Grizzlies once roamed the United States as far west as San Francisco, all the way east into the Great Plains, and south out of the states into Mexico. After years of ruthless hunting and habitat loss, only an estimated 1,500 remain, occupying just 2% […] More
After extensive research, scientists have concluded that octopus DNA is surprisingly out of this world. While the researchers aren’t suggesting that cephalopods are actually from another planet, they do say that what they’ve found has never been seen in any other animal species on earth. The study found that while humans have an estimated 20,500 […] More
Local legends have long stated that a clan of giant, lion-killing chimps roam the Bili Forest of the Congo. Known as the Bili apes, or Bondo mystery apes, the cryptic group of chimps has been said to kill big cats, catch fish, and howl at the moon. It wasn’t until recently that scientists were actually able to make their way across 25 miles of thick jungle and croc-infested rivers to study the infamous apes… More
Freshwater snails cause more than 200,000 deaths on an annual basis — more than any predatory mammal. Freshwater snails are found in a wide variety of habitats, ranging from small pools to large lakes. These gastropod mollusks feed on algae, detritus, and suspended matter found in the water. They are parasitic animals responsible for the transmission of schistosomiasis, which has […] More
Humans don’t exactly have the most sterling reputation when it comes to how well we treat members of our own species. Any discussion about our propensity for violence is bound to involve the common, self-directed lambasting that among animals, humans are homicidal to a unique degree. But scientists have actually managed to quantify relative tendencies […] More
A surprising scene unfolded on a cattle ranch in Brazil between a jaguar and an anteater. A photographer was capturing some shots of a giant anteater as it was taking a drink when a large male jaguar approached from behind. He looked like he was ready to pounce, but instead he just sat and watched […] More
Gorillas don’t always take kindly to trespassers in their territory. Lions have traditionally been dubbed “king of the jungle”, yet they don’t actually live in jungles. Gorillas do. And they have no problem asserting their authority. In a previous article, we demonstrated why you shouldn’t beat your chest in front of a gorilla, especially a […] More
These fascinating frogs are peculiar — but absolutely real. Hairy frogs (Trichobatrachus robustus), also known as wolverine frogs or “horror frogs”, are unique amphibians native to Central Africa. As their name suggests, the male frogs are quite “hairy”, although the “hairs” are not actually hairs — they’re dermal papillae, which are physical extensions of the skin that […] More
