Scientists discovered that Greenland sharks can live up to 400 years (or more!) and don’t reproduce until at least 150. The previous record for oldest vertebrate, the bowhead whale, was 211 years. Researchers utilized carbon dating methods on a variety of Greenland sharks and concluded that one of the females was four centuries old. Marine biologist John Steffenson […] More
An island in the Bahamas has been completely taken over by feral pigs — and it has been one of the country’s most popular tourist attractions, particularly for Instagram-obsessed Millennials. Known as Pig Beach, or by its official name “Big Major Cay”, this uninhabited island in the Exuma Cays of the Bahamas has become known […] More
These shells may look pretty, but you definitely don’t want to pick one up. Carnivorous cone snails are slow-moving creatures, so they’ve evolved a highly toxic venomous sting that paralyzes its prey instantly. Otherwise, the prey would swim away to die (and no one would benefit). The venom is delivered through a harpoon-like “tooth” that is […] More
Ever wondered why narwhals have that long, unicorn-like tusk? If you’re not familiar with the species, narwhals are medium-sized whales that live year-round in the Arctic. What makes them unique is their prominent pointy tusk. The massive single tusk is actually a hollow canine tooth that projects through the left side of the upper jaw. It […] More
Can you guess what kind of sea creature creates these unique underwater “crop circles”? No, it’s not an alien. It’s a pufferfish. These bizarre crop circles were discovered by divers in the 1990’s off the coast of Japan. At that time, nobody knew what they were or understood where they came from. It took nearly a […] More
Nature continues to amaze us. It appears to be straight out of a Disney movie: The Julia butterfly, a beautiful creature of the Amazon, was photographed drinking turtle tears. It sounds a bit fantastical, but this is evolution at its finest, folks. These butterflies, along with many other species, seek out the tears of various animals (including […] More
Image: Valerie This unique bear has an unusually long tongue that is uses to feed on honey and insects. The tongue, measuring an average of 8-9 inches, is especially impressive when we consider that the average human tongue is less than half that length (averaging around 3.8 inches) and the World Record for the longest dog […] More
The critically endangered creature is one of the most uniquely adorable animals on the planet, and yet most people don’t even know that it exists. This is a sad reality considering this species is on the brink of extinction. Meet the saiga antelope. Characterized by its bulbous flexible and inflatable nose (used as a filter and an […] More
We couldn’t make this stuff up. According to a report in a local paper in Daugavpils, Latvia, a seemingly irate beaver repeatedly attacked a man as he walked through the city late one evening. Sergei, the attack victim, reported that the beaver came out of the shadows and bit his leg. He tried to fight off […] More
Who knew one of the most grotesque mouths in the animal kingdom would belong to such a gentle giant? Surprisingly, this mouth belongs to the world’s largest sea turtle, the docile leatherback. What’s going on inside that mouth? Leatherbacks have a series of sharp, backward-pointed spines called “papillae.” The papillae help the turtles hold on […] More
Scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) discovered this unique new species of jellyfish in the deepest trench on the planet. NOAA researchers discovered this alien-like specimen while on a research expedition to the Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean. “Scientists identified this hydromedusa as belonging to the genus Crossota.” Okeanos Explorer The newly-discovered […] More
This male frog nurtures his tadpole young in his vocal sacs, then spits them out when they’re fully developed. Named the Darwin’s frog, this small creature is a truly fascinating amphibian. Following mating, females will lay up to 7 eggs, which the male will guard for three to four weeks. Once the embryos begin to move, […] More
