The praying mantis is regarded as a fierce hunter in the insect world. Younger mantises often have to contend with bigger and badder bugs, such as jumping spiders and other mantises, but adults have far fewer predators. Generally, adult mantises only need to worry about birds — but in some cases, birds need to worry about […] More
This unique crystalline caterpillar truly catches the eye, but dangerous barbs make for looking only. The spun glass caterpillar Isochaetes beutenmuelleri is a member of the slug moth family and persists throughout much of the United States. It boasts a nearly transparent, glassy body core inset with extensions covered in dozens of dazzling crystal green […] More
This strange creature looks like a rock in all regards — except that it can be sliced open and served up as a table delicacy. Pyura chilensis is known as a tunicate, endemic to the shallow waters of Chile and Peru. This marine invertebrate animal is a filter feeder that absorbs microorganisms out of the […] More
This unusual jumping spider boasts an exquisite variety of colors on its hind end — which serve an important physiological purpose. Some animals sing to impress females, such as songbirds and humpback whales. Others, including elephant seals and deer, will fight each other for the right to mate with females. Peacock spiders have a much more unusual […] More
Prairie dogs are adorable, puppy-like rodents that are common across the Great Plains in the Midwestern United States. But, as cute as they are, they have a much darker side, especially white-tailed prairie dogs. Although white-tailed prairie dogs are herbivorous, they have been documented killing rival rodents, such as Wyoming ground squirrels. This makes them […] More
We all know a few species of birds that are insane hunters, like harpy eagles. But does the secretary bird get the respect it deserves? But what makes them such lethal hunters? Their legs can kick in a force five times their body weight and can move their legs at 15 milliseconds on average. All […] More
The great white shark has often been seen as the ocean’s uncontested ultimate predator. But beneath the surface, the hunter has become the hunted… For the mighty great white is no match for the killer whale. Since the initial discoveries, dozens of great white carcasses have been found washed up off the coast of Gansbaai […] More
COBRA VS. COBRA! It’s a snake-eat-snake world, after all… Cobras are both feared and revered. Their impressive hoods make them imposing; yet, they also make them beautiful. They inspire a fatal attraction of sorts. However, when two cobras meet, especially two different species of cobra, do they posses the same fear and reverence. If you’re […] More
The American alligator is one of the apex predators in the southeast United States, and as such, it is at the top of the food chain. Very few animals are not on the alligator’s menu. Not even hard-shelled turtles are safe from the alligator’s jaws. With a bite force of 9,452 newtons (2,125 lbf), the […] More
Meet the Japanese giant hornet: massive, extremely aggressive, and a honey bee’s worst nightmare. A single giant hornet can kill 40 European honey bees in one minute, and a group of 30 could wipe out an entire hive of 30,000 European honey bees in little more than three hours. Growing up to 2 inches in length, with […] More
Greenland sharks are the longest living vertebrates in the world — with lifespans possibly exceeding 300 years. Amazingly, females likely don’t start breeding until 150 years of age, research suggests. The sharks are native to Arctic and North Atlantic waters, cruising at a typical depth of about 3,900 feet in waters that are just above […] More
Florida’s battle against invasive species may have just gotten a lot tougher, as a new type hybrid snake was recently found lurking in the Everglades. A recent US Geological Survey (USGS) study on the genetics of invasive pythons has revealed that a number of the snakes in the Everglades are actually a hybrid between two species […] More
