Weird Animals
The Top Ten Ocean Stories of 2020
From the discovery of a giant coral reef pinnacle to a shocking estimate of plastics on the seafloor, these were the biggest marine moments of the year
Asian Bees Plaster Hives With Feces to Defend Against Hornet Attacks
Researchers say the surprising behavior could constitute tool use, which would be a first for honey bees
Researchers Catch Oldest Tropical Reef Fish Known to Science
Researchers caught the 81-year-old midnight snapper off the coast of Western Australia
The Science Behind Thailand's Great Shrimp Parade
New research begins to unravel the secrets of a strange natural phenomenon in which thousands of freshwater crustaceans march on land
The Ten Best Science Books of 2020
New titles explore the mysterious lives of eels, the science of fear and our connections to the stars
These Bats Mask Up to Woo Mates
Male wrinkle-faced bats use a furry neck flap to cover their faces while serenading the opposite sex in never-before-seen behavior
Monarch Caterpillars Butt Heads Over Milkweed
A new study finds the colorful butterfly larvae will aggressively lunge at each other in pursuit of an extra mouthful of food
Platypuses Lost 22% of Their Habitat Over Last 30 Years
The startling finding comes in a report that documents the iconic Australian animal’s decline and recommends increased legal protections
Nine of the Weirdest Penises in the Animal Kingdom
A short list of some of nature’s most curious phalluses, from the echidna’s four-headed unit to the dolphin’s prehensile member
Asian Giant Hornet Nest May Have Contained 200 Queens
Officials say they’ve counted roughly 500 hornets in various stages of development after examining a nest they found and destroyed last month
Warmongering Female Mongooses Lead Their Groups Into Battle to Mate With the Enemy
New research finds females of this species engineer conflicts with rival groups to gain sexual access to males outside their group and combat inbreeding
Some Fish Fins Are as Sensitive as a Primate's Fingertips
Experiments reveal fish fins aren't just for getting around. They could have implications for underwater robotics
Lizards Fell From Palm Trees During a Florida Cold Snap, but Now They've Toughened Up
New research finds the lizards are now able to withstand temperatures up to 7.2 degrees colder than lizards tested in 2016
Platypuses Glow Green Under Ultraviolet Light
The web-footed monotremes join a small cast of fluorescent, nocturnal mammals
See Strange Squid Filmed in the Wild for the First Time
The elusive creature is called the ram’s horn squid after a spiral-shaped internal shell that is often found by beachcombers
Octopuses Taste Food With Special Cells in Their Suckers
New study reveals biology behind one of the octopus' many super powers
Shark Stabbed Through the Heart and a Swordfish Is to Blame
Recent research documents the latest instance of a strange but not unheard-of phenomenon in which swordfish impale sharks with their bills
14 Fun Facts About Frightening Animals
From snakes that eat their prey alive to primates that inject their peers with flesh-rotting venom, these are the scariest deeds committed by critters
How Ultra-Sensitive Hearing Allows Spiders to Cast a Net on Unsuspecting Prey
Sounds trigger the ogre-faced spider to backflip and shoot a silk trap on other insects
In Florida, Pet Cat Brings Home a Rare Two-Headed Snake
The snake is now in the care of Florida Wildlife Conservation's Fish and Wildlife Research Institute
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