Wildlife

Anemonefish, also known as clownfish, are born androgynous and can shift from male to female in one lifetime.

Alternatives to Heterosexual Pairings, Brought to You By Non-Human Animals

No one quite has this sex thing figured out, but these non-binary animals have some good ideas

Mei Xiang, the female panda in residence at the Smithsonian's National Zoo, may be pregnant with a cub to be born later this summer.

Pandamonium

A Primer on the Zoo’s Possibly Pregnant Giant Panda

In anticipation of a potential new cub, here’s a refresher on Mei Xiang and Tian Tian’s storied past

From glow-in-the-dark squid to the terrifying stoplight loosejaw, creatures of the deep have evolved their own living light time and time again.

Why Bioluminescence Evolved to Be Red Light, and Blue

The laws of nature constrict living light to a few hues, which also happen to be quite patriotic

An Intense Struggle to Catch a Giant West African Tarpon

Famed fisherman and adventurer Andy Coetzee thinks he may have snared a giant barracuda. He hasn't, but he's caught another interesting and prized fish

Mother Tiger Makes Speedy Kill to Feed Cubs

Tiger cub Kumal is entirely dependent on his mother to hunt prey. He also relies on his father for protection against intruders

The tiny mosquito can be a big summer nuisance.

Why Some Summers Are So Appealing For Mosquitoes

...and so unbearable for you

A Canines for Conservation handler and his dog inspect a vehicle as a part of a 12-week training course.

It's Pooches vs. Poachers in the Fight Against Wildlife Smugglers

A new breed of law enforcement is on the scene—and its bite is stronger than its bark

Scientists at the Smithsonian's Museum Support Center in Suitland, Maryland extract a giant squid from its original formalin preservative.

Operation Calamari: How the Smithsonian Got Its Giant Squids

After a decade on view, these cephalopod specimens have a growing fan base

Genetic revelations are shifting the story of the Cuban crocodile and raising questions about the right way to conserve it.

The Quest to Preserve the Last of Castro's Crocodiles

Breeders are trying to save a 'pure' Cuban crocodile—but out in the wild, divisions between species are increasingly murky

Why People Believed Hippos Were Related to Whales

Hippos were once believed to be related to whales. They're both mammals, they both sleep underwater, and they both rise to breathe in their sleep

Why These Lagoons Are Full of Giant Barracuda

The maze of lagoons in Loango National Park, in Gabon, isn't just a good place to hunt barracudas--it's also an ancient migratory route

Fully 73 percent of the patents studied in the paper pertained to microbial species, which account for about 20 percent of marine life.

New Research

Nearly Half the Patents on Marine Genes Belong to Just One Company

Who owns biodiversity? No one and everyone—or maybe, a German chemical company

Braving Shark-Infested Waters for a Look at This Big Fish

Fisherman Andy Coetzee is in the middle of a dangerous dive, in the shark-filled waters of the Indian Ocean

Catching a Giant 30-lb. Perch With a Wooden Reel

Fisherman and adventurer Andy Coetzee is going traditional with his bid to snare a giant perch

Fishing for Perch in Nile Crocodile-Filled Waters

South African fisherman Andy Coetzee has his eyes set on a giant perch--a massive freshwater predator fish indigenous to the waters of Uganda

These Portuguese Libraries Are Infested With Bats—and They Like It That Way

They actually serve a very specific purpose

Terrifying Mammals That May Have Greeted Early Humans in America

Arriving in the Chesapeake Bay, the early American inhabitants' first order of business would have been to craft weapons to defend themselves

Guam kingfishers tend to incubate for 21 to 23 days. This female emerged from her shell after 22.

This Royally Adorable Baby Kingfisher Perpetuates a Species Extinct in the Wild

A fine soon-to-be-feathered friend joins the menagerie at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute

Scimitar-horned oryx can go for ten months without drinking water.

Future of Conservation

Smithsonian Researchers Are Bringing the Oryx Back to the Wild

Reintroducing the species back to north-central Africa shows early signs of success

The lionfish is a maroon-and-white striped creature, but once it’s cleaned, restaurant chefs and home cooks like to grill, bake and fry its firm white flesh.

The Lionfish Have Invaded, But a Ragtag Army of Divers and Chefs Are Fighting Back

Those waging the war against this devastating wave of the venomous species have taken on an 'eat 'em to beat 'em' approach

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