From remarkable senses to unexpected survival strategies, explore what animals do, how their bodies work and why the science matters.
Follow a question into the right kind of science. Each section opens an existing collection of guides.
Explore the latest articles on surprising biology, behavior and how the natural world works.
In English, a huge number of animal names start with the letter C.From the speedy cheetah on African plains, to colorful clownfish on coral reefs, to everyday animals like the cat, “C animals” live in almost every habitat on Ear···
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In English, many well-known animals start with the letter B.From the powerful brown bear and bison on land, to the giant blue whale in the ocean, and the delicate bee and butterfly in your garden, “B animals” live in almost ever···
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In English vocabulary, a huge number of animal names begin with the letter A.From the aardvark of African savannas to the deep-sea anglerfish, animals that start with A live in almost every habitat on Earth.On this page, you’ll f···
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Overview: Are Sharks as Dangerous as We Think?Sharks have one of the worst reputations in the animal kingdom. Movies, headlines and viral videos make them look like relentless man-eaters—yet statistically, you are far more likely···
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Short answer: Lamb is a young sheep (under ~12 months) and also the retail name for its meat. Sheep is the species name (or adults of the species). Same animal, different life stages—yet the terms matter for farming, labeling, an···
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TL;DR: Crickets are omnivorous scavengers. In the wild they consume fresh plant matter, decaying vegetation, fungi, and dead/soft-bodied insects. In captivity, offer a balanced mix of greens, moisture-rich produce, quality insect ···
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Manatees—often nicknamed “sea cows”—are among the few fully aquatic mammals outside cetaceans, along with their close cousins, the dugongs. Since their land-dwelling ancestors returned to the water roughly 50 million years ago···
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Humans have been smitten with cats for roughly 9,500 years. Today, tens of millions share our homes, yet we still puzzle over a deceptively simple question: what do cats think of their people? Research suggests cats read some of o···
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The idea of a shark cruising just off the beach usually sets off alarm bells. But meet the lemon shark (Negaprion brevirostris): a large, yellow-tinged coastal species that’s surprisingly tolerant, highly studied, and far more ab···
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Snake scat isn’t glamorous, but learning to recognize it can tell you whether snakes are active nearby—and, for keepers, whether a pet’s digestion looks normal.How to Identify Snake Poop OutdoorsSnake droppings are usually dark···
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TL;DR: Both oxen and cows are domestic cattle (Bos taurus). An ox is a castrated male trained as a draft animal (pulling, hauling, field work). A cow is an adult female that has calved, central to milk production and herd reproduc···
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“Beneficial birds” aren’t limited to woodpeckers. In cities, parks, farms, and wetlands, many species control insects and rodents, pollinate flowers, disperse seeds, and keep ecosystems clean. This guide defines beneficial bird···
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Among the wetlands and northern woodlands of North America blooms one of the most exquisite orchids on Earth — Cypripedium reginae, commonly known as the showy lady’s slipper or queen lady slipper orchid. With its regal pink-and···
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Among the quartz plains of Namaqualand in South Africa lies a botanical marvel so small and secretive that even trained botanists might overlook it — Bulbine bruynsii.This rare and delicate succulent plant spends most of the year···
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IntroductionIn the wetlands of the southeastern United States, one of the most striking carnivorous plants grows tall and radiant under the sun — Sarracenia flava, commonly known as the yellow pitcher plant. With its elegant, tru···
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Aquatic insects are invertebrate arthropods that live primarily in freshwater habitats. More than 76,000 aquatic insect species are known. Representative examples include the great silver water beetle (Hydrophilus piceus), diving ···
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Polar bears (Ursus maritimus), often called the “white bears of the Arctic,” are now officially classified as vulnerable and at risk of extinction. Scientists have been warning about their declining population for decades, but i···
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The tiger (Panthera tigris) is the largest wild cat in the world, with adult males reaching up to 300 kg in weight and over 4 m in length (including the tail).Once widespread across Asia, tigers are now critically threatened due t···
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Most species of bears spend the harsh winter months in hibernation.They retreat to dens, caves, or sheltered burrows, enter a near-dormant state, and remain there for months—without eating, drinking, urinating, or moving—until t···
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The Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus), also known as the red tuna, is one of the world’s most valuable and ecologically important marine species.However, over the past several decades its populations have declined dramatica···
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For decades, the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) was one of the world’s most iconic endangered species.This bamboo-eating mammal lives in the dense, humid bamboo forests of southwestern China and the eastern edge of the Tibe···
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For most of the year, jellyfish rarely make headlines. But as summer arrives and they begin to appear in large numbers near beaches, reports about them surge.Beachgoers, eager to enjoy the sea without painful stings, become curiou···
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The cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) is renowned as the fastest land animal on Earth, capable of sprinting over 100 km/h in short bursts. Yet, despite this extraordinary speed, the species faces an alarming risk of extinction. Ironicall···
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Curious about which marine species are on the brink? Iconic examples include the vaquita, blue whale, Hector’s dolphin, sea otter, and giant manta ray. Like every ecosystem on Earth, the oceans hold many species with very small p···
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