Explore wildlife discoveries, animal behavior, natural history and clear science explainers.
Toucans are some of the most instantly recognizable birds in the Neotropics (Central and South America). People usually notice the oversized, colorful bill first—but toucans are much more than “a bird with a big beak.”···
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Grasshoppers are insects in the order Orthoptera (suborder Caelifera) and are best known for their powerful hind legs, which let them leap impressive distances. Depending on the species, they can be tiny, thumb-sized, vi···
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The Utah state animal is the Rocky Mountain elk—a large, iconic deer species famous for its impressive antlers and haunting bugle calls.What Is Utah’s State Animal?Utah’s official state animal is the Rocky Mountain el···
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If you searched “binturong animal”, you’re probably trying to figure out what this strange-looking creature is—and whether it’s a bear, a cat, or something else entirely. The binturong (often nicknamed the bearcat) ···
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If you searched “Scotland national animal”, the answer might surprise you: Scotland’s national animal is the unicorn—a mythological creature rather than a real species.That sounds like a joke, but it’s a centuries-o···
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When people search “haggis animal,” they’re usually asking about the wild haggis—a fictional creature from Scottish folklore often jokingly given the mock-scientific name Haggis scoticus.What is the “wild haggis”?T···
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The Chinese New Year 2026 animal is the Horse. Chinese New Year in 2026 falls on February 17, 2026, marking the start of the Year of the Fire Horse.When is Chinese New Year 2026?Chinese New Year (Lunar New Year) in 2026 ···
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What Is a Dik-dik?A dik-dik is a very small antelope found in parts of eastern and southern Africa. It belongs to the genus Madoqua and is best known for its delicate face, large eyes, and a long, flexible snout. Dik-dik···
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The eland is one of the most iconic hoofed animals of the African savanna—and also one of the most surprising. At first glance it can look like a “cow–antelope hybrid”: a huge, heavy-bodied herbivore with a deep ches···
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The garden dormouse (Eliomys quercinus) is one of Europe’s most distinctive small mammals. In Spain it’s relatively well known, and across parts of Europe it has long been considered a “common” woodland creature. But···
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The European otter (Lutra lutra)—also called the Eurasian otter or Palearctic otter—is a sleek, semi-aquatic mammal built for life in and around water. Found across much of Europe, large parts of Asia, and pockets of N···
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Owls have a way of making the night feel alive—especially when you hear that deep, haunting hoot rolling across a valley or forest edge. Among the world’s many owl species, the Eurasian eagle-owl (Bubo bubo) stands out···
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The barn owl (Tyto alba)—also known as the church owl in some regions—is one of the world’s most recognizable nocturnal birds. With its heart-shaped white face, jet-black eyes, and ghost-silent flight, it has fascinat···
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World Monkey Day is celebrated every year on 14 December.It’s a date created to raise awareness about monkeys and other primates, highlight the threats they face, and encourage people to protect them and their habitats.···
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Polar bears are one of the most iconic animals of the Arctic. At a glance, they look completely white, perfectly blending into the snow and ice. But their “white” colour is actually a clever optical trick, not their tr···
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At first glance, hedgehogs and porcupines look quite similar: both are small mammals covered in sharp spines. However, they are completely different animals, belonging to different orders and with very different lifestyl···
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Hedgehogs are small, spiny mammals belonging to the order Eulipotyphla. Today there are around 16 species spread across Europe, Africa and Asia, and they’ve also been introduced by humans to places like New Zealand. Bey···
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Crabs are aquatic animals that belong to the group of decapod crustaceans (“ten-legged” crustaceans). Like other invertebrates with an exoskeleton, their body is made up of external parts (shell, claws, eyes, legs, ant···
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The reindeer is one of the most iconic animals of the cold northern hemisphere. Known as the caribou in North America, this large mammal is perfectly adapted to Arctic and sub-Arctic environments and plays a key ecologic···
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Reindeer and moose are two of the most iconic mammals of the cold northern hemisphere. At first glance they can look similar: both have antlers, live in snowy regions, and belong to the deer family (Cervidae). But they a···
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Sea lions are charismatic marine mammals that many people know from aquariums, documentaries and rocky coasts – but there’s much more to them than their playful appearance. They can hold their breath for 10–15 minutes···
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Moose are giant deer that live in some of the coldest regions on Earth. They can walk through deep snow, swim long distances and survive winters that would kill many other animals. Yet, despite their toughness in cold cl···
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Autumn is a season of transition: days get shorter, temperatures drop, and food starts to become scarce. While trees change color and drop their leaves, many animals also shift their behavior to prepare for the coming wi···
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Bats are still quite mysterious to many people. They’re active at night, sleep upside down, “see” with sound, and some even drink blood. On top of that, without bats, we wouldn’t have things like tequila or some of o···
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