Animal Facts
Learn about some of the strange and unusual facts and terms in the animal kingdom.
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Animals leave their marks on the ecosystem in ways you probably never imagined.
By Mark Mancini
The common shrew takes some pretty drastic measures to survive winter.
By Robert Lamb
Connecticut new "Desmond's Law" is the first in the nation that appoints legal advocates in animal abuse cases.
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Mummified seals. Skeletal penguins. Massive whale bones. Antarctica is a weird and wonderful place.
What do mammals have in common? We're warm-blooded. We feed their young with milk. And we all take the same amount of time to defecate.
Do non-human animals have equivalent categories to our A, B and O blood designations? Can animals donate blood?
The Beagle Brigade is an important part of U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The dogs are trained to sniff out fruits, foods and plants in international passengers' luggage as they arrive in the airport terminals.
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Whether through biology or behavior, nonhuman animals have to avoid sun damage just like we do.
Pets might have more to do with a child's psychological well-being than previously thought, and moreso than even their brothers and sisters.
No, a tardigrade's not a type of time-traveling police box on "Doctor Who." It's an ancient water bear, of course!
By Oisin Curran
The toughest animal in the world has just released its first sex tape, and as with all things water bear, things get pretty freaky.
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A new tool helps visualize how a changing climate will force animal species to relocate.
There's little we can imagine that Mother Nature hasn't already dreamed up in one of her fouler moods. Care to meet some creatures with frightful features?
There's no way humans will outlive the tardigrade, but we might be able to steal some of its powers while we have the chance.
By Julia Layton
If you think there's one easy explanation behind this cute canine behavior, think again.
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But how do you diagnose a pet's mental state when it can't talk to you?
By Alia Hoyt
Hate to say it, but some animals have jobs that are far more interesting — and more lucrative — than yours. Who are these lucky dogs?
The Hydra is a fearsome, tiny predator that stings and swallows its prey — through a mouth it had to rip its own skin to create. But how does it do that?
By Robert Lamb
The only thing we have to fear is fear itself, said FDR, but he wasn't a biologist. Scientists examined what impact the fear of apex predators can have on an ecosystem.
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Don't worry about transmitting the cold or flu to your furry friends. In fact, some time cuddled up can help with your sickness.
Will we witness personhood for other animals in our lifetime? It's not out of the question, thanks to a recent court decision.
By Dave Roos
In times of strife and conflict, it's good to remember that differences are OK. Here's a dose of adorable: nine interspecies interactions that didn't end up in a meal.
No matter what your imagination can cook up, real life is weirder. Whether it's parasitic wasps or super-controlling ferns, reproduction can be mysterious, gross or even scary.
By Oisin Curran
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Picture a herd of hundreds of horses fleeing a burning forest and running headlong into a wintery lake, which quickly flash-freezes the whole lot of them. Sounds pretty gruesome — and flat-out unbelievable. But did it actually happen? Could it?
Researchers have investigated whether animals are capable of making a unique sound in response to joy.