HowStuffWorks Newsletter
Whether they crawl, fly, swim, slither, walk, run or pounce, wild animals rely on their instincts. Read about all kinds of wild animals, mammals, birds, fish, insects, reptiles and amphibians.
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Even washed up on the beach, the Portuguese man-of-war can deliver searing pain with its stinging tentacles, so whatever you do, don't touch it.
By Mark Mancini
For decades scientists assumed these insects looked so much like orchids as a form of camouflage. But they were wrong. They look this way because they're deceptive predators.
The elusive hagfish is a master at hiding in holes and crevices, but its main defense is its ability to release a noxious, suffocating and sometimes poisonous slime when attacked.
By Mark Mancini
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An orangutan who could unscrew bolts to bust out? A gorilla who climbed the vines out of her enclosure to just roam the zoo? These are wild animals, and these are their wild escape stories.
Creating an insect hotel gives local bugs and pollinators a place to live and people of all ages a super cool garden project.
Budgies are the same species as parakeets and make fabulous pets – and, yes, they love to talk!
The Atlas moth is one of the largest moths out there, with a wingspan of up to 12 inches, but the 'cobra' faces on its wings are even more frightening to predators than its size.
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A bullet ant's sting will hurt for a long time, but it probably won't kill you.
Pine martens are elusive and love to stay hidden in deep forests, but with strong claws, they are great climbers and hunters.
By Katie Carman
Marmosets are some of the smallest monkeys in the world and are found primarily in the forested areas of central Brazil. And the males support their mates in a very unique way.
A federal judge reversed a Trump administration ruling that removed the gray wolf from the Endangered Species Act. Here's why.
By Logan Smith
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You might not think a worm could be longer than a whale, but allow us to introduce you to the bootlace worm, one of the longest animals on the planet. And, oh and it packs a potent toxin, too.
By Mark Mancini
Kodiak bears are some of the largest bears in the world and live only in the islands of the Kodiak Archipelago in Alaska.
Hibernating mammals like ground squirrels can build some muscle mass during their big sleep, with the help of gut bacteria.
There are 126 species of birds that don't have the ability to fly, for various evolutionary reasons. Let's meet seven of them.
By Katie Carman
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Welcome to the wild, wild world of dual penises, delayed fertilization, mama python incubators and springtime "mating balls."
By Mark Mancini
The adorable vaquita, the world's smallest porpoise and rarest marine mammal, has been pushed to virtual extinction by greed and fishing nets.
By Katie Carman
Pallas's cats appear cantankerous, in part due to their flat faces and large, owl-like eyes with round pupils.
By Katie Carman
Flamingos use a secretion from a gland near their rear end to touch up their feathers when they've been bleached by the sun.
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Porbeagles are related to great whites, but while they're also athletic killers, they're smaller and far less ferocious. And what's with the funny dog name?
By Mark Mancini
Looks can be deceiving. That's definitely true for the blue-ringed octopus. It's tiny, stunningly beautiful and looks harmless. Yet its venom could kill 26 men in minutes.
Native to East Asia, the Joro spider has adapted to life in the southern U.S. and, as far as we know, is a beneficial addition to the ecosystem.
The boxing kangaroo as a symbol of the Australian fighting spirit dates back to the 1890s, but what's the truth? Do kangaroos actually box?
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They love your lawn and, in 2021, they're everywhere. Here's what to do about armyworms and how to spot the little critters.
If you're looking for the venomous timber rattler, the U.S. is the place to be, as these bad boys are found in at least 27 states.
By Mark Mancini