Wild Animals

Tasmanian devils are scrappy little marsupials with jaws as strong as tigers'. But a deadly form of cancer is threatening to annihilate the species. Can the devils be saved before it's too late?

By Alia Hoyt & Cristen Conger

A long, long time ago, lemurs lived all over the world. But something happened to kill them off - everywhere except in Madagascar. How did the island protect them from extinction?

By Sarah Winkler

Lions aren't known for their tendency to pass up a big, juicy steak. So if you're an African buffalo, how can you keep your hide intact?

By Tom Scheve

Ever heard that the grass is always greener on the other side? While we may think of it as a quaint proverb, wildebeests abide by it. In fact, their entire lives' purpose is dedicated to finding the greenest, freshest patch of grass.

By Cristen Conger

If a salamander gets in a scrape, it can drop its tail, scurry off and return to business as usual. What if we could do that? Scientists are using the salamander as a blueprint for human genome research to reveal how to regenerate human limbs.

By Cristen Conger

Imagine that someone is pursuing you down a dark alley. Do you run? Duck behind a trash bin? The mimic octopus doesn't sweat this kind of scenario: It just shape-shifts to disguise itself. You'll be surprised by the tricks it's got up its tentacles.

By Cristen Conger

Remember practicing the stop, drop and roll drill in school? If you were an armadillo, rolling up into a tight little ball would be second nature. But how do these armored creatures tuck every last square inch of themselves into a sphere? And why?

By Cristen Conger

Whether you're sleeping on a water bed or napping during a rainstorm, water has a calming effect. Walruses also make use of soothing waves, but why don't they drown when catching submerged shut-eye?

By Jennifer Horton

Those of us who wear glasses will just stew in our own astigmatic juices if we're called "four eyes." Nearsighted rhinos, however, use their pointy horns for payback.

By Jennifer Horton

Spider silk is five times stronger than steel and twice as strong as bullet-proof Kevlar. What exactly is spider silk, what is it made of and why is it so strong? Find out the answers to these questions and learn other facts about spider silk.

A hippo doesn't need to lumber to the local drug store and buy sunscreen; it can make its own. And the method is pretty ingenious.

By Jennifer Horton

Scorpions have been around for 450 million years. But the species hasn't been sustained by a healthy, vibrant diet: This opportunistic eater would rather wait for food to come to it than go out hunting for it. So how many meals does that amount to?

By Cristen Conger

Porcupines know nothing of bad hair days. These walking pin cushions use their prickly "hairs" to impale any animal that may pose a threat to their well-being.

By Cristen Conger

If your home has termites and the exterminator is booked, you might want to send in an anteater or aardvark. Though both these animals love insects, they're two totally different species.

By Cristen Conger

Perhaps just as puzzling as the Rubik's Cube (though not as colorful), the purpose of wombat scat's geometrical shape seems mysterious. So what's the scoop on wombat poop?

By Cristen Conger

Ever since word spread about the seven deadly sins, sloths have been getting a bad rap. These sluggish tree-dwellers conserve energy by stopping to smell (and eat) the roses.

By Cristen Conger

If looks could kill, bristly tarantulas would be the spiders to watch out for. But violins and hourglasses are far more cause for concern.

By Cristen Conger & Zach Taras

Many animals have defense mechanisms to ward off enemies. If you think it's a good idea to frighten a vulture, be ready for the smell of rotting flesh and acid-like burns.

By Cristen Conger

If you've been sprayed by a skunk, you probably ended up in a bathtub filled with tomato juice. But is there any truth to this treatment, or should we debunk the skunk?

By Jennifer Horton

As you observe jellyfish twirl underwater, it's difficult not to be mesmerized by their graceful movements. But if their tentacles touch your skin, you'll regret being anywhere near these gelatinous blobs.

By Jennifer Horton

As issues like drought make headlines, the topic of water conservation has become critical. Perhaps we should look to the camel for guidance as this desert-dweller saves every last drop.

By Cristen Conger

If Mother Nature has a sense of humor, surely the platypus is one of her punch lines. This mammal might look funny, but one of its offensive adaptations is no laughing matter.

By Cristen Conger

Storybook villains always seem to have warts. These unsightly growths may be indicators of wickedness in the fairy-tale world, but they're crucial features for some hogs living in the animal kingdom.

By Jennifer Horton

With their built-in masks and ability to snatch food, it seems raccoons were meant for a life of crime. But do these thieves wash away the evidence by rinsing food in water?

By Cristen Conger

Did you know that it's the possession of feathers, not the ability to fly, that distinguishes birds from other animals? Take a view of these bird pictures to see how many you recognize.

By Marie Bobel