Wild Animals
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.
Golden Poison Dart Frog Eats Toxic Insects for Its Own Poison
Toad vs. Frog: Differences in Anatomy, Habitat and More
What's the Difference Between a Newt and Salamander?
Locust vs. Grasshopper Traits and Behaviors
A Redback Spider Bite Won't Kill You (if You Get Antivenom in Time)
Regal Jumping Spider: Tiny, Harmless, Maybe Even Cute
Buzzard vs. Vulture: Different Names for the Same Birds?
Emu vs. Ostrich Size, Speed and Environment
What Do Turkeys Eat in the Wild and on Farms?
The Hairy Frogfish Is Hairless and Not Actually a Frog
The Frilled Shark Has a 3-Year Pregnancy Before Giving Birth
Barreleye Fish Aren't Something You Can See While Snorkeling
Coyote vs. Fox Traits: Which Wild Animal Is Bigger?
Elk vs. Moose Antlers and Mating Behavior (Yes, They're Related)
What Do Horses Eat in the Wild and on Farms?
No, the Leaf Sheep Sea Slug Is Not an AI Hallucination
There Are 300 Types of Octopus Species, Some With Internal Shells
9 Largest Octopus Species Lurking in the Deep Blue Sea
What Do Alligators Eat? Pretty Much Anything They Want
14 Big Lizards That Outsize Your Cat (and Many Dogs)
The Largest Anaconda Ever Found Weighed More Than a Gorilla
Learn More / Page 29
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.
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.
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.
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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?
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?
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.
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.
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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.
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?
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.
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.
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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?
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.
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.
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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?
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.
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.
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.
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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.
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?
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
Mammals are a ubiquitous and diverse class of animals. Learn all about mammals, including hippopotamuses, killer whales, sugar gliders and more, by viewing this mammal image gallery.
By Marie Bobel
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If the animal world were school, otters would be those kids who never leave the playground. Always begging for five more minutes of recess, otters take playtime very seriously.
Prairie dogs may look cute and cuddly, but are these rodents harbingers of deathly plague? Since there aren't any underground pharmacies in prairie dog towns, will disease wipe out these animals?