Wild Animals

If you're wandering on the beach and happen upon a large mass of some sort of waxy substance, take a closer look. It could be the rare "floating gold" of the sea: ambergris. Find out whether this whale poop can help you retire rich.

By Julia Layton & Alia Hoyt

Entomologists estimate that there are between 5 and 10 million species of insects on Earth. But if asked which insect they hate the most, many people would have no trouble choosing just one -- the cockroach.

By Tracy V. Wilson

Although jellyfish have been around for over 650 million years, they're still very mysterious. Learn the all about the fascinating jellyfish life cycle.

By Stephanie Watson

A snake can swallow an animal that's twice as big as its own head -- and swallow it whole. Snakes are amazing creatures with some astonishing capabilities. Did you know that a few of them can even fly? Learn how snakes get around, how they kill and eat their prey, and how they court and reproduce.

By Lacy Perry

Alligators are amazing animals that have been around for millions of years. These fearsome creatures are expert predators at the top of the food chain.

By Marshall Brain

Love 'em or hate 'em, you've got to admit that spiders are some pretty impressive animals. Movies like "Arachnophobia", "Spider-Man" and "Eight Legged Freaks" even spin their stories around spiders. Check out the real-life web-slinging, wall-crawling, venom-injecting inspiration.

By Tom Harris

Despite their monumental proportions, the most phenomenal thing about whales isn't how big they are: It's the way they live. Whales are mammals -- warm-blooded, air-breathing creatures -- but they spend their entire life in the ocean. Find out about these awe-inspiring creatures.

By Tom Harris

I always see moths circling around and landing on my porch light. Why do they do this? Is it somehow advantageous to them?

In 2005, there were 3,000 verified cases of West Nile Virus in the U.S. alone, and we can probably expect even more this year. This mosquito-borne disease keeps popping up. Find out all about mosquitoes.

By Craig Freudenrich, Ph.D. & Mack Hayden

Think you know what bats are all about? Chances are you're operating under at least a couple of misconceptions. Sort out the facts from the myths and see what makes bats so unique.

By Tom Harris

Do whales and dolphins sleep? I know they have to come to the surface of the water periodically to breathe, so wouldn't they die if they dozed off?

The oldest shark fossils date from more than 300 million years ago, before the dinosaurs. A few species have kept the same physical characteristics for more than 150 million years. How have they survived so well?

By Tom Harris

Insect respiration is very different from that of a human. Insects do not have lungs that deliver oxygen to all of the cells in their body. So how exactly do flies and other insects breathe then? Find out the answer to that question in this article.

When flickering fireflies light up the summer night, they're not showing off - they're talking to each other. How do these insects make their abdomens glow?

Owls are one of those bird species that everyone loves. Check out these cool owl images to learn more about our nocturnal friends.

By Christopher Hassiotis

How exactly does an oyster create a pearl, and what is the difference between a natural pearl and a cultured pearl?

By Laurie L. Dove

Wallabies and kangaroos may look alike, but they're not identical marsupials. We'll tell you how to determine which is which.

By Jennifer Horton

You've heard this advice a million times, and perhaps it even brings you comfort when you're in gator territory. But is it really true?

By Alia Hoyt & Amy Hunter

To the average person, these two reptiles might look the same, but they're not. So what's the difference between alligators and crocodiles?

By Mitch Ryan

Whether used in fashion or complicated mating rituals, peacock feathers drive the ladies crazy. But, what happens when a peacock loses his last feather? Will he become a fashion-don't?

By Cristen Conger

Never wish a jockey good luck by saying "break a leg." Horses with broken legs might face a grim future, but does that mean they must be euthanized?

By Alia Hoyt & Jessika Toothman

The bobcat and lynx may not be much larger than the house cat lounging on your couch, but these felines rely on specific adaptations to survive in the wild.

By Jennifer Horton

As much as human beings have encroached on wildlife over recent decades, there are still several species of big cats living wild in the U.S. today.

By Michelle Konstantinovsky

As Hitchcock's 1963 horror classic "The Birds" taught us, it's a good idea to respect our avian friends. Before you accidentally let any bad luck take wing, peck away at these bird-related superstitions.

By Bambi Turner