Wild Animals

The banded water snake is one of the most fascinating aquatic reptiles you’ll find slithering through the waterways of the southeastern United States.

By Mack Hayden

Have you ever seen a snake in or near a river or pond? It was probably a water snake! These slithery swimmers are easy to spot anywhere the world gets a little wetter, particularly near freshwater.

By Mack Hayden

When you think of the word "anaconda," it probably conjures up images of massive, slithering serpents lurking in the waters of South America, right? Well, that’s not too far off! The anaconda snake, scientifically known as Eunectes murinus, is the stuff of legends.

By Mack Hayden

Brown snakes are some of the most common and diverse reptiles in the world. They come in a variety of sizes and levels of venomous potency, making them a group of wild snakes that’s both interesting and important to study.

By Marie Look

Bull snakes (Pituophis catenifer sayi), sometimes generalized as gopher snakes, are among the largest and most powerful nonvenomous snakes in North America. The heavy-bodied bull snake is often mistaken for a rattlesnake due to its size and defensive behaviors, but it's completely harmless to humans.

By Marie Look

In North America, green snakes (genus Opheodrys) are some of the most fascinating and vibrant reptiles you may come across. These slender, emerald-colored snakes can perfectly blend into their leafy surroundings, making them masters of camouflage in their natural habitats. A green snake can play a key role in controlling insect populations and maintaining a balanced ecosystem.

By Yara Simón

Adder snakes are some of the most fascinating and misunderstood reptiles in the world. Known for their distinctive patterns and venomous bites, adders belong to the viper family and are native to various parts of Europe, Asia and Africa.

By Marie Look

The northern water snake (Nerodia sipedon) is a common and widespread nonvenomous snake in North America. These aquatic snakes typically live in and around freshwater bodies — lakes, rivers and wetlands — where they play a crucial role in the ecosystem.

By Yara Simón

The sunbeam snake of the Xenopeltidae genus is one of the most visually stunning reptiles you’ll ever encounter. These snakes, native to Southeast Asia, are known for their dark pigmentation and highly iridescent scales that shimmer with rainbow colors in sunlight.

By Mitch Ryan

Snake Island, also known as Ilha da Queimada Grande, is one of the most intriguing and dangerous places on Earth. Located off the coast of Brazil, this island is home to some of the most venomous snakes in the world.

By Yara Simón

The Congo snake, often shrouded in mystery and myth, has captured the imagination of people around the world, particularly with tales of a giant snake reportedly sighted by Belgian pilot Colonel Remy Van Lierde during a mission in the 1950s.

By Nicole Antonio

The Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) roams across a vast range that stretches from the dense boreal forests of Western Europe to the rugged mountains of Central Asia. The largest of all the lynx species, it plays a crucial role as a top predator in its ecosystem.

By Yara Simón

The clouded leopard roams the dense forests of Southeast Asia, from the foothills of the Himalayas to the tropical rainforests of Borneo and Sumatra. These elusive big cats have striking coat patterns and unique adaptations.

By Yara Simón

Often called the "ghosts of the mountains," the elusive snow leopard is one of the most mysterious big cats. Found in the rugged mountain ranges of Central Asia, these beautiful animals are perfectly adapted to their harsh, cold environments.

By Yara Simón

The cougar, also known as Puma concolor, is one of the most adaptable and widespread cat species in the Americas. You can find this elusive predator, commonly referred to as a mountain lion or puma, across a vast range that extends from the southern tip of South America to the wilds of Canada.

By Yara Simón

The lion, scientifically known as Panthera leo, is an awe-inspiring animal. These majestic big cats symbolize strength, courage, and royalty across various cultures. Primarily found in Africa and a small pocket in India, wild lions play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of their ecosystems.

By Yara Simón

The black mamba, one of the world’s most feared snakes, can strike multiple times in rapid succession, delivering enough venom to kill multiple humans within minutes. This is just one of the many reasons snakes are among the most fascinating creatures on Earth.

By Desiree Bowie

Tigers, scientifically known as Panthera tigris, have striking orange coats, black stripes and piercing eyes. Like other big cats, tigers are at risk. Tiger populations occupy about 5 percent of their historical range, making conservation necessary.

By Yara Simón

Leopards, scientifically known as Panthera pardus, are some of the most adaptable big cats in the world. These sleek and powerful animals live in various habitats, from the savannas of Africa to the mountains of Central Asia.

By Yara Simón

Carpet snakes, also known as carpet pythons, are some of the most adaptable and widespread pythons in Australia and parts of New Guinea. These nonvenomous snakes are known for their beautiful patterns and impressive size — reaching an average length of up to 13 feet (roughly 4 meters). The carpet snake is a common sight in various habitats.

By Mitch Ryan

Exploring the vast waters of our planet reveals some of the most awe-inspiring (or terrifying!) giants of the aquatic world. From the immense depths of the ocean to sprawling lakes and winding rivers, the largest fish represent the most enormous extant species in their habitats.

By Karina Ryan

Insects are everywhere, from the deepest jungles to your backyard. They may even make some unwanted cameo appearances in your kitchen. Ideally, those bugs would be smaller and less intimidating than the world's largest insect - a supersized creature you'll have to see to believe.

By Mack Hayden

The Guinness World Record for the heaviest snake goes to the green anaconda, a massive creature that tips the scales at over 500 pounds - basically the snake equivalent of a grand piano. But when it comes to length, some ancient species stretch even longer than a school bus. These slithering giants are the ultimate combination of "long and strong."

By Desiree Bowie

Both the European lobster and American lobster are crustaceans that people living in coastal regions love to eat, but left to their devices, the lobsters can survive many decades and grow to ridiculous sizes - particularly the American lobster, which is the largest arthropod species on Earth.

By Talon Homer

The "most dangerous snake in the world" debate is entrenched in technicalities because there are so many species of dangerous snakes that have evolved with specialized weapons and deadly skills. These predators threaten small prey in the wild, as well as occasional unlucky humans who cross their paths.

By Mitch Ryan