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.
Toad vs. Frog: Differences in Anatomy, Habitat and More
What's the Difference Between a Newt and Salamander?
Mexican Salamander Could Hold Key to Spinal Cord Regeneration in Humans
Flying Ants Aren't a Separate Species, But a Life Stage
6 Facts About How Bees Learn, Think and Make Decisions
Do These Nightmare Parasites Hack Snail Brains to Survive?
The 3 Types of Ducks Every Birdwatcher Should Know
10 Types of Owls: From Tiny Screech-owls to Great Horned Owls
What Do Ducks Eat? Why You Shouldn't Feed Ducks Bread
The Biggest Fish Ever Caught (By IGFA Standards)
The Biggest Catfish Ever Caught (That We Know Of)
The Fastest Fish in the Ocean Can Swim at Nearly 70 MPH
The Happiest Animal on Earth Is the Quokka
What Is the Biggest Cat in the World? Top 9 Species in the Wild
The Largest Bat in the World Has a Wingspan Over 5 Feet
The True and Tragic Story of Tilikum, SeaWorld's Captive Orca
10 Deep Sea Creatures That Are (Almost) Too Bizarre to Be Real
The Biggest Crab in the World, Plus 8 Enormous Contenders
How the Spider-tailed Horned Viper Tricks Unsuspecting Prey
The Biggest Alligator on Record, by Weight and Length
Papuan Olive Python: New Guinea's Behemoth in the Rainforest
Learn More / Page 7
The protection of these strange looking, ancient animals, and creatures like them, may be a key component in helping a planet in climate catastrophe.
While the cheetah is the fastest land animal in the world, the peregrine falcon, a large predatory raptor, is by far the fastest bird on planet Earth.
By Wendy Bowman
These brightly colored crustaceans can smash aquarium glass or quickly cut through a human finger, so whatever you do, keep your distance.
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Pikas are little mammals that, though they may look like rodents, are more closely related to rabbits.
Biochemically like a heron and anatomically similar to a pelican, the shoebill stork has been called "Monsterface" and even "Death Pelican." But wait until you hear the staccato rat-a-tat-tat of its booming machine-gun call.
By Carrie Tatro
This kitten-looking wild cat is known as the 'hummingbird of the cat family' and could almost fit in the palm of your hand, but its diminutive size belies a ferocious personality.
By Wendy Bowman
Aardwolves aren't closely related to either aardvarks or wolves, but these little hyenas resemble both in some ways.
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While luna moths aren't exactly rare, they're hard to find so every encounter seems extra special.
Generations of cereal eaters grew up sharing the breakfast table with Toucan Sam, famous for following his long, colorful nose — but what's that bill for besides hawking cereal?
That's right – daddy longlegs isn't an actual kind of spider, but a colloquial name that's been applied to a wide range of spiders and non-spiders, insects and non-insects.
By Mark Mancini
The stoat and the weasel might look alike, but they're not the same animal. The stoat is a serious predator that kills its prey like a vampire!
By Wendy Bowman
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The energy efficiency of the Andean condor is the avian embodiment of the phrase "work smarter, not harder."
Lemmings don't commit mass suicide as is popularly believed, but they are aggressive and have even been known to charge larger predators.
Technically they're called tanuki, but these furry critters might as well be called raccoon dogs because that's what they look like. So are they just as domesticated and loving as the canines we know?
These two sea creatures can be easy to confuse. But they're actually quite different. We talked to experts to find out how to tell them apart.
By Wendy Bowman
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There are more than 50 species of snakes that live in the seas. Some are super venomous and they can zip through the water with ease.
By Mark Mancini
The swordfish's nose might look crazy weird, but these gladiators of the sea are perfectly outfitted for ocean battle.
A remarkable partnership has formed over centuries between honeyguide birds and humans — and both species benefit when the honey is found and the comb is cracked.
The prehistoric-looking alligator snapping turtle is the largest freshwater turtle in North America and has a bite that, it's said, can snap a wooden broom handle in half.
By Mark Mancini
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Roly-poly bugs are natural soil conditioners because they process decomposing matter, helping keep your garden soil clean and healthy. And — fun fact — they're crustaceans, not insects.
By Jeremy Glass
The snakehead fish can breathe air, double its population in 15 months and has a huge appetite, which is not a good thing for native species.
Spider monkeys, an endangered species, are the largest monkeys in the Americas and live in the forest canopy, where they swing through the trees with the greatest of ease.
It's an age-old question. How much wood would a woodchuck chuck? Turns out, none at all. So what would a woodchuck chuck if it couldn't chuck wood?
By Katie Carman
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The okapi may look like a zebra-horse combo, but its closest relative is the giraffe. Here are nine fascinating facts about this curious creature.
By Wendy Bowman
Bees get a lot of credit for pollinating important food crops, but they get a lot of secret help from their nocturnal friends, the moths.