Explaining Nature

The Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persica) belongs to the only remaining wild lion population in Asia. Like…

The Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) is native to several Indonesian islands and can reach around 3…

The fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus) is a stocky wild cat found in wetland habitats across parts of…

Walruses (Odobenus rosmarus) are large Arctic marine mammals that use sea ice and coastal areas as important…

Marine iguanas (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) are found naturally only in the Galápagos Islands. These unusual…

The wolverine (Gulo gulo) is the largest land-dwelling member of the weasel family. Its stocky, muscular…

Newborn seal pups depend on their mother’s exceptionally rich milk during the early part of their lives. In…

Christmas Island red crabs (Gecarcoidea natalis) are native to Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean. Each…

Pearl octopuses (Muusoctopus robustus) live thousands of meters beneath the ocean surface in cold, dark…

Mountain goats and ibex are remarkably adapted to life on steep, rocky terrain. Their specialized hooves…

Ammocleonus hieroglyphicus is a weevil associated with dry, sandy environments. Like other beetles, its body…

In the mountains of Borneo, the pitcher plant Nepenthes lowii has an unusual relationship with mountain tree…

Meerkats (Suricata suricatta) are small members of the mongoose family found across dry regions of southern…

Male river chubs (Nocomis micropogon) become remarkable underwater builders during the breeding season. They…

Marine iguanas (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) are found naturally only in the Galápagos Islands. These unusual…

The flame bowerbird (Sericulus ardens) is a striking bird native to the rainforests of New Guinea. Adult…

Stoats (Mustela erminea) living in colder regions can replace their brown summer coat with white winter fur…

Wild rabbits and hares often have mottled brown fur that blends naturally with grass, soil, leaves, and…

The Arctic skua (Stercorarius parasiticus), also known as the parasitic jaeger, is a highly territorial…

The spider-tailed horned viper (Pseudocerastes urarachnoides) is a venomous snake native to western Iran.…

Sally Lightfoot crabs (Grapsus grapsus) live along rocky Pacific coastlines, including the volcanic shores…

Deep inside a mature termite colony, the queen serves as its primary reproductive female. In many species…

Every zebra has its own distinctive arrangement of black and white stripes. While scientists have proposed…

Brown bears (Ursus arctos) can spend months in winter dens without eating or drinking, relying largely on…