The title of the hairiest animal goes to the sea otter, whose luxurious fur, according to a 2010 study, comprises a phenomenal 100- 160,000 hairs per square centimetre (an adult probably sports more than a billion hairs in total). Sea otters lack insulating blubber, so dense water-repellent fur is an important asset in the chilly […]
Category: Wildlife
Fabulous Vietnam Pheasant Not Seen in 20 Years Returns to Wild Thanks to Zoo Coalition
For over 20 years, the forests of central Vietnam have been missing one of their most remarkable inhabitants. Now, an international alliance of conservation organizations, zoological institutions, and Vietnamese partners has come together with a shared goal: to return the Vietnam pheasant to the forests where it once lived. The project represents one of the […]
“An attack can be fatal, due to their venom and bacteria…” The 3 deadliest, most lethal lizards the planet
When we think of dangerous animals, lizards might not seem as though they’d be top of the list – but a few scaly species prove that reptiles can be just as lethal as big cats or venomous snakes. From venom that has been transformed into trailblazing diabetes treatment to toxins that inhibit blood clotting, lizards have some of the most […]
As economic case for deep-sea mining weakens, industry should halt urgency to begin operation (commentary)
Why do we need deep-sea mining? Given the potential consequences for the health and biodiversity of the ocean, that seems a vital question to answer before any commercial mining starts. The question is even more important as the economic case for deep-sea mining is being increasingly undermined by financial evidence, and is nowhere near strong […]
“Over the next 6 months, it will prey on the defenceless larvae until it’s 100 times its original size.” This undercover carnivore may look harmless – but don’t be fooled
The large blue butterfly (Phengaris arion), the largest and rarest of the UK’s blue butterflies, has a remarkable lifecycle. It relies entirely on a single species of red ant (Myrmica sabuleti) to survive. In the third episode of the BBC TV series Wild Isles, Grasslands, David Attenborough narrates a chilling chain of events. “This caterpillar is one of the very few in the […]
A New York Cemetery Was Hiding Over 5 Million Burrowing Bees, One of the World’s Largest Concentrations
At roughly 5.5 million, a colony of ground-nesting bees that scientists discovered under a New York cemetery may be one of the largest bee aggregations ever documented. Subsequent research showed that the bees have likely lived there for more than 100 years, thriving in the cemetery’s undisturbed sandy soil—an incredible discovery. Rachel Fordyce used to […]
“As it lurks behind the trapdoor, a twitch on the trip wire alerts it that something tasty has just walked past…”
The global family of trap-door spiders, relatives of tarantulas, are also fond of burrowing. They have a special row of teeth that are adapted to help them dig holes to make a home even in very dry soil and sturdy legs to assist with the excavation. They construct a tunnel, around 15cm (6in) in length, which […]
Petition: Green Sea Turtles Prove Conservation Works. Tell Congress to Strengthen the Endangered Species Act
After decades of conservation efforts, green sea turtles are finally making a comeback. The species was recently reclassified from “endangered” to “least concern” after global populations increased. This is thanks to protections for nesting sites, reduced harvesting, habitat conservation, and safer fishing practices. This is proof that conservation works. Now, conservationists are warning that this […]