“It can fit in the palm of your hand, could kill you in minutes with a venom a thousand times stronger than cyanide – and there’s no antidote”

“It can fit in the palm of your hand, could kill you in minutes with a venom a thousand times stronger than cyanide – and there’s no antidote”

These cute cephalopods that fit in the palm of your hand could kill you in minutes with a venom a thousand times stronger than cyanide, says Melissa Hobson. What are blue-ringed octopuses?  Blue-ringed octopus are a genus of octopus known for their iridescent blue markings. These iconic patterns only reveal themselves when the little octopus – which are smaller than a […]

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Experts looked inside Cape Town’s largest predator. What they found has them worried

Experts looked inside Cape Town’s largest predator. What they found has them worried

Most of Cape Town’s caracals have rat poison in their bodies. The discovery, reported in Environmental Pollution, raises concerns about the hidden effects of rodent control on wildlife, and calls for tighter regulation of these chemicals. Caracals are wild cats native to Africa and parts of the Middle East and Asia, instantly recognisable by their long, tufted ears. The […]

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“Torpedo-shaped bodies, pointed snout and a jutting lower jaw packed with fearsome, sharp teeth – it has been known to attack swimmers…”

“Torpedo-shaped bodies, pointed snout and a jutting lower jaw packed with fearsome, sharp teeth – it has been known to attack swimmers…”

These fierce-looking, torpedo-shaped fish can be found in warm and tropical waters all round the world. Each of the 20 or so different species of barracuda are intimidating ocean predators, but it’s the great barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda) that strikes fear into the hearts of prey fish big and small. What do barracuda look like? One of the deadliest fish in the […]

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It looks like a friendly garden bird, sings like one too – but it’s one of the most toxic creatures alive

It looks like a friendly garden bird, sings like one too – but it’s one of the most toxic creatures alive

What do a poison dart frog from South America and a perching bird from New Guinea have in common? Well, both exude neurotoxins that are, gram for gram, some of the most powerful poisons in nature. That Phyllobates poison dart frogs are highly poisonous is well known – it’s in their name, after all, and a single frog can […]

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“The thought of them lurking under the water is enough to give you the shivers – After drowning its victim it rapidly rolls it to remove its limbs…

“The thought of them lurking under the water is enough to give you the shivers – After drowning its victim it rapidly rolls it to remove its limbs…

Saltwater crocodiles are one of the world’s most famous and deadliest predators. Just the thought of them lurking under the water is enough to give you the shivers. We named it one of the most deadliest animals in the world Learn about more about saltwater crocodiles in our expert guide, including whether crocodiles really sleep with […]

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