Why Hoatzin Chicks Have Claws on Their Wings
Few birds look as unusual as the hoatzin, but even fewer surprise scientists as much as its chicks. The hoatzin chick wing claws are one of the most remarkable survival …
Wildlife
Inside the Complex Colonies of Naked Mole-Rats
Naked mole-rat colony structure is unlike almost anything else found among mammals. Deep beneath the dry soils of eastern Africa, these unusual rodents live in highly organized underground societies where …
The Vampire Squid: A Harmless Deep-Sea Animal With a Terrifying Name
Table of Contents Despite its dramatic name, the vampire squid is one of the most peaceful animals in the deep ocean. In fact, many fascinating vampire squid facts reveal a …
The Slow Loris: The Only Venomous Primate on Earth
Table of Contents The remarkable phenomenon of slow loris venom makes this small nocturnal mammal unlike any other primate on Earth. At first glance, slow lorises appear harmless, with their …
Atlantic Puffins Return to the Same Burrow and Mate Every Year
Table of Contents The remarkable phenomenon of puffin mate fidelity has made Atlantic puffins one of the most beloved seabirds in the world. Every spring, these colorful birds travel back …
How Giant Tube Worms Survive Without a Mouth, Gut, or Sunlight
Table of Contents The extraordinary process of tube worm chemosynthesis challenges one of the oldest assumptions in biology—that nearly all life ultimately depends on sunlight. Giant tube worms thrive thousands …
The Argentine Ant Supercolony That Spans Three Continents
Table of Contents The Argentine ant supercolony is one of the most astonishing examples of biological cooperation ever discovered. Unlike most ant species, whose neighboring colonies wage fierce territorial wars, …
How Basilisk Lizards Run Across the Surface of Water
WTable of Contents The remarkable phenomenon of basilisk lizard water running has earned these reptiles the nickname “Jesus lizards.” Watching one sprint across the surface of a tropical river almost …
How Birds-of-Paradise Use Ultra-Black Feathers to Win a Mate
Table of Contents The dazzling colors of tropical birds have fascinated people for centuries, but one of the greatest surprises in modern biology involves something that appears to have almost …
Why Periodical Cicadas Wait Exactly 17 Years to Emerge
Table of Contents The periodical cicada life cycle is one of the most extraordinary biological phenomena on Earth. While most insects complete their lives within weeks or months, periodical cicadas …