Sandfish Lizard Sand Swimming: How It Moves Underground
On the surface of a North African dune, a small golden skink pauses for an instant. Then it lowers its wedge-shaped head into the loose sand, drives forward, and disappears. …
biomechanics
This Tiny Animal Escapes by Releasing a Spring-Like Fork Under Its Body
On a damp forest floor, a springtail moves through a landscape that, at its scale, is enormous. Moss stems rise around it. Fungal threads cross fragments of decomposing leaves, and …
How Trap-Jaw Ants Use Their Mandibles to Escape Predators
At first glance, a trap-jaw ant appears much like any other forest ant. It patrols leaf litter, searches for food, and communicates with nestmates through chemical signals. Yet hidden inside …