Why Wood Storks Poop on Their Legs: The Science of Urohidrosis
Why wood storks poop on their legs is one of the most fascinating examples of natural cooling in the bird world. These large wetland birds use an unusual behavior called …
Wildlife Biology
How Flying Squirrels Glide Instead of Fly
Flying squirrels have one of the most misleading names in the animal kingdom. They can cross impressive gaps between trees, turn in midair, and make controlled landings, but they never …
Why a Raccoon’s Paws Are So Sensitive
Watch a raccoon investigate a stream bank and its front paws rarely stay still. The long, mobile digits probe beneath stones, rotate objects, feel along surfaces, and gather information even …
How a Woodpecker’s Tongue Fits Inside Its Head
A woodpecker’s bill may do the drilling, but reaching food hidden deep inside wood often requires another remarkable tool. Woodpecker tongue anatomy includes a specialized tongue-supporting system that allows some …
Reindeer Can See Light That Human Eyes Cannot
Across an Arctic winter landscape, snow can dominate almost everything the human eye sees. Hills, frozen ground, and wind-shaped drifts merge into a bright environment where objects may appear to …
This Primate Taps Wood to Find Prey Hidden Inside
In a Madagascar forest after dark, an aye-aye moves deliberately along a branch. Its large ears stand forward while its hands explore the wood. Then one remarkably thin finger begins …
How a Giant Centipede Hunts From a Cave Ceiling
Inside a humid tropical cave, the ceiling can be as biologically active as the floor. Bats cluster against limestone surfaces, arthropods move through cracks and crevices, and predators exploit opportunities …
How the Black Skimmer Catches Fish Without Diving
A Black Skimmer glides just above quiet coastal water, its long wings carrying its body only centimeters above the surface. The bird appears almost to be tracing a line across …
How an Echidna’s Snout Detects Tiny Electrical Signals
An echidna moving across an Australian forest floor can look almost methodical. Its head stays low as it noses through leaf litter, investigates rotting wood and presses its long, narrow …