Why Blue-Footed Boobies Show Off Their Feet
A blue-footed booby's colorful feet are part of courtship. Discover the high-stepping display and the ocean feeding that supports this seabird.
Amazing Nature — page 5
218 stories · page 5 of 10
How Atlantic Puffins Carry Several Fish in One Beak
An Atlantic puffin can hold several fish while catching more. Discover the useful features behind its beakful and the ocean life beyond the colony.
A Mandarin Duck's Brilliant Feathers Change with the Season
Explore the mandarin duck's orange sail feathers, the female's quieter colors, and why a dazzling male can look different later in the year.
Golden Snub-Nosed Monkeys Live in China's Cold Forests
Golden fur and blue faces make these Chinese monkeys unforgettable. Discover their mountain forest lives, flexible diets, and social groups.
Why Binturongs Smell Like Popcorn
A binturong's popcorn-like smell comes from an unexpected source. Explore its scent chemistry, gripping tail, and life in Asian forests.
Dumbo Rats Have Low-Set Ears—and a Very Social Nature
Learn what makes a dumbo rat's ears different, why it is a domestic rat variety, and how companionship and enrichment shape a good life.
A Baby Harp Seal's White Coat Is Only the Beginning
Why do baby harp seals have white fur, and why does it disappear? Explore their brief whitecoat stage and the importance of North Atlantic sea ice.
The Dik-Dik Is a Tiny Antelope with Clever Adaptations
Discover the dik-dik's flexible nose, scent-marking glands, and life in African scrub—a small antelope with much more than enormous eyes.
Emperor Tamarins Have More Than a Remarkable Mustache
An emperor tamarin's white mustache grabs attention, but its Amazon forest life includes busy family groups, shared infant care, and a varied menu.
The Kākāpō Is a Parrot That Courts After Dark
Meet New Zealand's flightless, nocturnal kākāpō and discover its booming courtship calls, unusual breeding seasons, and conservation story.
Pallas's Cat Wears a Remarkable Coat for Cold Country
Discover how Pallas's cats use thick fur and low-set ears in cold Asian habitats—and why their famous grumpy look tells only part of the story.
Sand Cats Have Furry Feet for a Harsh Desert Home
Meet the sand cat, a small wild feline with furry foot pads, a desert-ready coat, and a life shaped by the extremes of sandy habitats.
The Slow Loris Has a Venomous Side to Its Quiet Life
A slow loris's large eyes hide a remarkable defense. Learn how its two-part venom system works and why viral pet videos miss the real story.
How Sugar Gliders Turn a Leap into a Forest Glide
Explore the skin membrane that lets sugar gliders glide, their lives in tree hollows, and why new species research changed their map.
Why Arctic Foxes Change Coats—and Some Stay Dark
Arctic foxes have remarkable seasonal coats, but not every fox turns white. Discover the white and blue color forms and their cold-weather lives.
Pygmy Marmoset Families Share the Work of Raising Babies
Discover how pygmy marmoset fathers and family helpers carry babies, share food, and support life among Amazon rainforest branches.
Pygmy Marmosets Open Tree Bark to Feed on Sap
Pygmy marmosets are among the smallest monkeys, with teeth and claws suited to feeding on tree sap. Discover their Amazon forest lives.
The Fennec Fox’s Enormous Ears Help It Hear and Lose Heat
A fennec fox’s large ears help release heat and locate prey. Explore the desert adaptations behind the world’s smallest canid.
Sea Otters Use Tools—and Their Teeth Can Benefit
Sea otters use rocks and other tools to open hard prey. Discover how tool use can protect teeth and why dense fur matters in cold water.
American Pikas Gather Their Own Winter Hay Beneath the Rocks
American pikas collect and store plants instead of hibernating. Discover the mountain haypiles that help these small rabbit relatives survive winter.
The Quokka’s Famous Smile Belongs to a Wild Wallaby
Quokkas are small wallabies, not permanent selfie partners. Discover their Western Australian habitat, feeding habits, and the story behind the smile.
A Red Panda’s Fluffy Tail Is Also a Blanket and Balancing Tool
Red pandas use bushy tails for balance and warmth, plus a false thumb to handle bamboo. Discover the forest adaptations behind their charm.
Naked Mole-Rats Build Underground Societies Around a Breeding Queen
Naked mole-rats share underground work while a queen produces the pups. Explore the social organization behind these unusual East African rodents.
The Vampire Squid Feeds on Marine Snow, Not Blood
Despite its dramatic name, the vampire squid collects drifting organic debris. Discover its feeding filaments, webbed arms, and deep-water home.