The Olinguito Was Hiding in Cloud Forests—and Collections
Meet the olinguito, a small Andean raccoon relative recognized through museum research and fieldwork in cloud forests.
Wildlife — page 2
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The Naked-Headed Bulbul Belongs to a Limestone Landscape
Meet the bare-faced bulbul of Laos, a songbird with exposed head skin and a close connection to rugged limestone habitat.
The Greater Bilby's Burrows Help Shape Desert Habitat
The greater bilby digs for food and shelter. Explore how this long-eared marsupial changes soil and creates opportunities for other desert life.
The Hairy Frog Can Expose Sharp Toe Bones for Defense
The hairy frog has a remarkable bone-based defense. Discover what its concealed toe structures do—and why its so-called hair is not fur.
The Yeti Crab's Hairy-Looking Claws Carry Bacteria
Discover Kiwa hirsuta, the pale deep-sea yeti crab whose bristled claws support bacteria near hydrothermal vents.
Cantor's Giant Softshell Turtle Hides Beneath the Riverbed
Meet Cantor's giant softshell turtle, a broad, flat aquatic reptile whose hidden river life makes community knowledge valuable for conservation.
Greater Sage-Grouse Turn Air and Feathers into Courtship
Explore the greater sage-grouse's inflated yellow sacs, starburst tail, and dawn displays—and the sagebrush habitat that supports the performance.
The African Crested Rat Borrows Plant Poison for Its Fur
The African crested rat applies plant toxins to specialized hairs. Discover the unusual defensive coat and the research behind this remarkable behavior.
A Male Babirusa's Upper Tusks Grow Through Its Snout
The North Sulawesi babirusa has extraordinary upper canine teeth. Discover how male tusks grow and why their function is not a simple story.
The Gerenuk Reaches Its Meals by Standing on Two Legs
A gerenuk can stand upright to reach leaves beyond other browsers. Explore the long neck, balance, and dry-country feeding behind the pose.
A Frilled-Neck Lizard Turns a Skin Fold into a Big Warning
The frilled-neck lizard usually folds its neck frill away. Discover how a sudden display changes its outline and helps it respond to threats.
The Purple Frog Lives Underground Until the Rains Arrive
India's purple frog spends much of its life below ground. Discover its unusual body, brief breeding emergence, and rock-clinging tadpoles.
Chinese Giant Salamanders Hide More Than One Identity
Chinese giant salamanders are enormous amphibians, but research reveals several distinct species—and shows why identity matters for conservation.
Surinam Toad Young Develop in Their Mother's Back Skin
Discover the Surinam toad's extraordinary breeding system, in which eggs become embedded in the female's back and young emerge as small toadlets.
The Secretary Bird Hunts with Fast, Forceful Kicks
The secretary bird is a raptor that hunts largely on foot. Discover how its long legs deliver rapid strikes and why grassland habitat matters.
Southern Hairy-Nosed Wombats Build a World Below Ground
Explore the southern hairy-nosed wombat's powerful digging, shared warrens, and dry-country life, with a careful look at the famous cube-poo claim.
A Giant Anteater's Sticky Tongue Reaches Where Teeth Cannot
Discover how the giant anteater's long tongue, powerful claws, and specialized snout help it feed on tiny prey across Central and South America.
The Hammer-Headed Bat's Large Male Head Amplifies Courtship
Male hammer-headed bats have enlarged faces and vocal structures for courtship. Discover the fruit-eating mammal behind their extraordinary appearance.
The Marabou Stork's Unusual Look Fits a Scavenger's Life
Explore the marabou stork's bare head, large bill, and throat pouch—and the ecological value of a bird that helps consume animal remains.
The Fossa's Flexible Ankles Help It Climb Down Headfirst
Madagascar's fossa looks catlike, but it belongs to another carnivore family. Explore the claws, ankles, and balancing tail behind its climbing skills.
The Maned Wolf's Long Legs Belong to a Fruit-Eating Canid
The maned wolf looks like a fox on stilts, but its identity and fruit-rich diet reveal a distinctive South American wild canid.
The Tufted Deer's Fangs Are Enlarged Canine Teeth
Male tufted deer have enlarged canine teeth beneath a distinctive forehead tuft. Explore this small forest deer's surprising anatomy and quiet life.
Giant Isopods Bring a Familiar Body Shape to the Deep Sea
Discover the armored body, antennae, and seafloor feeding of giant isopods, deep-sea crustaceans related to the woodlice found on land.
The Southern Cassowary Carries a Casque and Spreads Seeds
Meet the southern cassowary, a flightless rainforest bird whose casque catches attention and whose fruit meals help move seeds through the forest.