Wildlife

The latest on the fascinating flora and fauna of our planet.

Latest in Wildlife

The weevil Anchylorhynchus trapezicollis is the main pollinator of South American palm Syagrus coronata. Here, the weevil is seen on a female flower, touching the receptive parts and leaving pollen grains in the process.

Environment

Move over, bees: The lowly weevil is a power pollinator Move over, bees: The lowly weevil is a power pollinator

By Laura Baisas

The sun over the ocean. Over 5,000 species could be at risk if deep sea mining begins in the Pacific Ocean's Clarion-Clipperton Zone.

Environment

A deep sea mining zone in the remote Pacific is also a goldmine of unique species A deep sea mining zone in the remote Pacific is also a goldmine of unique species

By Laura Baisas

Andean long-tailed chinchillas are mysteriously thriving on Chile’s coast

Environment

Andean long-tailed chinchillas are mysteriously thriving on Chile’s coast Andean long-tailed chinchillas are mysteriously thriving on Chile’s coast

By James Hall/Hakai Magazine

A spiny mouse standing on a rock. Spiny mice can regenerate skin, muscle, nerves, spinal cord, and possibly cardiac tissue.

Environment

African spiny mouse joins a small but mighty group of bony plated mammals African spiny mouse joins a small but mighty group of bony plated mammals

By Laura Baisas

A newly hatched California condor.

Environment

Thriving baby California condor is a ray of hope for the unique species Thriving baby California condor is a ray of hope for the unique species

By Laura Baisas

Siler collingwoodi is a colorful, ant-mimicking spider found in China and Japan.

Environment

This spider pretends to be an ant, but not well enough to avoid being eaten This spider pretends to be an ant, but not well enough to avoid being eaten

By Laura Baisas

A young baboon hangs from a thin tree branch.

Environment

Baboons can recover from childhood trauma with a little help from their friends Baboons can recover from childhood trauma with a little help from their friends

By Laura Baisas

A blue butterfly on a pink flowering plant.

Environment

A ‘butterfly tree of life’ reveals the origins of these beautiful insects A ‘butterfly tree of life’ reveals the origins of these beautiful insects

By Laura Baisas

A coral reef in the Gulf of Eilat/Aqaba in the Red Sea. Corals here and in the Persian Gulf are particularly affected by light pollution.

Environment

Light pollution is messing with coral reproduction Light pollution is messing with coral reproduction

By Laura Baisas

Dolphins use echolocation to find fish and navigate in the dark sea.

Science

How echolocation lets bats, dolphins, and even people navigate by sound How echolocation lets bats, dolphins, and even people navigate by sound

Stressed clams turn ghostly white in warming waters

Environment

Stressed clams turn ghostly white in warming waters Stressed clams turn ghostly white in warming waters

By Janine Peralta/Hakai Magazine

Extinct ‘thunder beasts’ went from mini to massive in the blink of an evolutionary eye

Environment

Extinct ‘thunder beasts’ went from mini to massive in the blink of an evolutionary eye Extinct ‘thunder beasts’ went from mini to massive in the blink of an evolutionary eye

By Laura Baisas

A clownfish swimming in an anemone.

Environment

Baby anemonefish can rapidly change their genes to survive in the sea Baby anemonefish can rapidly change their genes to survive in the sea

By Laura Baisas

These whales might follow their noses to their next snack in the surf

Environment

These whales might follow their noses to their next snack in the surf These whales might follow their noses to their next snack in the surf

By Elizabeth Preston/Hakai Magazine

A mosquito hanging upside down on a leaf.

Environment

Can scented soap make you less of a mosquito buffet? Can scented soap make you less of a mosquito buffet?

By Laura Baisas

A new butterfly species with orange wings and black spots next to the eye of Sauron from the Lord of the Rings films.

Environment

Lord of the Rings villain Sauron inspires the name of new butterfly genus Lord of the Rings villain Sauron inspires the name of new butterfly genus

By Laura Baisas

A koala in a leafy tree.

Environment

Wild koalas are getting vaccinated against chlamydia Wild koalas are getting vaccinated against chlamydia

By Laura Baisas

A bat sea star on a dark background.

Environment

The blueprints for early organs may be hiding in sea stars The blueprints for early organs may be hiding in sea stars

By Laura Baisas

Elephants have complex communities and distinct traditions

Environment

Elephants have complex communities and distinct traditions Elephants have complex communities and distinct traditions

By Mridula Chari/Undark

Yellow-green cyanobacteria bloom in Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon. Events like these can cause mass fish dieoffs.

Environment

A fish-kill mystery in a remote Alaska village takes a toxic turn A fish-kill mystery in a remote Alaska village takes a toxic turn

By Saima Sidik/Hakai Magazine

Woolly mammoth tusks in dawn light on Wrangel Island, northeast Siberia, where the female mammoth tusk used in the testosterone study had been found several years earlier.

Environment

Male woolly mammoths had hormone-fueled bouts of aggression Male woolly mammoths had hormone-fueled bouts of aggression

By Laura Baisas

An illustration of the organisms that lived in the Castle Bank community.

Environment

Fossil trove in Wales is a 462-million-year-old world of wee sea creatures Fossil trove in Wales is a 462-million-year-old world of wee sea creatures

By Laura Baisas

Red cherry shaped as butt on orange and purple ombre background

Science

A scientific exploration of big juicy butts A scientific exploration of big juicy butts

By Rachel Feltman

The oldest chili pepper specimen may be from present-day Colorado

Science

The oldest chili pepper specimen may be from present-day Colorado The oldest chili pepper specimen may be from present-day Colorado

By Sara Kiley Watson

A small partula snail crawls on a leaf.

Environment

Researchers release more than 5,000 snails in the Pacific Researchers release more than 5,000 snails in the Pacific

By Laura Baisas

How deadly amphibians survive their own poisons

Environment

How deadly amphibians survive their own poisons How deadly amphibians survive their own poisons

By Geoffrey Giller/Knowable Magazine

Volcanoes can be a fiery death sentence for fish

Environment

Volcanoes can be a fiery death sentence for fish Volcanoes can be a fiery death sentence for fish

By Chris Baraniuk / Hakai Magazine

Protecting wildlife starts with securing land for animals to roam

Environment

Protecting wildlife starts with securing land for animals to roam Protecting wildlife starts with securing land for animals to roam

By David Jachowski/The Conversation

An adult male and adult female California sea lion sit on a beach surrounded by pups.

Environment

Male California sea lions have gotten bigger and better at fighting Male California sea lions have gotten bigger and better at fighting

By Laura Baisas

A mushroom called coprophilous grows in woods.

Environment

What prehistoric poop reveals about extinct giant animals What prehistoric poop reveals about extinct giant animals

By Laura Baisas

Two mudskippers fighting in the mud, with eyes and pectoral fins exposed.

Environment

Mudskippers blink—and that’s a huge evolutionary clue Mudskippers blink—and that’s a huge evolutionary clue

By Laura Baisas

A male chimpanzee named Frodo frowns.

Environment

Nice chimps finish last—so why aren’t all of them mean? Nice chimps finish last—so why aren’t all of them mean?

By Laura Baisas

Deep-sea mining has murky aftereffects

Environment

Deep-sea mining has murky aftereffects Deep-sea mining has murky aftereffects

By Elham Shabahat/Hakai Magazine

Giving drones inflatable suits could help them survive crash landings

Technology

Giving drones inflatable suits could help them survive crash landings Giving drones inflatable suits could help them survive crash landings

By Sara Kiley Watson

A forest elephant with a raised trunk surrounded by greenery. Forest elephants are much smaller in size compared to savanna elephants, and their ears are an oval shape.

Environment

Elephants and humans share surprising similarities. A new docuseries dives deep into that relationship. Elephants and humans share surprising similarities. A new docuseries dives deep into that relationship.

By Laura Baisas

New Zealand’s wild pigs could be a source of much-needed donor organs

Environment

New Zealand’s wild pigs could be a source of much-needed donor organs New Zealand’s wild pigs could be a source of much-needed donor organs

By Bill Morris/Undark

Sleeping elephant seals on a California beach

Environment

Seals snooze during 20-minute ‘sleeping dives’ to avoid predators Seals snooze during 20-minute ‘sleeping dives’ to avoid predators

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

African penguins standing on a sandy beach.

Environment

How African penguins continue to survive changes in climate How African penguins continue to survive changes in climate

By Laura Baisas

White Moluccan cockatoo on a branch turning toward a person's hand. Reddish flames are behind the bird to symbolize past trauma. Illustrated.

Environment

Parrots are deeply intelligent. But do we understand their emotions? Parrots are deeply intelligent. But do we understand their emotions?

By Brandon Keim

Turf wars between whales and crabbers have increased due to climate change

Environment

Turf wars between whales and crabbers have increased due to climate change Turf wars between whales and crabbers have increased due to climate change

By Jesse Kathan / Hakai Magazine

Brown garden snail eating a strawberry on a white table

Environment

Experience the uncomfortable weirdness of a snail eating fruit Experience the uncomfortable weirdness of a snail eating fruit

By Laura Baisas

A polar bear standing on ice.

Environment

Why the biggest animals move so slowly Why the biggest animals move so slowly

By Laura Baisas

The UN’s first high seas treaty could help dwindling Pacific salmon

Environment

The UN’s first high seas treaty could help dwindling Pacific salmon The UN’s first high seas treaty could help dwindling Pacific salmon

By Sarah Trent / High Country News

An orb weaver spider spins a web in a forest.

Environment

Spider glue might evolve faster than the spiders themselves Spider glue might evolve faster than the spiders themselves

By Laura Baisas

Examples of floating plastics collected in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre during The Ocean Cleanup’s 2018 expedition.

Environment

Some coastal critters are thriving in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch Some coastal critters are thriving in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch

By Laura Baisas

Black bear cub in a berry bush at Glacier National Park

Environment

Bears can count, take selfies, use tools, recognize supermodels, and even open car doors Bears can count, take selfies, use tools, recognize supermodels, and even open car doors

By Ruscena Wiederholt

Baby cod seem to be drawn to the lullaby of wind turbines

Environment

Baby cod seem to be drawn to the lullaby of wind turbines Baby cod seem to be drawn to the lullaby of wind turbines

By Emily Harwitz / Hakai Magazine

An adult Pygmy Zebra Octopus

Environment

Pygmy zebra octopus stripe patterns are as unique as human fingerprints Pygmy zebra octopus stripe patterns are as unique as human fingerprints

By Jamie Dickman

Brown bear paw in summer for blood clotting study

Environment

Hibernating bears hold many secrets for better human health Hibernating bears hold many secrets for better human health

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

Skeleton of paratype of Icaronycteris gunnelli, the oldest bat skeletons ever found.

Environment

Oldest bat skeleton ever found by paleontologists finally has a name Oldest bat skeleton ever found by paleontologists finally has a name

By Laura Baisas

Luna moth resting on a tree.

Science

The alluring tail of the Luna moth is surprisingly useless for finding a mate The alluring tail of the Luna moth is surprisingly useless for finding a mate

By Jamie Dickman

A black sea cucumber on the floor of the Indian Ocean.

Environment

Sea cucumbers have a Spiderman-esque superpower—and it involves their butts Sea cucumbers have a Spiderman-esque superpower—and it involves their butts

By Laura Baisas

A bird called an American Redstart sits on the branch of a tree.

Environment

Delaying departure may help birds migrate around climate change Delaying departure may help birds migrate around climate change

By Laura Baisas

Rainbow trout are vulnerable to viruses—and microplastics make them even sicker

Environment

Rainbow trout are vulnerable to viruses—and microplastics make them even sicker Rainbow trout are vulnerable to viruses—and microplastics make them even sicker

By Elise Cutts/Hakai Magazine

A juvenile elephant named Ko Raya (left) with Pang Pha (right) at the Berlin Zoo. Scientists believe that Pang Pha taught herself how to peel bananas.

Environment

Pang Pha the elephant learned to peel bananas by mimicking humans Pang Pha the elephant learned to peel bananas by mimicking humans

By Laura Baisas

A warming climate is driving salmon to switch streams

Environment

A warming climate is driving salmon to switch streams A warming climate is driving salmon to switch streams

By Lesley Evans Ogden/Knowable Magazine

Dog’s are a human’s best friend—and a shorebird’s worst enemy

Environment

Dog’s are a human’s best friend—and a shorebird’s worst enemy Dog’s are a human’s best friend—and a shorebird’s worst enemy

By Ben Goldfarb/Hakai Magazine

Woolly mammoths evolved tiny ears over 700,000 years in Siberia

Environment

Woolly mammoths evolved tiny ears over 700,000 years in Siberia Woolly mammoths evolved tiny ears over 700,000 years in Siberia

By Laura Baisas

Chronic wasting disease is sickening deer and elk. Could predators help?

Environment

Chronic wasting disease is sickening deer and elk. Could predators help? Chronic wasting disease is sickening deer and elk. Could predators help?

By Christine Peterson/High Country News

A close-up of extended polyps of an apparently healthy great star coral colony on a reef near Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The tentacles surrounding the mouth of each polyp help trap food particles for the coral to eat.

Environment

Caribbean coral is getting sick and dying. A probiotic could help. Caribbean coral is getting sick and dying. A probiotic could help.

By Laura Baisas

A snailfish that lives over 20,000 feet deep in the Izu-Ogasawara Trench in the northern Pacific Ocean.

Environment

Say hello to the deepest-dwelling fish ever caught on camera Say hello to the deepest-dwelling fish ever caught on camera

By Laura Baisas

Why snails and slugs are so slow

Environment

Why snails and slugs are so slow Why snails and slugs are so slow

By and Jared Adam/The Conversation, Daniel Bliss, John F. Tooker

An adult elephant walks with two juvenile elephants.

Environment

Scientists may have figured out why elephants exhibit complex emotions Scientists may have figured out why elephants exhibit complex emotions

By Laura Baisas

A capuchin monkey in a tree looking at the camera.

Environment

Do magic tricks work on monkeys? Only if they have opposable thumbs like us. Do magic tricks work on monkeys? Only if they have opposable thumbs like us.

By Laura Baisas