FIELD JOURNAL, ENTRY Nº 825 THU 30 OCT 2026 · NEW STORIES EVERY TUESDAY
Strange AnimalsToday Most read: Mantis Shrimp vs Pistol Shrimp →
Meet the strangest creatures on Earth.
Field notes on 200+ species that break the rules, written by biologists, free to read, new every week.
500+ articlesExpert-written profiles
200+ speciesAcross 7 groups
Every weekNew stories on Tuesdays
100% freeNo paywall, no login
Most read
1 Mammals · 14 min Panda Cubs: From 100 Grams to 100 Kilograms in Two Years Panda cubs weigh 85-130 g at birth, one of the smallest mother-to-cub ratios in mammals. Here is how they grow from pink blind newborn to independent adult.
2 Mammals · 16 min Bonobo: The Peace-Loving Primate of the Forest3 Marine Life · 14 min Atlantic Salmon: Wonders of Migration4 Reptiles · 13 min Parson's Chameleon: Size and Characteristics5 Mammals · 18 min Spectacled Bear Conservation: Threats in the Andes6 Insects · 15 min Magnetic Termite: Nature's Living Compasses
Mammals
196 articles Research · 11 min Lowland Streaked Tenrec: The Mammal That Stridulates A small Madagascan insectivore with yellow warning quills and a communication method borrowed from insects.
Ungulates · 6 min Okapi: The Forest Giraffe Hidden in the Congo Discover the okapi, the shy rainforest relative of the giraffe. Learn about its zebra-striped legs, long tongue, Congo habitat, and conservation status.Sloths · 9 min Pygmy Three-Toed Sloth: One of the Rarest Mammals The endangered pygmy three-toed sloth is limited to a small island, making its survival critical for conservation efforts.Predators · 9 min Wolverine: The Ferocious Predator of the Wild Wolverines are fierce predators, capable of outmatching larger animals while traversing harsh Arctic terrains.Predators · 9 min Honey Badger: The Fearless Survivor of the Wild Honey Badger is known for its fearless nature and ability to confront much larger predators with remarkable resilience.Pangolins · 8 min Sunda Pangolin: The Most Trafficked Mammal Sunda pangolins are the most trafficked mammals, characterized by their protective scales and unique feeding behaviors.Monotremes · 9 min Short-Beaked Echidna: The Spiny Egg-Laying Mammal The short-beaked echidna is an egg-laying mammal with unique adaptations, including sensory abilities for hunting insects.Marsupials · 9 min Spotted-Tail Quoll: Australia's Unique Carnivorous Marsupial Explore the attributes of the Spotted-Tail Quoll, Australia's largest carnivorous marsupial.Wolves and Wild Canines · 6 min Fennec Fox: The Desert Survivor With Enormous Ears Meet the fennec fox, the smallest fox on Earth. Learn how its huge ears, furred feet, and water-thrifty body help it survive the Sahara desert.Research · 11 min Animal Classification: Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order Learn how animals are classified into kingdom, phylum, class, and order. Explore taxonomy, Linnaean hierarchy, and how classification reveals animal diversity.
Reptiles & Amphibians
70 articles Lizards · 15 min Thorny Dragon: The Desert Lizard That Drinks Through Its Skin Discover the thorny dragon (Moloch horridus), the Australian desert lizard that drinks through its skin. Explore its unique adaptations, habitat, diet, and survival.
Frogs · 12 min Turtle Frog: The Burrowing Frog That Looks Like a Turtle Discover the turtle frog (Myobatrachus gouldii), an Australian burrowing frog with a turtle-like appearance, unique termite-based diet, and remarkable adaptations.Lizards · 12 min Mexican Mole Lizard (Ajolote): The Two-Legged Burrower Discover the Mexican mole lizard (ajolote), a unique two-legged burrowing reptile from Baja California. Explore its biology, behavior, adaptations, and conservation.Lizards · 14 min Jesus Christ Lizard: The Basilisk That Runs on Water Discover the Jesus Christ lizard (common basilisk), famous for running on water. Explore its anatomy, habitat, diet, behavior, and conservation status in detail.Frogs · 11 min Paedophryne amauensis: The World's Smallest Frog Discover Paedophryne amauensis, the world's smallest frog and vertebrate, found in Papua New Guinea. Explore its unique adaptations, habitat, and evolutionary significance.Venomous Reptiles · 16 min Rattlesnake: The Iconic Pit Viper Everything about the rattlesnake: size, habitat, the rattle, pit organs, venom, reproduction, conservation, and the strange facts that make Crotalus the most distinctive pit viper genus in the Americas.Chameleons · 21 min Chameleons: Science Behind Their Color Change Discover the science behind chameleon color change, ballistic tongue projection, and independent eye movement. Expert-written guide covering 200+ species, nanocrystal skin mechanics, the tiny Brookesia nana, and the myths debunked by modern research.Chameleons · 11 min Chameleons and Color Change: The Science Chameleons change color by rearranging nanocrystals in their skin, not through pigment. Expert guide to the science of chameleon color change and why they do it.Crocodilians · 9 min Crocodile vs Alligator: Key Differences Crocodile vs alligator - the real differences in snout shape, bite force, habitat, size, and aggression between the two most famous living reptiles.Crocodilians · 20 min Crocodilians: Evolution and Species Explore the world of crocodilians, from saltwater crocodiles with 3,700 psi bite force to critically endangered gharials. Expert-written guide covering 240 million years of evolution, species profiles, behavior, parenting, and conservation.
Birds
80 articles Raptors · 6 min King Vulture: The Colorful Ruler of the Rainforest Skies Meet the king vulture, the vividly colored scavenger of American rainforests. Learn how it finds food, dominates carcasses, and keeps ecosystems healthy.
Intelligence · 14 min Strange and Bizarre Chicken Breeds Explore the world's strangest chicken breeds, including Silkies, Ayam Cemani, Polish, Frizzle, and more. Discover unique traits, genetics, and care tips for unusual poultry.Intelligence · 13 min How to Hypnotize a Chicken: Tonic Immobility Discover the science and methods behind hypnotizing chickens, exploring tonic immobility, animal hypnosis, and fear paralysis in birds and other species.Waterbirds · 13 min Shoebill (Balaeniceps rex) Discover the shoebill's unique biology, its hunting behavior, and the conservation status of Balaeniceps rex, a prehistoric-looking bird.Hunting · 11 min Secretary Bird: Unique Raptor Adaptations Explore the secretary bird's biology, unique hunting style, and conservation efforts for Sagittarius serpentarius.Corvids · 12 min Clark's Nutcracker: Ecology and Memory Discover Clark's nutcracker's impressive seed caching ability and learn about its ecology and remarkable spatial memory.Corvids · 9 min Can Crows Recognize Human Faces? Insights and Research Crows really do remember faces - and hold grudges for years. Expert guide to the landmark research proving corvid facial recognition rivals primate cognition.Corvids · 20 min Corvids: The Most Intelligent Birds on Earth Discover why corvids - crows, ravens, magpies, and jays - are considered the most intelligent birds alive. Expert-written guide covering tool use, facial recognition, mirror self-awareness, planning, and the neuroscience behind corvid cognition.Corvids · 18 min Crows and Ravens: Comparing Their Intelligence to Primates Expert analysis of corvid intelligence covering tool manufacture, future planning, facial recognition, causal reasoning, analogical reasoning, and direct comparisons to primate cognitive benchmarks. Based on peer-reviewed research.Flightless Birds · 22 min Why Some Birds Lost the Ability to Fly Explore the world of flightless birds, from the 45 mph ostrich to the dagger-clawed cassowary and the extinct dodo. Expert-written guide covering ratite evolution, the Great Emu War, kiwi biology, penguin adaptations, kakapo conservation, and the de-extinction debate surrounding elephant birds and m
Marine Life
136 articles Crustaceans · 6 min Mantis Shrimp vs Pistol Shrimp: Two Tiny Ocean Powerhouses Compare the mantis shrimp and pistol shrimp, two small crustaceans with extreme weapons. Learn how each uses cavitation, plus their eyes and partnerships.
Fish · 12 min Painted Frogfish: Nature's Fastest Striker Uncover the facts about giant squids, their size, and why they remain shrouded in mystery and myth.Fish · 11 min Archerfish (Toxotes jaculatrix) The archerfish spits jets of water to knock insects off branches up to 3 metres away. Discover the physics, neuroscience, and ecology of Toxotes jaculatrix.Deep Sea · 9 min Barreleye Fish Vision: Eyes Built for the Mesopelagic Zone Discover the painted frogfish's incredible hunting techniques and vibrant color-changing abilities.Coral Reefs · 10 min Animals That Photosynthesise Corals, giant clams, sacoglossan sea slugs and the spotted salamander all convert sunlight into food, none of them unaided.Deep Sea · 12 min Viperfish: The Deep-Sea Predator With Fang-Like Teeth Explore the fascinating world of the viperfish, a deep-sea predator with fang-like teeth and bioluminescence. Learn about its anatomy, hunting, and ecological role.Fish · 13 min Spotted Handfish: The Fish That Walks on Its Fins Discover the spotted handfish (Brachionichthys hirsutus), a rare Tasmanian fish that walks on its fins. Explore its unique biology, behavior, conservation, and future.Cephalopods · 16 min Bigfin Squid: The Deep-Sea Squid With Elbows Discover the mysterious bigfin squid (Magnapinna), the deep-sea cephalopod with elbow-like arms. Explore its anatomy, habitat, behavior, and ongoing scientific mysteries.Deep Sea · 13 min Sea Pig: The Deep-Sea Cucumber That Walks Discover the fascinating sea pig (Scotoplanes), a deep-sea cucumber that 'walks' across the abyssal plain. Explore its anatomy, habitat, role, and unique adaptations.Coral Reefs · 12 min Edwardsiella andrillae: The Antarctic Ice Anemone Discover Edwardsiella andrillae, the Antarctic ice anemone that thrives in frozen environments beneath the Ross Ice Shelf. Explore its adaptations, ecology, and significance.
Insects & Arachnids
85 articles Termites · 6 min How Termite Mounds Stay Cool: Nature's Master Architects Termite mounds are natural climate-control systems built by tiny insects. Learn how their ventilation keeps colonies cool and protects their fungus gardens.
Spiders · 11 min Peacock Spider: The Colourful Dancer Discover the vibrant courtship dances and unique traits of the peacock spider.Spiders · 5 min Giant Huntsman Spider: The World's Largest Spider by Leg Span Meet the giant huntsman spider, the largest spider by leg span. Learn about its cave home in Laos, its fast hunting style, and why it is harmless to humans.Spiders · 10 min Goliath Birdeater: The Giant Spider Species Explore the Goliath birdeater's size, habitat, and unique lifestyle in the Amazon rainforest.Beetles · 12 min Titan Beetle (Titanus giganteus) Titan Beetle (Titanus giganteus) is the world's largest beetle by body length, reaching 17 cm. Discover its rainforest habitat, mandible strength, and biology.Beetles · 14 min Anophthalmus hitleri: The Blind Cave Beetle of Slovenia Discover Anophthalmus hitleri, the blind cave beetle of Slovenia. Learn about its unique adaptations, endangered status, and the conservation challenges it faces.Adaptation · 12 min Bocydium globulare: The Ornate Brazilian Treehopper Explore the bizarre world of Bocydium globulare, the Brazilian treehopper. Discover its unique globular appendages, adaptations, life cycle, and ecological role.Spiders · 13 min Mirror Spider (Thwaitesia): Nature’s Living Jewel Discover the mirror spider (Thwaitesia): a dazzling orb-weaver with reflective, sequined spots. Learn about its anatomy, habitat, camouflage, and ecological role.Ants · 14 min Honeypot Ants: The Living Larders of the Desert Discover the fascinating world of honeypot ants, their living larders, unique adaptations, ecological roles, and survival strategies in desert environments.Spiders · 13 min Moroccan Flic-Flac Spider: The Cartwheeling Desert Arachnid Discover the Moroccan flic-flac spider (Cebrennus rechenbergi), a unique desert arachnid famed for its cartwheeling escape. Explore its biology, habitat, and remarkable adaptations.
Extinct
63 articles Dinosaurs · 13 min Chilesaurus diegosuarezi: The Platypus of Dinosaurs Discover Chilesaurus diegosuarezi, the platypus of dinosaurs. Explore its unique anatomy, herbivorous diet, evolutionary significance, and impact on dinosaur classification.
Dinosaurs · 22 min Dinosaurs: Rulers of the Earth for 165 Million Years Expert-written guide to dinosaurs covering T. rex, Argentinosaurus, Velociraptor, Spinosaurus, and more. Explore the Mesozoic era, the dinosaur-bird connection, warm-blooded debate, and the K-Pg extinction event that ended their reign.Dinosaurs · 12 min T-Rex: Its Size and the Science Behind It How big was Tyrannosaurus rex really? Science-based answers on size, weight, bite force, speed, and what recent fossil discoveries reveal about the king of dinosaurs.Evolution · 21 min Evolution and Adaptation Explore how evolution shapes life on Earth through natural selection, sexual selection, convergent evolution, co-evolution, and adaptive radiation. Covers Darwin, living fossils, punctuated equilibrium, and evolution observed in real time.Fossils · 19 min Fossils: Preserving Ancient Life Stories Discover how fossils preserve the story of ancient life, from amber-trapped insects to transitional species. Learn about fossilization, dating methods, Mary Anning, and digital paleontology.Ice Age · 18 min Ice Age Megafauna: Creatures of a Frozen Era Explore the colossal creatures of the Pleistocene Ice Age - woolly mammoths, saber-toothed cats, giant ground sloths, dire wolves, and more. Expert-written guide covering adaptations, discoveries, extinction theories, and de-extinction science.Ice Age · 12 min Saber-Tooth Cat: The True Hunting Strategies of Smilodon Saber-tooth cats were not tigers. Expert guide to Smilodon's real hunting method, why the fangs evolved, and how this Ice Age apex predator actually lived.Mass Extinctions · 20 min The Five Times Earth Nearly Died Expert-written guide to the Big Five mass extinctions, from the Ordovician ice age to the Chicxulub asteroid. Covers causes, recovery timelines, survivor traits, and the current Sixth Extinction debate with specific data and peer-reviewed sources.Megafauna · 8 min Dire Wolf: The Ice Age Predator That Wasn't Actually a Wolf Dire wolves weren't closely related to modern wolves despite their name. Expert guide to these Ice Age pack hunters and their surprising evolutionary history.Megafauna · 9 min Giant Ground Sloth: The 4-Ton Sloth That Walked the Americas Giant ground sloths reached 4 tons and 6 meters. Expert guide to these massive extinct sloths that lived with early humans until 10,000 years ago.
Pets
193 articles Dog Breeds · 5 min Norwegian Lundehund: The Six-Toed Dog Built to Climb Cliffs Discover the Norwegian Lundehund, a rare puffin-hunting dog with six toes and amazing flexibility. Learn about its anatomy, temperament, and care needs.
Cat Breeds · 6 min Chausie Cat: The Athletic Hybrid With a Wild Heritage Meet the Chausie, an athletic hybrid cat descended from the jungle cat. Learn about its wild look, affectionate personality, care needs, and temperament.Health and Care · 15 min Janus Cats: The Truth About Two-Faced Kittens Discover the science, history, and care of Janus cats, two-faced kittens with diprosopus. Explore genetics, health challenges, ethics, and famous cases.Health and Care · 13 min Cyclopia in Animals: The One-Eyed Kitten Discover the science behind cyclopia in animals, the causes of one-eyed kittens, and why this rare birth defect occurs. Learn about genetics, risks, and animal welfare.Health and Care · 11 min Pet Exercise and Enrichment: Keeping Pets Active Exercise is a physical necessity for dogs and cats, not an optional enrichment activity. Insufficient physical activity is a documented cause of obesity, behavioural problems, anxiety, destructive behaviour, and reduced lifespan. Equally important, and more often overlooked, is cognitive enrichmenHealth and Care · 9 min Microchipping Pets: Benefits and How It Works Microchipping is the most reliable permanent identification method available for dogs and cats. Unlike collars, which break or fall off, and tattoos, which fade and become illegible, a microchip is a passive radio-frequency identification (RFID) device that lasts the lifetime of the animal and can bHealth and Care · 14 min Spaying or Neutering Your Pet: What to Expect Spaying and neutering are the most commonly performed elective surgical procedures in veterinary medicine. In the United States alone, approximately 4 million dogs and cats are spayed or neutered each year. The procedures, ovariohysterectomy (spay) for females and orchiectomy (neuter) for males, iHealth and Care · 10 min Trimming Dog Nails Safely: Techniques and Tips Nail trimming is among the most commonly avoided dog care tasks. Surveys of dog owners consistently show that nail trimming is rated more stressful than bathing, ear cleaning, and many other grooming tasks, for both the owner and the dog. Yet overgrown nails cause real physical problems: altered gaiHealth and Care · 10 min Keeping Your Cat Indoors: Safety and Enrichment Tips The indoor vs. outdoor cat debate is not evenly balanced by evidence. Outdoor cats face mortality rates dramatically higher than indoor cats. A widely cited 2013 study in Nature Communications by Loss et al. estimated that free-roaming cats kill between 1.3 and 4 billion birds annually in the UnitedHealth and Care · 14 min Grooming Your Dog at Home: Techniques Professional grooming is a significant recurring cost for dog owners, average costs range from $30 for a small breed bath and brush to over $100 for a large breed full groom, repeated every 6-12 weeks. Beyond cost, many dogs experience stress at grooming facilities, particularly if they have not be
VS
Build your own matchup →Animal vs Animal
Head-to-head, settled by the numbers Mantis Shrimp VS Pistol Shrimp
Club punch Weapon Snapping claw Cavitation Trick Cavitation Fastest punch Known for Loudest snap
Marine Life · 6 min Crocodile VS Alligator V-shaped Snout U-shaped Salt & fresh Water Fresh Aggressive Temper Calmer
Reptiles · 9 min Green Anaconda VS Reticulated Python Heaviest Title Longest South America Home Southeast Asia In water Hunts On land
Reptiles · 10 minNature's extremes
World records from the animal kingdomFrom the gallery
Wildlife photography from around the worldPlay with the data
Free interactive tools, no sign-up Animal Quiz Test your wildlife knowledge with 20 fun questions. Animal vs Animal Head-to-head matchups between incredible creatures. Size Comparison See how animals measure up against each other. Animal Identifier Describe traits and find which animal matches. Animal Map Explore wildlife by continent and region. Random Animal Discover a species you have never heard of. World Records The fastest, biggest, deadliest and oldest animals on Earth. Speed Race Race animals over any distance, from 100 m to a marathon. Hearing Range What each animal can hear, from infrasound to ultrasound. Lifespan Lookup Your age measured in animal lifetimes. Bite Force Meter Compare bites, and see which figures were measured. Food Chain Builder Follow the energy up a chain in three ecosystems. Dive Depth How deep animals go, and the pressure down there. Gallery Browse our photo collection of the world's strangest creatures. Submit a Sighting Spotted something strange? Share it with our editors.
ConservationExplore endangered species →
49,000+ species are threatened with extinction.
Meet them, learn what's pushing them out, and what's actually working to bring them back.
LCNTVUENCREWEX