Animals
We live on a planet with millions of species of animals -and a rich, diverse collection of known wildlife, and yet new species are being identified seemingly every day — both living and extinct.
Whether it’s the deadliest snakes, longest-living creatures or the history of the dinosaurs, at Live Science, our expert writers are here to help you understand Earth's incredible fauna — past and present — with the latest animal news, features and articles.
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Latest about Animals
Giant 'toe biter' water bugs discovered in Cyprus for the 1st time
By Patrick Pester published
Scientists believe toe-biting giant water bugs have arrived in Cyprus from the mainland, but they're not sure why or how.
Eleonora's falcon: The raptor that imprisons birds live by stripping their feathers and stuffing them in rocks
By Megan Shersby published
One population of Eleonora's falcon is reported to keep little birds alive inside rocky prisons — a behavior not seen in any other raptor species.
Sperm whales drop giant poop bombs to save themselves from orca attack
By Jennifer Nalewicki published
A pod of sperm whales flung their poop at unsuspecting orcas to avoid a fatal attack.
'Kermit the Frog' creature that lived 270 million years ago looked like a 'stout salamander' with 'cartoonish' grin
By Jennifer Nalewicki published
Scientists found the ancient amphibian fossil in the collection at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History.
Like 'walking through the woods of millions of years ago': Ancient ecosystem brimming with dinosaur tracks discovered in Alaska
By Patrick Pester published
Fossilized footprints, tree stumps and feces discovered in Alaskan mountain foothills is a glimpse into life on Earth 100 million years ago.
'Ghost shark' with enormous head and giant iridescent eyes discovered off Thailand
By Elise Poore published
A new species of deep-sea chimaera with a ghoulish appearance has been discovered in the Andaman Sea.
Triassic 'tank' unearthed in Texas was a croc cousin that lived 215 million years ago
By Patrick Pester published
Fossil discovered in 1989 found to be new species of aetosaur — a massive armored crocodile cousin that lived during the late Triassic.
Watch bizarre video of termites trapped in 'death spiral'
By Lydia Smith published
Footage shows termites trapped inside a fungus in a death spiral, where they march until they die from exhaustion.
Brutal footage shows orca mom and son team up to drown another pod's calf
By Hannah Osborne published
First of its kind footage captures the moment an orca mom and her son drown a calf in an extremely rare case of infanticide.
Beluga whales appear to change the shape of their melon heads to communicate, scientists discover
By Richard Pallardy published
Beluga whales appear to change the shape of their heads during encounters with one another in what scientists believe is a form of visual communication among this highly social species.
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