There are millions of different animal species living on Earth, with new ones being discovered all the time. Each week, we take a closer look at some of the amazing animals wandering, flying or swimming about, zooming in on the amazing adaptations that help them survive and thrive, from the bottom of the ocean to the highest mountain peaks.
Discover more amazing animals
—Animal quiz: Test yourself on these fun animal trivia questions
—Evolution: Facts about the processes that shape the diversity of life on Earth
—32 of the world's smartest animals / loudest animals / most dangerous animals
Latest about amazing animals
Kākāpō: The chonky parrot that can live almost 100 years
This flightless nocturnal parrot is only found in New Zealand.
Japanese quail: The bird with weird sperm foam, a post-sex strut and a spot in space history
Male Japanese quails produce a strange seminal foam that appears to enhance the chances of successfully fertilizing an egg.
Dwarf sperm whale: The 'pint-size whales' that gush gallons of intestinal fluid when surprised
The smallest species of whale tricks its predators by gushing gallons of red fluid into the water when under attack.
Binturong: The bearcat that smells like hot buttered popcorn
Binturongs' popcorn perfume plays a vital role in communication, helping them mark their territory and signal their presence to others in dense tropical rainforests.
Southern cassowary: The giant prehistoric bird with dinosaur feet
These large, flightless birds have powerful, muscular legs and tough, prehistoric-looking feet with claws that can deliver a powerful blow.
Pacific spiny lumpsucker: The adorable little fish with a weird suction cup resembling human teeth
Pacific spiny lumpsuckers are wee, coastal fish that look a bit like concerned strawberries, have a fluorescent glow and pack some serious body armor.
Great eared nightjar: The 'baby dragon' bird that lays its eggs on the floor
Great eared nightjars live on the forest floor, remaining motionless throughout the day, camouflaged among leaf litter and tree stumps.
Pelican eel: The midnight zone 'gulper' with a giant mouth to swallow animals bigger than itself
Open wide! The gaping gob of a pelican eel can expand into a voluminous sac for trapping elusive prey in the dark ocean depths.
Scaly-foot snail: The armor-plated hermaphrodite with a giant heart that lives near scalding deep-sea volcanoes and never eats
Also known as "volcano snails," these gastropods grow a suit of metal-enriched scaly armor and have an enormous heart, which helps them survive in oxygen-poor water in the deep ocean.
