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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See extremely rare photos of alien-looking '7-arm octopus' spotted near Washington coast
By Harry Baker published
The seven-arm octopus, which actually has eight arms, is one of the largest octopus species and is rarely seen by people because it normally dwells in the deep sea.

'True rarity': Gigantic alligator gar caught and released in Texas reservoir could break 2 world records
By Harry Baker published
Anglers in Texas reeled in a 283-pound alligator gar after a lengthy battle with the enormous fish. Experts say the catch likely breaks a 72-year record.

Indian crocodiles seen saving dog from feral pack attack, but scientists divided over what it means
By Richard Pallardy published
Crocodiles appeared to rescue a dog that had been chased into a river, and scientists said this unusual behavior could indicate empathy — but others are skeptical.

Snake choking on invasive fish the size of its head saved by scientist
By Ethan Freedman published
A snake in France had a lucky escape after attempting to eat a fish with a spiny dorsal fin that had gotten lodged into the reptile's esophagus.

Bizarre blob-like animal may hint at origins of neurons
By Stephanie Pappas published
Placozoans, animals so simple they look like blobby pancakes, have been found to contain cells that may hold the ancestors of modern neurons.

RNA extracted from a extinct Tasmanian tiger for the 1st time
By Stephanie Pappas published
Researchers analyzed RNA from the 130-year-old tissue of a Tasmanian tiger, a carnivorous marsupial that went extinct nine decades ago.

2 liver-eating orcas forced an entire population of great white sharks to flee their home waters
By Alison Kock, Matt Dicken, Alison Towner, Heather Bowlby, Toby Rogers published
Researchers have discovered that hundreds of great white sharks that vanished from their home off the Western Cape of South Africa have moved east in order to survive — but this could spell trouble for both the sharks and the people living there.

Watch elusive, sucker-less squid in rare footage captured off the Galapagos
By Elise Poore published
Footage of the rare squid, Grimalditeuthis bonplandi, was captured for only the 2nd time ever during an expedition to explore hydrothermal vents off the Galapagos Islands.

Maned wolf: A strikingly beautiful South American canid
By Megan Shersby published
The maned wolf, a gorgeous canine from South America, is neither a wolf nor a fox, despite resembling both.

Should we rename the Hitler beetle or the Mussolini butterfly? Scientists are shockingly divided.
By Harry Baker published
Some scientists are pushing for species named after offensive people such as Hitler to be renamed, but the official governing body that guides species renaming is opposed.
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