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

Ultra-rare, deep-diving whale dies on New England beach with possible case of bird flu
By Sascha Pare published
A necropsy revealed that the animal may have been infected with avian influenza, which would be "a big deal" if it is confirmed by further testing, scientists say.

Octopuses 'rewire' their brains to adapt to different ocean temperatures
By Kiley Price published
Octopuses edit their RNA to adapt to fluctuating temperatures, from the warm waters of summer to chilly ocean temperatures in winter.

Gene therapy could be used as birth control for cats, small study suggests
By Jennifer Nalewicki published
A new study shows that gene therapy could be an effective form of birth control for cats.

Primates have been masturbating for at least 40 million years
By Hannah Osborne published
Researchers reconstructed the evolutionary origins of primate masturbation and found it was an ancestral trait that goes back to the ancestor of all moneys and apes.

World's largest captive croc turns 120, giving scientists 'serious knowledge on longevity'
By Sascha Pare published
Researchers captured Cassius in 1984 because the "big old gnarly crocodile" was causing trouble on a cattle farm, and ferried him to Green Island, Australia, where he still lives today.

Pablo Escobar's 'cocaine hippos' top 200, twice as many as we thought
By Megan Shersby published
A new census of the world’s largest invasive species reveals the population is roughly double the size scientists previously estimated.

Crocodile murder mystery deepens following discovery of 2nd corpse with 'fileted' head
By Sascha Pare published
An anonymous person allegedly told a wildlife tour operator who was very fond of the crocodile "Lizzie" that the killing was a way of proving that humans, not crocodiles, are the apex predator.

'Virgin birth' recorded in crocodile for 1st time ever
By Hannah Osborne published
The American crocodile had been isolated in a reptile park enclosure for 16 years when she laid a clutch of eggs.
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