Megan Shersby

Megan Shersby

Freelance science writer

Megan Shersby is a naturalist, wildlife writer and content creator. After graduating from Aberystwyth University with a BSc (Hons) degree in Animal Science, she has worked in nature communications and the conservation sector for a variety of organisations and charities, including BBC Wildlife magazine, the National Trust, two of the Wildlife Trusts and the Field Studies Council. She has bylines in the Seasons anthologies published by the Wildlife Trusts, Into The Red published by the BTO, and has written for the BBC Countryfile magazine and website, and produced podcast episodes for its award-winning podcast, The Plodcast. 

Articles by: Megan Shersby

A maned wolf, largest canid of South America, walks in his enclosure at the zoo park of Lille, northern France, on February 11, 2019.

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.

a hoff crab specimen on a black background

Hoff crab: The hairy-chested crustacean that farms bacteria on its hairs

By Megan Shersby published

The "yeti" crab is white and hairy, as its nickname suggests, and it thrives in hydrothermal vents in Antarctica's frigid waters.

A blue ringed octopus hovers in the ocean.

13 of the most venomous sea creatures lurking in the water

By Megan Shersby published

From blue-ringed octopuses to stonefish, here are some of the most venomous, deadly species in our planet's oceans.

Closeup of yellow-legged hornet

Invasive yellow-legged hornets spotted in US for 1st time, one nest eradicated

By Megan Shersby last updated

The invasive yellow-legged hornet, which preys on honey bees, has been spotted in Georgia for the first time.

Coelacanth in ocean.

West Indian Ocean coelacanth: The once-'extinct' Lazarus fish that can live for 100 years

By Megan Shersby published

Believed to have gone extinct at the time of the dinosaurs, the coelacanth has one of the longest gestation periods on Earth — and it can hunt in a headstand.

an unusual species of succulent known as baby's bum because of its pink globe-like leaves

This bizarre little succulent looks like a baby's butt

By Megan Shersby published

Gibbaeum heathii is endemic to a valley in South Africa that is surrounded by mountains and receives very little rainfall, allowing a huge range of succulent species to thrive. This bababoutjies — or baby's bum — is one of them.

an axolotl, or mexican salamander, looking at the camera with pink frills around its face

Axolotl: The adorable amphibian that can regrow its body and stay looking young forever

By Megan Shersby published

The Mexican salamander is only found in two lakes and is considered critically endangered, with pollution and invasive predators driving the species' decline.

two hippos facing each other in a river with their mouths wide open

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.

Other versions of this page are available with specific content for the following regions: