The Map of Life, or MOL, tracks the biodiversity around the world. Researchers are using the map to predict where an unknown species may be hiding. The data model shows that amphibians and reptiles are the most undiscovered animals. This…
Advocates and conservationists are hopeful that a Biden administration will better protect animals in the U.S. In 2019, Trump made changes to the Endangered Species Act that made enforcement more difficult. Biden’s administration may reverse some of these rollbacks. The…
On October 5, the National Zoo announced the sex of Mei Xiang’s newest cub. The cub was born on August 21. DNA testing was used to determine it is a boy. This test is the best way to tell the…
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History will help study and preserve a Megamouth specimen found in 2018. Megamouths are rare and little is known about them. This specimen could hold clues to the shark’s habitats, migration patterns, and life…
As the largest cat species on the planet, there is a lot to celebrate when it comes to tigers. Their distinctive orange and black coat can have up to 100 stripes. They can see six times better in the dark…
After the outbreak of the coronavirus in the U.S., the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago temporarily closed. The animal keepers decided to take advantage of visitor-free aquarium by letting some of the animals explore outside of their normal areas. One penguin,…
An all-white giant panda is roaming a forest in the Sichuan province of China. This rare bear was caught on camera in a nature reserve. It is believed to be one to two years old, and in healthy condition. The…
An anaconda snake at the Boston New England Aquarium produced 18 babies without the help of a male. It happened through a process called parthenogenesis. The sets of genes came from her eggs. The egg first clones itself before self-fertilizing.…
At Boston’s New England Aquarium in early 2019, a 10-foot anaconda named Anna surprised her caretakers when she gave birth to 18 baby snakes—without the involvement of a male. The mama created her offspring by a rarely documented process called…
Triangle weaver spiders (genus Hypiotes) have a unique skill in the animal kingdom. They construct webs that are loaded with tension, anchoring themselves with silk from their abdomen and pulling the web tighter with a central line. When a bug…