The Bagworm Moth Caterpillar: Master of Architecture and Illusion
The bagworm moth caterpillar is unique among moth species in that it uses bits of twigs, leaves, and bark to create its cocoon, providing vital camouflage.
Peruvian Inca Orchid: The Dog of the Incas
The Peruvian government aims to preserve the Peruvian Inca Orchid, or Perro sin pelo del Perú, a hairless ancient dog breed.
Upside Down Tree Is the Perfect Backdrop to a Sundowner
Found in Central and Southern Africa, the baobab, also known as the upside-down tree, can become so massive that people can even live in it.
Skeleton Flower Turns Translucent When It Rains
The Diphylleia grayi is known as the “skeleton flower” because its petals become translucent when wet, exposing its “skeleton.”
This Weird Scaleless Fish Also Has Transparent Blood
The ocellated icefish, found in the icy waters of Antarctica, lacks hemoglobin in its blood, which is what makes its blood transparent.
Crown Shyness: Even Trees Need Their Own Space
Scientists still don’t fully know why some trees avoid touching another tree’s crowns, but the resulting rupture-like patterns in the canopy are a sight to behold.
The Wrap Around Spider and the Man Who Discovered It
Count Eugen Wilhelm Theodor von Keyserling discovered the wrap-around spider, including it in his oeuvre considered to be “one of the finest iconographies of arachnids ever published.”
Snakes Have Friends and Can Be Choosy about Whom They Hangout with
New research study finds garter snakes are surprisingly social, forming strong friendships with their peers
Star Nosed Mole: The Fastest Forager in the World
The Condylura cristata can locate, assess, and consume its food in 230 milliseconds—1/6th faster than it takes for you to stop at a red light
The Marine Iguana: The World’s Only Ocean-going Lizard
Charles Darwin dubbed the Marine Iguana “disgusting clumsy lizards” and “imps of darkness” but they are actually the world’s only ocean-going lizard.
