Most edible mushrooms are relatively small, but in West Africa as well as Zambia, there’s one particularly enormous species that outgrows all the rest of them. Termitomyces titanicus. A rather fitting name for such a huge species. Image credit: Danny Newman In Zambia, where mushroom-gathering is an important part of life, the Termitomyces titanicus is especially held …
A species of horned viper turns hunters into prey by deceiving them with its tail. This viper takes sneak attacks to a new level. Image credits: Omid Mozaffari In 1968, scientists observed a horned viper in Iran that had a rather strange feature: its tail ended in an unusual growth, with long scales that resembled …
This Viper is the Master of Deception: It Hunts Birds by Pretending to be a Spider Read More »
The blue dragon is a unique little sea monster. It might not be able to breathe fire but… Well, read below. The blue sea dragon may not be able to breathe fire, but it packs a nasty sting. Image credit: Sylke Rohrlach Contradictory to its name, the blue sea dragon (Glaucus atlanticus) is quite small …
This Blue Sea Dragon ‘Steals’ Venom from Its Prey to Create an Even More Powerful Sting Read More »
A historical event has occurred at the Bronx Zoo when, for the first time since its opening in 1899, six Komodo dragons have hatched there. This landmark is a very important step for wildlife conservation since the species is classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and mating between these reptiles …
For the First Time Ever, Ancient Dragons Have Hatched at the Bronx Zoo Read More »
The emergence of rare axolotl morphs is a result of us tweaking nature. Image credit: Courtney Bailey/Goldfisj Axolotls have fascinated the international public ever since they were first brought to Paris from Mexico in 1864. Europeans across the continent began breeding these salamanders, marking the beginning of an extensive pet trade in the animals, which …
When it went viral, many commenters couldn’t believe it was a real plant. It was. In March 2019, images of a plant dubbed ‘penis flytrap’ went viral. The name was a play on words that evokes the plant Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula), the name of which could, in turn, be an oblique reference to it’s …
The ghostly giant is an extremely rare sight and now we have excellent footage to help us learn about it. Out of the darkness of the ocean’s midnight zone, a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) of the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) spots a billowing crimson curtain. When the submersible moves in for a closer …
It might give the impression of being a tardy little fellow, but then, all of a sudden… it turns out to be hardy. Image credits: Richard Herrmann / Adriane Honerbrink The sarcastic fringehead (Neoclinus blanchardi) has a rather curious name, with an attitude to match. This creepy little fish can scare off animals much larger …
This Hot-Tempered Sea Fish Has a Wider Mouth Than Body Read More »
Ladies and gentlemen, the award for best invertebrate mimicry goes to Hemeroplanes triptolemus for its masterful impersonation of a venomous snake! Photo: Andreas Kay Native to the rainforests of the Amazon, the snake mimic caterpillar turns into a rather unimpressive moth in the family Sphingidae, but in its larval stage it incorporates an astonishing survival …
When Threatened, This Caterpillar Takes On the Appearance of a Venomous Snake Read More »
Although lava domes are pretty common, symmetrical ones are extremely rare. The chances are you haven’t seen one yet – until now. The Mauna Ulu eruption of Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii With lasted a whopping 1,774 days, that is, almost five years. At the time, it was Kilauea’s longest running eruption and produced about 460 …
Rare Dramatic Photo Captures 65-Foot-Tall Lava Dome in Hawaii Read More »
