Animals
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![A Liger in the Siberian Tiger Park, Harbin, China. The Liger is the hybrid of a male lion and a female tiger, and there is only a 0.1% chance that such a baby is born.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tdKiAFWGULwGeve666TfvJ-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tdKiAFWGULwGeve666TfvJ-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tdKiAFWGULwGeve666TfvJ-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tdKiAFWGULwGeve666TfvJ-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tdKiAFWGULwGeve666TfvJ-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tdKiAFWGULwGeve666TfvJ-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tdKiAFWGULwGeve666TfvJ-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tdKiAFWGULwGeve666TfvJ-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
10 of the strangest hybrid animals
By Patrick Pester published
Nature doesn't have strict rules for cross-species coupling.
![Caterpillar of Papilio machaon butterfly with orange and black spots](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jhVpZ596HMj8AXeny8ZrMA-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jhVpZ596HMj8AXeny8ZrMA-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jhVpZ596HMj8AXeny8ZrMA-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jhVpZ596HMj8AXeny8ZrMA-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jhVpZ596HMj8AXeny8ZrMA-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jhVpZ596HMj8AXeny8ZrMA-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jhVpZ596HMj8AXeny8ZrMA-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jhVpZ596HMj8AXeny8ZrMA-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Caterpillars evolved their weird chubby little 'prolegs' from ancient crustaceans
By Richard Pallardy published
The extra legs caterpillars have appear have origins in the primitive crustaceans that insects evolved from during the Ordovician period over 400 million years ago.
![Orcas killer whales underwater in dark night sea.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ohmAGxo2ho4a4BSkLSYqEL-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ohmAGxo2ho4a4BSkLSYqEL-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ohmAGxo2ho4a4BSkLSYqEL-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ohmAGxo2ho4a4BSkLSYqEL-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ohmAGxo2ho4a4BSkLSYqEL-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ohmAGxo2ho4a4BSkLSYqEL-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ohmAGxo2ho4a4BSkLSYqEL-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ohmAGxo2ho4a4BSkLSYqEL-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
11 ways orcas show their terrifying intelligence
By Patrick Pester published
Orcas have their own dialect, greeting ceremonies and even wore salmon as hats in a weird fad during the 1980s.
![An orca attacks a whale, which is gushing blood from its mouth.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9mnjqLQRhh4X6ZQdXTqiWA-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9mnjqLQRhh4X6ZQdXTqiWA-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9mnjqLQRhh4X6ZQdXTqiWA-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9mnjqLQRhh4X6ZQdXTqiWA-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9mnjqLQRhh4X6ZQdXTqiWA-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9mnjqLQRhh4X6ZQdXTqiWA-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9mnjqLQRhh4X6ZQdXTqiWA-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9mnjqLQRhh4X6ZQdXTqiWA-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Orcas are learning terrifying new behaviors. Are they getting smarter?
By Sascha Pare published
From sinking boats and feasting on shark livers to dining on whale tongue and tossing porpoises around for fun, orcas are displaying some fascinating — and sometimes terrifying — behaviors.
![A killer whale hunting alongside a whaling boat in the early 20th century.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hgqiAea73xyUNSuyHo4QXg-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hgqiAea73xyUNSuyHo4QXg-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hgqiAea73xyUNSuyHo4QXg-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hgqiAea73xyUNSuyHo4QXg-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hgqiAea73xyUNSuyHo4QXg-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hgqiAea73xyUNSuyHo4QXg-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hgqiAea73xyUNSuyHo4QXg-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hgqiAea73xyUNSuyHo4QXg-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Orcas that hunted alongside humans might be extinct
By Patrick Pester published
Researchers used DNA analysis and traditional knowledge to learn about an orca named Old Tom and his family's remarkable relationship with humans.
![a golden takin resting on a rock facing the camera with trees in the background](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tDXzWbA3vrourEDtskSPbQ-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tDXzWbA3vrourEDtskSPbQ-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tDXzWbA3vrourEDtskSPbQ-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tDXzWbA3vrourEDtskSPbQ-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tDXzWbA3vrourEDtskSPbQ-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tDXzWbA3vrourEDtskSPbQ-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tDXzWbA3vrourEDtskSPbQ-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tDXzWbA3vrourEDtskSPbQ-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Takins: Strange, mountain-dwelling mammals with mythical golden fleeces
By Richard Pallardy published
These weird-looking stocky mammals roam Alpine zones and forested valleys in Asia, using their specially adapted split hooves help them traverse the steep, rocky terrain.
![Two bright red ladybugs walk towards each other on a twig, one on top, the other beneath, on a bright blue background.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Xawcw5bzwsuKtH95rovf4J-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Xawcw5bzwsuKtH95rovf4J-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Xawcw5bzwsuKtH95rovf4J-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Xawcw5bzwsuKtH95rovf4J-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Xawcw5bzwsuKtH95rovf4J-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Xawcw5bzwsuKtH95rovf4J-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Xawcw5bzwsuKtH95rovf4J-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Xawcw5bzwsuKtH95rovf4J-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Which group of animals has the most species?
By Emma Bryce published
The leading group is so diverse that it represents one in every three animal species on Earth.
![A great white shark lies on the operating table before a necropsy.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/q9CRgwvTh2cVqzXoUytNrF-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/q9CRgwvTh2cVqzXoUytNrF-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/q9CRgwvTh2cVqzXoUytNrF-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/q9CRgwvTh2cVqzXoUytNrF-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/q9CRgwvTh2cVqzXoUytNrF-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/q9CRgwvTh2cVqzXoUytNrF-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/q9CRgwvTh2cVqzXoUytNrF-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/q9CRgwvTh2cVqzXoUytNrF-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Big, healthy great white shark washes up dead on Canada beach in latest of string of mystery strandings
By Sascha Pare published
Scientists have performed a necropsy on a great white shark that washed up in Nova Scotia — the fifth unexplained stranding of its kind in a year — but were unable to determine the cause of death.
![The god Atum fighting the serpent Apophis, the enemy of the Sun, fresco, burial chamber, Tomb of Ramesses I (KV16), Valley of the Kings, Thebes (Unesco World Heritage List, 1979). Egyptian civilisation, New Kingdom, Dynasty XIX.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3kpjzuvNZDqMkMLHh5kcC7-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3kpjzuvNZDqMkMLHh5kcC7-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3kpjzuvNZDqMkMLHh5kcC7-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3kpjzuvNZDqMkMLHh5kcC7-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3kpjzuvNZDqMkMLHh5kcC7-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3kpjzuvNZDqMkMLHh5kcC7-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3kpjzuvNZDqMkMLHh5kcC7-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3kpjzuvNZDqMkMLHh5kcC7-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Ancient Egyptian papyrus describes dozens of venomous snakes, including rare 4-fanged serpent
By Wolfgang Wüster, Isabelle Catherine Winder published
Ancient Egypt had far more venomous snakes than the country does today, according to a new study of a scroll.
![A close up picture of a snow crab in a transparent tank.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fnUvxPDZLqi2kmH696KG5-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fnUvxPDZLqi2kmH696KG5-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fnUvxPDZLqi2kmH696KG5-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fnUvxPDZLqi2kmH696KG5-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fnUvxPDZLqi2kmH696KG5-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fnUvxPDZLqi2kmH696KG5-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fnUvxPDZLqi2kmH696KG5-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fnUvxPDZLqi2kmH696KG5-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
More than 10 billion snow crabs starved to death off the coast of Alaska. But why?
By Sascha Pare published
A large population of snow crabs in the eastern Bering Sea collapsed after a marine heat wave in 2018 and 2019 that multiplied the crabs' caloric needs and drove them to starvation.
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