Animals
We live on a planet with millions of species of animals -and a rich, diverse collection of known wildlife, and yet new species are being identified seemingly every day — both living and extinct.
Whether it’s the deadliest snakes, longest-living creatures or the history of the dinosaurs, at Live Science, our expert writers are here to help you understand Earth's incredible fauna — past and present — with the latest animal news, features and articles.
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![The epaulette shark pup swims in a tank at Brookfield Zoo.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pfgxErKRtQSdfyqmrhYGnM-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pfgxErKRtQSdfyqmrhYGnM-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pfgxErKRtQSdfyqmrhYGnM-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pfgxErKRtQSdfyqmrhYGnM-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pfgxErKRtQSdfyqmrhYGnM-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pfgxErKRtQSdfyqmrhYGnM-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pfgxErKRtQSdfyqmrhYGnM-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pfgxErKRtQSdfyqmrhYGnM-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Shark has virgin birth after no male contact for 4 years in Chicago zoo
By Sascha Pare published
An epaulette shark pup born in August at Brookfield Zoo hatched from an egg that was not fertilized by a male shark. It's the second time this species has undergone a virgin birth in captivity.
![three chimpanzees sitting together looking at something in one of their hands](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/asjEEVicJ4wFgqNkEj8GqH-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/asjEEVicJ4wFgqNkEj8GqH-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/asjEEVicJ4wFgqNkEj8GqH-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/asjEEVicJ4wFgqNkEj8GqH-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/asjEEVicJ4wFgqNkEj8GqH-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/asjEEVicJ4wFgqNkEj8GqH-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/asjEEVicJ4wFgqNkEj8GqH-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/asjEEVicJ4wFgqNkEj8GqH-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Chimps use military tactic only ever seen in humans before
By Patrick Pester published
Scientists have discovered that chimps living in Côte d'Ivoire carry out surveillance on each other to avoid or incite conflict — much like in human military operations.
![A close-up of a bear's open mouth as it roars](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FatpU3qUnZYt7HNbGj7Eeh-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FatpU3qUnZYt7HNbGj7Eeh-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FatpU3qUnZYt7HNbGj7Eeh-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FatpU3qUnZYt7HNbGj7Eeh-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FatpU3qUnZYt7HNbGj7Eeh-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FatpU3qUnZYt7HNbGj7Eeh-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FatpU3qUnZYt7HNbGj7Eeh-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FatpU3qUnZYt7HNbGj7Eeh-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Bear linked to multiple attacks in Japan found dead alongside its final victim
By Harry Baker published
Japanese officials found the body of a missing student alongside the corpse of a brown bear that likely killed him. The bear is also suspected of attacking several other people in the area.
![an orange starfish surrounded by brittle stars on the seafloor](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YHxhTGzqtzbfv4tUoo3kxX-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YHxhTGzqtzbfv4tUoo3kxX-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YHxhTGzqtzbfv4tUoo3kxX-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YHxhTGzqtzbfv4tUoo3kxX-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YHxhTGzqtzbfv4tUoo3kxX-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YHxhTGzqtzbfv4tUoo3kxX-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YHxhTGzqtzbfv4tUoo3kxX-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YHxhTGzqtzbfv4tUoo3kxX-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
'A disembodied head walking about the sea floor on its lips': Scientists finally work out what a starfish is
By Richard Pallardy published
Scientists have discovered something strange happened to starfish over the course of their evolution, and they ended up as heads scampering around the seafloor.
![two photos showing wolves carrying sea otters in their jaws](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/25Mxotiz8u8hGErHEafqgU-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/25Mxotiz8u8hGErHEafqgU-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/25Mxotiz8u8hGErHEafqgU-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/25Mxotiz8u8hGErHEafqgU-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/25Mxotiz8u8hGErHEafqgU-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/25Mxotiz8u8hGErHEafqgU-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/25Mxotiz8u8hGErHEafqgU-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/25Mxotiz8u8hGErHEafqgU-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Watch rare footage of wolf hunting sea otter in Alaska at low tide
By Carys Matthews published
Coastal wolves in Alaska have learned to kill marine mammals, and have developed a "unique" lone hunting strategy to take down prey, scientists have said.
![Orcas swimming near a boat](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Nbsm3yxJsvRyg422B4vWYK-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Nbsm3yxJsvRyg422B4vWYK-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Nbsm3yxJsvRyg422B4vWYK-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Nbsm3yxJsvRyg422B4vWYK-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Nbsm3yxJsvRyg422B4vWYK-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Nbsm3yxJsvRyg422B4vWYK-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Nbsm3yxJsvRyg422B4vWYK-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Nbsm3yxJsvRyg422B4vWYK-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Orcas sink another boat in Europe after a nearly hour-long attack
By Harry Baker published
For the fourth time in two years, a group of unusually brazen orcas in southwestern Europe have sunk a sailing boat after relentlessly attacking it for almost an hour on Halloween.
![A closeup-photo of a Brazilian wandering spider, with orange head and black and white-striped legs](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bLQtoRrFpxRvLLPk7YdsQg-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bLQtoRrFpxRvLLPk7YdsQg-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bLQtoRrFpxRvLLPk7YdsQg-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bLQtoRrFpxRvLLPk7YdsQg-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bLQtoRrFpxRvLLPk7YdsQg-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bLQtoRrFpxRvLLPk7YdsQg-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bLQtoRrFpxRvLLPk7YdsQg-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bLQtoRrFpxRvLLPk7YdsQg-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Brazilian wandering spiders: Bites & other facts
By Jessie Szalay last updated
The Brazilian wandering spider, also called the banana spider, is one of the planet's most venomous spiders.
![Striped cat yawns with wide open mouth on bright pink background; The sun showing sunspots, solar flares and coronal mass ejections.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WpcV29eA57dHJMA7Kbrh2X-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WpcV29eA57dHJMA7Kbrh2X-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WpcV29eA57dHJMA7Kbrh2X-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WpcV29eA57dHJMA7Kbrh2X-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WpcV29eA57dHJMA7Kbrh2X-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WpcV29eA57dHJMA7Kbrh2X-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WpcV29eA57dHJMA7Kbrh2X-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WpcV29eA57dHJMA7Kbrh2X-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Science news this week: The many faces of cats and an impending solar maximum
By Alexander McNamara published
Nov. 5, 2023: Our weekly roundup of the latest science in the news, as well as a few fascinating articles to keep you entertained over the weekend.
![Two scaly earless monitor lizards sit together side by side on top of some leaves](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9YFQH4gGEGGLygP46AgeiP-320-80.png 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9YFQH4gGEGGLygP46AgeiP-450-80.png 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9YFQH4gGEGGLygP46AgeiP-500-80.png 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9YFQH4gGEGGLygP46AgeiP-650-80.png 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9YFQH4gGEGGLygP46AgeiP-840-80.png 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9YFQH4gGEGGLygP46AgeiP-970-80.png 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9YFQH4gGEGGLygP46AgeiP-1024-80.png 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9YFQH4gGEGGLygP46AgeiP-1200-80.png 1200w)
Earless monitor lizards: The 'Holy Grail' of reptiles that looks like a mini dragon
By Patrick Pester published
Researchers are only beginning to understand the cryptic lives of the earless monitor lizards of Borneo.
![Aerial view of great white sharks among seals as they gather near the shore in the shallows of clear turquoise water.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NgnDY4F9HeooqiKUaJa3zY-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NgnDY4F9HeooqiKUaJa3zY-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NgnDY4F9HeooqiKUaJa3zY-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NgnDY4F9HeooqiKUaJa3zY-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NgnDY4F9HeooqiKUaJa3zY-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NgnDY4F9HeooqiKUaJa3zY-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NgnDY4F9HeooqiKUaJa3zY-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NgnDY4F9HeooqiKUaJa3zY-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Watch great white shark get mobbed by gang of seals in 'incredible and surprising' footage
By Sascha Pare published
Astonishing footage from Planet Earth III, which premieres Nov. 4 on BBC America and AMC+, shows a herd of seals fending off an attack by the world's most notorious predator off the southern coast of Africa.
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