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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![Reconstruction of ancient giant millipede from Netflix's "Life on Our Planet."](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dgV2pgcepxgYRZuVHvSC6d-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dgV2pgcepxgYRZuVHvSC6d-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dgV2pgcepxgYRZuVHvSC6d-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dgV2pgcepxgYRZuVHvSC6d-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dgV2pgcepxgYRZuVHvSC6d-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dgV2pgcepxgYRZuVHvSC6d-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dgV2pgcepxgYRZuVHvSC6d-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dgV2pgcepxgYRZuVHvSC6d-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Watch ancient, giant millipede the size of a car brought back to life in remarkable reconstruction
By Hannah Osborne published
The massive, extinct millipede Arthropleura has been brought back to life in a stunning reconstruction for the Netflix series "Life on Our Planet."
![A microscopic photo of the face of a tardigrade species](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kCx3TS73BWoLFtdKVaXuhE-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kCx3TS73BWoLFtdKVaXuhE-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kCx3TS73BWoLFtdKVaXuhE-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kCx3TS73BWoLFtdKVaXuhE-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kCx3TS73BWoLFtdKVaXuhE-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kCx3TS73BWoLFtdKVaXuhE-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kCx3TS73BWoLFtdKVaXuhE-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kCx3TS73BWoLFtdKVaXuhE-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
We finally know how tardigrades mate
By Elise Poore published
Researchers have discovered the first evidence that male tardigrades can find females by scent.
![Ocean pout (Zoarces americanus), Eastport, Maine, USA, Atlantic Ocean.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UhMQwdYUcUPogmMk5qYCue-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UhMQwdYUcUPogmMk5qYCue-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UhMQwdYUcUPogmMk5qYCue-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UhMQwdYUcUPogmMk5qYCue-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UhMQwdYUcUPogmMk5qYCue-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UhMQwdYUcUPogmMk5qYCue-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UhMQwdYUcUPogmMk5qYCue-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UhMQwdYUcUPogmMk5qYCue-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Ocean pout: The fish with antifreeze blood
By Richard Pallardy published
Ocean pout live in frigid waters from Labrador in Canada to North Carolina and have evolved a blood protein that serves as antifreeze.
![A colony of Chinstrap penguins.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ovyBvPAnfU9G6UwTebvDYf-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ovyBvPAnfU9G6UwTebvDYf-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ovyBvPAnfU9G6UwTebvDYf-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ovyBvPAnfU9G6UwTebvDYf-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ovyBvPAnfU9G6UwTebvDYf-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ovyBvPAnfU9G6UwTebvDYf-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ovyBvPAnfU9G6UwTebvDYf-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ovyBvPAnfU9G6UwTebvDYf-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Weird Chinstrap penguins sleep over 10,000 times a day for just 4 seconds at a time
By Ben Turner published
The penguins accrue 11 hours of cumulative sleep a day from a bizarre adaptation that enables them to doze as they guard their nests.
![A De Winton's golden mole facing the camera on sand.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Mr4t37YGhBVXJgWcJAtv8Q-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Mr4t37YGhBVXJgWcJAtv8Q-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Mr4t37YGhBVXJgWcJAtv8Q-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Mr4t37YGhBVXJgWcJAtv8Q-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Mr4t37YGhBVXJgWcJAtv8Q-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Mr4t37YGhBVXJgWcJAtv8Q-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Mr4t37YGhBVXJgWcJAtv8Q-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Mr4t37YGhBVXJgWcJAtv8Q-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Shimmering golden mole thought extinct photographed and filmed over 80 years after last sighting
By Megan Shersby published
De Winton's golden mole, last sighted in 1937, has been found alive swimming through sand dunes in South Africa after an extensive search for the elusive species.
![close up of a tabby cat with green eyes](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ERrvYNDAGhtbwuQgQ7qxaj-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ERrvYNDAGhtbwuQgQ7qxaj-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ERrvYNDAGhtbwuQgQ7qxaj-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ERrvYNDAGhtbwuQgQ7qxaj-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ERrvYNDAGhtbwuQgQ7qxaj-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ERrvYNDAGhtbwuQgQ7qxaj-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ERrvYNDAGhtbwuQgQ7qxaj-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ERrvYNDAGhtbwuQgQ7qxaj-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Cats' dazzling eye colors may come from 1 unusual ancestor
By Patrick Pester published
The cat family has an amazing array of eye colors stemming from one unusual ancestor.
![A kangaroo stands chest-deep in water.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NnXStSHBPiV8EZP4UVDUGb-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NnXStSHBPiV8EZP4UVDUGb-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NnXStSHBPiV8EZP4UVDUGb-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NnXStSHBPiV8EZP4UVDUGb-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NnXStSHBPiV8EZP4UVDUGb-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NnXStSHBPiV8EZP4UVDUGb-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NnXStSHBPiV8EZP4UVDUGb-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NnXStSHBPiV8EZP4UVDUGb-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Kangaroos might try to drown your dog. Here's why.
By Sascha Pare published
Footage of a kangaroo attempting to drown a dog in a river in Australia went viral online, but this isn't the first time a marsupial has pulled this trick.
![A small squid swims beside a marine plant](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WRTutvUa63EyirFx4xPhBe-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WRTutvUa63EyirFx4xPhBe-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WRTutvUa63EyirFx4xPhBe-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WRTutvUa63EyirFx4xPhBe-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WRTutvUa63EyirFx4xPhBe-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WRTutvUa63EyirFx4xPhBe-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WRTutvUa63EyirFx4xPhBe-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WRTutvUa63EyirFx4xPhBe-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Adorable, newfound pygmy squid species named after Japanese forest fairies
By Elise Poore published
Two new species of pygmy squid have been discovered off Okinawa and named after mythical creatures.
![The carcass of a great white shark washed up on a sandy beach.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7KW8EUS2kvXRtXxMRzaHQM-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7KW8EUS2kvXRtXxMRzaHQM-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7KW8EUS2kvXRtXxMRzaHQM-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7KW8EUS2kvXRtXxMRzaHQM-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7KW8EUS2kvXRtXxMRzaHQM-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7KW8EUS2kvXRtXxMRzaHQM-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7KW8EUS2kvXRtXxMRzaHQM-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7KW8EUS2kvXRtXxMRzaHQM-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Great white shark ripped in 2 was 'loaded' with orca DNA, scientists say
By Sascha Pare published
Scientists have analyzed the remains of a great white shark that washed up in Australia in October and confirmed orcas disemboweled the predator to eat its liver — a first in these waters.
![An orca sinks into the water depths in Norway.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/JkQxmREJfzDptRpAx7wLJD-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/JkQxmREJfzDptRpAx7wLJD-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/JkQxmREJfzDptRpAx7wLJD-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/JkQxmREJfzDptRpAx7wLJD-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/JkQxmREJfzDptRpAx7wLJD-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/JkQxmREJfzDptRpAx7wLJD-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/JkQxmREJfzDptRpAx7wLJD-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/JkQxmREJfzDptRpAx7wLJD-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Dying orca's final moments after 'desperate' effort to stay afloat captured in 1st of its kind footage
By Sascha Pare published
An orca's final moments may have been captured on film for the first time, after repeated attempts by two young orcas to keep the old, dying male at the surface so he could breathe.
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