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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![A camera trap picture of a Vangunu giant rat on the Solomon islands.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dy3PoiXHehgc99qswG7384-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dy3PoiXHehgc99qswG7384-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dy3PoiXHehgc99qswG7384-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dy3PoiXHehgc99qswG7384-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dy3PoiXHehgc99qswG7384-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dy3PoiXHehgc99qswG7384-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dy3PoiXHehgc99qswG7384-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dy3PoiXHehgc99qswG7384-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Giant 1.5-foot-long rat that can crack open coconuts photographed for 1st time on remote island
By Sascha Pare published
After years of failed attempts, scientists have finally succeeded in snapping images of an extremely rare, enormous rat that is so big it can reportedly chew through coconuts on the Solomon Islands.
![Two juvenile sunfish or molas spotted during a dive trip off the coast of British Columbia.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Dr7aoK7zaejg6bDdit3o5V-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Dr7aoK7zaejg6bDdit3o5V-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Dr7aoK7zaejg6bDdit3o5V-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Dr7aoK7zaejg6bDdit3o5V-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Dr7aoK7zaejg6bDdit3o5V-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Dr7aoK7zaejg6bDdit3o5V-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Dr7aoK7zaejg6bDdit3o5V-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Dr7aoK7zaejg6bDdit3o5V-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Watch rare footage of 2 mini mola swimming together off Canada's Pacific coast
By Sascha Pare published
A diver filmed a pair of young ocean sunfish off Canada's coast and experts estimated them to measure 24 inches across — five times smaller than the size they reach as adults.
![Man sits beside a river in a wetsuit holding a fossil engraved with lines, sitting next to two others found.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YFGgvwQ6W9kPaKwE2UNgm3-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YFGgvwQ6W9kPaKwE2UNgm3-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YFGgvwQ6W9kPaKwE2UNgm3-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YFGgvwQ6W9kPaKwE2UNgm3-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YFGgvwQ6W9kPaKwE2UNgm3-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YFGgvwQ6W9kPaKwE2UNgm3-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YFGgvwQ6W9kPaKwE2UNgm3-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YFGgvwQ6W9kPaKwE2UNgm3-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Huge mammoth jaw at least 10,000 years old pulled up from Florida river
By Lydia Smith published
Fossil enthusiast John Kreatsoulas thought the artifact was a log, before he realized he was holding a bone from the last ice age.
![A Great White shark smiles at it approaches the camera amidst dark waters](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/EnsAswkP5wSnP7ZunwryLR-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/EnsAswkP5wSnP7ZunwryLR-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/EnsAswkP5wSnP7ZunwryLR-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/EnsAswkP5wSnP7ZunwryLR-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/EnsAswkP5wSnP7ZunwryLR-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/EnsAswkP5wSnP7ZunwryLR-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/EnsAswkP5wSnP7ZunwryLR-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/EnsAswkP5wSnP7ZunwryLR-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Great white sharks are hanging out in the twilight zone and scientists don't know why
By Carys Matthews published
Researchers recorded the movements of ocean predators and found many diving to depths of over 3,200 feet for reasons that are currently unclear.
![A serotine bat lies on its belly with its mouth open and showing teeth.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QuQww44dcmBn8E49JEtE3e-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QuQww44dcmBn8E49JEtE3e-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QuQww44dcmBn8E49JEtE3e-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QuQww44dcmBn8E49JEtE3e-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QuQww44dcmBn8E49JEtE3e-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QuQww44dcmBn8E49JEtE3e-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QuQww44dcmBn8E49JEtE3e-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QuQww44dcmBn8E49JEtE3e-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Bats with weirdly giant penis have sex for up to 12 hours in a way never seen in mammals before
By Sascha Pare published
Serotine bats that have penises seven times longer and wider than their female counterparts' vaginas are the first known mammals to engage in non-penetrative sex.
![A brown and white St. Bernard puppy chasing his tail in studio.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MzDK4sCKEtsYxtX4bar2WT-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MzDK4sCKEtsYxtX4bar2WT-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MzDK4sCKEtsYxtX4bar2WT-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MzDK4sCKEtsYxtX4bar2WT-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MzDK4sCKEtsYxtX4bar2WT-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MzDK4sCKEtsYxtX4bar2WT-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MzDK4sCKEtsYxtX4bar2WT-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MzDK4sCKEtsYxtX4bar2WT-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Why do dogs chase their tails?
By Charles Q. Choi published
Why are dogs, especially puppies, in endless pursuit of their tails?
![Orange speckled sand boa snake with bulging reddish eyes](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pQRDUYNuE9oaRaAThPWB7A-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pQRDUYNuE9oaRaAThPWB7A-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pQRDUYNuE9oaRaAThPWB7A-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pQRDUYNuE9oaRaAThPWB7A-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pQRDUYNuE9oaRaAThPWB7A-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pQRDUYNuE9oaRaAThPWB7A-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pQRDUYNuE9oaRaAThPWB7A-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pQRDUYNuE9oaRaAThPWB7A-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Arabian sand boa: The derpy snake that looks like it's got googly eyes glued to the top of its head
By Sascha Pare published
Arabian sand boas live in deserts on the Arabian Peninsula, where they lie buried in the sand with only their derpy eyes peeking out as they wait for prey.
![Norway Lemming (Lemmus lemmus) among autumn coloured bearberries and blackberries.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oZWqqe8kPUmqTMU8HKPi4E-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oZWqqe8kPUmqTMU8HKPi4E-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oZWqqe8kPUmqTMU8HKPi4E-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oZWqqe8kPUmqTMU8HKPi4E-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oZWqqe8kPUmqTMU8HKPi4E-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oZWqqe8kPUmqTMU8HKPi4E-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oZWqqe8kPUmqTMU8HKPi4E-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oZWqqe8kPUmqTMU8HKPi4E-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Do lemmings actually jump off of cliffs?
By Hannah Loss published
Do these tundra-inhabiting rodents actually jump to their deaths as depicted in a 1958 wildlife documentary?
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