The Platypus Is Weirder Than You Ever Imagined

Once denounced as a hoax, the platypus is far weirder than those early explorers and zoologists could ever imagine. 

Justine E. Hausheer

Hellbenders Need You to Stop Messing With Their Bedrooms

That streamside rock cairn you posted on Instagram? It’s killing ancient salamanders.

Christine Peterson

A Field Guide to The Feral Parrots of the US

The US is home to dozens of feral parrot species. Here's a quick guide to identifying the most common birds.

Justine E. Hausheer

Can Platypus Persist Alongside People?

Under threat from urban development, can this iconic Australian animal survive alongside us?

Justine E. Hausheer

Why Do Marsupials Have Pouches? And Other Questions

Here we answer some of the most common questions about marsupials, delving into the who, what, where, when and why? of this strange and wonderful group of mammals.

Justine E. Hausheer

The Strange Sex Life of Freshwater Mussels

The mussel’s sedentary lifestyle presents, well, certain mating challenges.

Matthew L. Miller

Meet the Mysterious Freshwater Eels of New Zealand

Meet the eels of New Zealand… they can climb ladders, live for 100 years, and migrate thousands of miles to an unknown spawning ground.

Justine E. Hausheer

When Fish Eat Birds

The pike that ate an eagle. A cod that barfs up black ducks. And other true fish stories.

Matthew L. Miller

Meet the Bizarre American Bittern

The American Bittern may look nondescript, but it’s full of surprises. Learn more about one of the more unusual marsh denizens.

Kelsey Roseth

In Pictures: Saving Papua New Guinea’s Sea Cucumbers

View photographs from our reporter’s journey to Manus, where local communities are taking sustainable sea cucumber management into their own hands.

Justine E. Hausheer

The Weird Sex Lives of Orchids

Orchids are lovely, but the strategies they use to reproduce are weird. And diverse. And sometimes horrifying.

Justine E. Hausheer

What’s That Weird Duck In The Local Pond?

Have you seen a weird duck you can’t identify? We’re here to help you sort it out.

Matthew L. Miller