Do spiders even sleep? Does everyone remember hearing that people swallow like 7 spiders a year or something like that? Or just me? In a study by Daniela Roessler and her colleagues, baby jumping spiders were watched by cameras at night. Footage caught showed sleep cycle-like patterns. During this time, the spiders’ legs twitched and …
Continue reading “Spiders Sleep Just Like We Do, According to a New Study”
Think the world is a weird place today? Oh please. Had you been around a few million years earlier, the whole planet basically looked like a fever dream. We’ve written quite a bit about the terrifying creatures of the prehistoric world. But we’ve realized that we’ve almost completely ignored the strange and wonderful animals of …
Capital punishment is a divisive topic. But in a recent spate of assaults in Japan, the authorities felt the death penalty was warranted. The criminal wasn’t a person, mind you. Instead, it was the potential leader of a rampaging pack of macaques. The monkeys have terrorized the city of Yamaguchi for more than a month. …
Continue reading “Japanese Hunters Track Down and Execute Marauding Mad Macaque”
There are many animals that scare us — and for a good reason. Then there are those that look cute or are really tiny but can still murder you. And finally, there are animals that will send you running and screaming. But if you got over that initial instinct to run for the hills, you’d …
Continue reading “5 Creepy and Scary Animals That Are Actually (Mostly) Harmless”
Extended droughts are just one side effect of climate change and they’re becoming more common. Case in point, southwestern Europe is currently kind of on fire. But Europe’s not the only place struggling with the lack of rain. In India, with temperatures way above 90 degrees Fahrenheit, both commercial and subsistence farmers are desperate for …
Continue reading “Indian City Married Two Frogs to Bring Rain — And It Worked”
Deciding whether to get a pet requires careful thought. You should think about what kind of animal best suits your way of life. By making a decision based on your level of commitment, you should have a clear notion of what kind of pet will fit into your lifestyle and priorities. There are numerous benefits …
Most people don’t spend their time thinking about animals mating. And that’s a smart move — some animals are into some downright horrifying stuff. We’ve already written about some strange courtship rituals that animals engage in. But once the partner is wooed and it’s time to get dirty, things don’t often get any less bizarre. …
When you want to do the horizontal mambo without offspring, it’s a simple solution — use a contraceptive. But try telling that to animals. More specifically, gray squirrels. Environmentalists in the U.K. are struggling to deal with an overwhelming onslaught of the tree-climbing rodents. The traditional method of dealing with the squirrels is a rather …
Continue reading “Scientists Create Squirrel Contraceptive to Save UK’s Trees”
Which four things do drug kingpins from Latin American cartels love the most? Drugs, of course, but also money, guns, and exotic animals. You might be surprised by that last item but if you’ve paid any attention to narcos, you shouldn’t be. After all, the U.S. has recognized Pablo Escobar’s cocaine hippos as people. But …
Continue reading “Dead Monkey in a ‘Bullet-Proof’ Vest and Drug Cartels’ Other Weird Animals”
They say size doesn’t matter. But when it comes to being a frog, it kind of does. If you’ve never heard of the pumpkin toadlet, don’t feel bad — we hadn’t either. And that’s a pity because it would’ve made a perfect addition to our list of the most pathetic animals. The pumpkin toadlet truly …
Continue reading “Meet the Frog Who’s Too Small to Do Anything Frogs Should”