ANIMALS

The Real-Life Marine Biologist Who Helped Inspire ‘Jaws’

Dr. Donald “Reef” Nelson dedicated his life to studying sharks and was part of the inspiration for Matt Hooper, Richard Dreyfuss’s character from 1975's “Jaws.”

Why Is the Unicorn Scotland’s National Animal?

Scotland’s national animal is the unicorn. The reason isn’t because Scotland is a nation of unicorn lovers; rather, it’s thanks to the country’s bygone kings.

Bee Team: Bumblebees Can Cooperate To Push LEGO Bricks, According to Science

Bees demonstrate a surprising understanding of needing a helping hand to tackle obstacles.

‘T. rex’ Might Have Been as Smart as a Crocodile (But Not As Smart As We Thought)

Previously, a study suggested that the king of the dinosaurs was as intelligent as a primate. New data hints that this may not have been the case.

Elephants are among the smartest mammals.

7 Behaviors That Show Elephants Are Incredibly Smart

Elephants demonstrate complex behaviors that researchers have associated with empathy and mourning, pointing to the animals’ high level of intelligence.

Wolves vs. Coyotes: What’s the Difference?

Coyotes can sometimes look like wolves from a distance—but there are some key differences between the two species.

Red foxes in particular are very adaptable carnivores.

What Do Foxes Eat?

Uncover the unique culinary preferences of foxes, including the differences in what rural vs. urban foxes eat and how red foxes fit into the equation.

It can be tough to describe something most people have never seen.

Quiz: Can You Guess the Animal Based on an Early Description?

These descriptions are as wild as they animals they talk about. Can you figure out which creatures they refer to?

Labrador vs. Golden Retriever: What’s the Difference?

When it comes to telling the differences between yellow labradors vs. golden retrievers, it comes down to coat length and colors, body type, and few other key factors.

The origins of these animals’ names may surprise you.

How 20 Animals Got Their Names

‘Hippopotamus’ is Latin for “river-horse,” which makes sense for these semiaquatic mammals. The origins of some other animal names aren’t quite as literal.

Unlovable Sea Lampreys Might Share Our Fight-or-Flight Instinct

The alien-looking, bloodsucking fish have cells that may form the same rudimentary nervous system we have.

Rin Tin Tin and trainer Lee Duncan prepare to go before cameras in 1935.

14 of the Biggest Animal Stars in Hollywood History

Rin Tin Tin was found on a World War I battlefield in France before making his way to Hollywood, while poor Arnold the Pig was rumored to have been eaten after ‘Green Acres’ was canceled.

When it comes to eating poop, it's definitely ok to yuck your dog's yum.

How to Stop Your Dog From Eating Poop

There could be several reasons why your dog is eating poop—and several steps you can take to nip the behavior in the bud.

Red vs. Gray Fox: What's the Difference?

Here's how to identify red and gray foxes, plus some helpful information about where the foxes live and what they eat.

Bigfoot Sightings Are Probably Just Bears, Study Finds

A researcher found a significant correlation between Bigfoot sightings and black bear populations.

Crows vs. Ravens: 7 Ways To Tell the Corvid Cousins Apart

If you can’t tell crows and ravens apart, you may think you’re uncovering a minor conspiracy when you’re actually witnessing a murder.

Don't let this sweet face fool you: Arctic foxes eat anything that moves.

What Do Arctic Foxes Eat?

Adorable Arctic foxes will eat anything they can catch on the snowy tundra.

7 Tough Facts About Tardigrades

The microscopic “moss piglets” may be the hardiest creatures on Earth—and anywhere else.

Languages around the world have their own strange idioms.

20 Delightful Idioms From Around the World

Idioms like Mandarin’s ‘take your pants off to fart’ make no sense to English speakers—at least, not English speaker who haven’t read this list.

Smokey Bear with Girl Scouts in front of the U.S. Capitol.

How Smokey Bear Helped Win World War II

Smokey Bear’s first ad slogan wasn’t quite as catchy as “Only YOU can prevent forest fires.”

Why Do Birds Fly South for the Winter?

Genetics, seasonal changes, and Earth's magnetic field all play a role.

15 Wild Facts About Zebras

Some of these animals are rugged mountaineers, some have spots instead of stripes, and some of them bark like dogs. And if you want to tell the zebra species apart, look at their rumps.

Indian cabbage white butterfly (left), luna moth (right).

What’s the Difference Between Moths and Butterflies?

Both develop from caterpillars and both have impressive wings, but if you know what to look for, it's easy to tell moths and butterflies apart.

11 Facts That Could Save Your Life

We’re covering practical tips (like the scent that will alert you to an impending electrical fire) to decidedly stranger ones (how to get out of a kangaroo attack) in the latest episode of The List Show.

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