Author name: Katy Willis

The black widow’s reputation precedes it. Glossy black with a blood-red hourglass, this spider seems designed to inspire fear. Yet in nature’s grand buffet, even the deadliest creatures can end up on the menu. From acrobatic birds to armored insects, a surprising cast of characters regularly turns the tables on these venomous arachnids. These bold […]

Imagine a monkey with a nose so large it droops below its mouth. Now picture this creature gracefully swimming across a river. Welcome to the world of the proboscis monkey, Borneo’s enigmatic long-nosed primate. These pot-bellied acrobats of the mangrove swamps are full of surprises. From their unusual swimming skills to their complex social lives,

Imagine biting into a spiky, spine-covered plant. Sounds painful, right? Yet in the sun-baked deserts of the Americas, a remarkable cast of creatures does just that every day, from tiny insects with specialized mouthparts to robust mammals with iron-clad stomachs. These cactus connoisseurs turn these prickly plants into a vital source of food and water.

Urban foxes have become a common sight in towns and cities across Britain, often spotted trotting down residential streets or rummaging through bins. These adaptable creatures have made our urban landscapes their home, thriving in the heart of our bustling cities. While some view them as a nuisance, others are captivated by their presence and

Red kites are majestic birds of prey that soar across the British Isles. With their distinctive forked tails and russet plumage, these graceful raptors are a sight to behold as they soar through the skies. Once on the brink of extinction in the UK, red kites have made a remarkable comeback thanks to successful reintroduction programmes. These

Vampire bats have long captured our imagination, often appearing in spooky stories and Halloween decorations. But these unique creatures are far more fascinating than their fearsome reputation suggests. Found in parts of Mexico, Central America, and South America, vampire bats are the only mammals that feed entirely on blood. Aside from their eerie feeding habits, these small

Primates, our closest animal relatives, come in a stunning array of shapes and sizes. From tiny mouse lemurs to massive gorillas, these fascinating creatures are just so like us, and they remind us of our own place in the natural world. But when it comes to size, some primates truly stand out from the crowd. These large

Thresher sharks are some of the most extraordinary creatures swimming in our oceans today. With their distinctive, scythe-like tails and sleek bodies, these sharks are true marvels of evolution. Found in tropical and temperate seas worldwide, thresher sharks have extraordinary abilities. Sadly, these magnificent creatures are under threat from human activity, even though they pose

Flying fish are among the most extraordinary creatures in our oceans. These remarkable swimmers can leap out of the water and glide through the air, a feat that is truly remarkable to witness first-hand. But there’s much more to these airborne aquatic acrobats than their impressive aerial displays. I’m always in awe of Mother Nature, and the ocean