Axolotl metamorphosis: what changes and what it costs
Axolotl metamorphosis, triggered only by thyroid hormone in labs, erases gills and tail fins, weakens limb regeneration and often ends in early death.
Animals Editorial Team
How many Komodo dragons are left in the wild?
About 3,500 Komodo dragons remain in the wild across six Indonesian islands. The population fell 30% in four decades and the species is now Endangered.
How intelligent is a shoebill? What its behavior shows
A shoebill is clever in a practical way: it stays still for hours, picks easy hunting spots and cools its eggs with water. Here is what its behavior shows.
Where Komodo dragons live: islands, habitat and range
Komodo dragons live only on a few Indonesian islands, including Komodo and Rinca, in dry savanna and hilly lowlands within a range under 350 square miles.
Can the shoebill fly? Yes, and how it uses its wings
Yes, the shoebill can fly. It flaps slowly, soars on thermals with its neck pulled in, and takes 105 to 112 days after hatching to make its first flight.
Why do shoebills stare at you? The hunting habit behind it
Shoebills stare because it is how they hunt. They stand motionless in shallow water, watching for lungfish, so the death stare is patience, not hostility.
How intelligent are honey badgers? What evidence shows
Honey badgers show intelligence through flexible foraging, digging, climbing, and careful risk management. No test scores exist, but behavior points to a resourceful animal.
Where do honey badgers live? Range, habitat and dens
Honey badgers live across sub-Saharan Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and southern Asia, in habitats from desert to rainforest, sheltering in burrows they dig or borrow.
How long can axolotls go without food? What research shows
No source gives one firm fasting limit for axolotls, but salamanders tolerate starvation well. See what research shows and why a long fast signals trouble.
Can an axolotl live out of water? What science says
No, an axolotl cannot live out of water. Learn how neoteny, gills and delicate skin keep this salamander aquatic, and why its lakes matter for survival.