Ligers, zorses, and pizzlies: How animal hybrids happenOctober 10, 2022 – Interbreeding between animals of different lineages is widespread in nature—and may reveal some of the mysteries of evolution.
Why we set out to uncover the mysteries of animal mindsSeptember 15, 2022 – Scientists are making discoveries about what animals such as dogs and ravens think and feel, which will likely have broad implications for our relationships with Earth’s creatures.
Live animal markets in San Francisco accused of mistreatmentAugust 15, 2022 – Undercover video suggests 11 shops that slaughtered and sold animals may have violated the law.
Extremely rare ‘spoonie’ bird added to ark of imperiled animalsJuly 21, 2022 – The 13,000th image in National Geographic’s Photo Ark is the spoon-billed sandpiper, a critically endangered shorebird known for its spectacular migration.
SlothMarch 01, 2014 – It's a good thing sloths don't have to go to school. They'd never make it on time. These drowsy tree-dwellers sleep up to 20 hours a day! And even when they are awake, they barely move at all. In fact, they're so incredibly sluggish, algae actually grows on their fur. Sloths live in the tropical forests of Central and South America. With their long arms and shaggy fur, they resemble monkeys, but they are actually related to armadillos and anteaters. They can be 2 to 2.5 feet (0.6 to 0.8 meters) long and, depending on species, weigh from 8 to 17 pounds (3.6 to 7.7 kilograms). There are two main species of sloth, identified by whether they have two or three claws on their front feet. The two species are quite similar in appearance, with roundish heads, sad-looking eyes, tiny ears, and stubby tails. Two-toed sloths are slightly bigger and tend to spend more time hanging upside-down than their three-toed cousins, who will often sit upright in the fork of a tree branch. Three-toed sloths have facial coloring that makes them look like they're always smiling. They also have two extra neck vertebrae that allow them to turn their heads almost all the way around! Some scientists think sloths developed their slow-motion lifestyle so they would be less noticeable to predators such as hawks and cats, which rely heavily on their eyesight when hunting. The algae that grows on sloths' fur also helps them avoid predators by letting them blend in with green leaves. They rarely come down from the trees. About once every week, they descend to go to the bathroom, slowly moving about by digging their front claws into the dirt and dragging their bodies. If they are caught by a predator, sloths turn from sluggish to slugger, biting fiercely, hissing, slashing with their claws, and shrieking.
These animals can freeze solid in winter. Here’s how they survive.November 17, 2022 – Antifreeze proteins. Sugar-packed cells. Brain shutdowns. To make it to spring, many species find surprising ways to stop their bodily functions.
Animal-friendly laws are gaining traction across the U.S.January 18, 2023 – Lawmakers are increasingly restricting animal testing, puppy mills, and fur sales. Here are three key actions to watch for this year.
PlatecarpusSeptember 10, 2010
These are our best animal photos of 2021December 06, 2021 – A rescued giraffe, a see-through frog, a paralyzed jellyfish: Out of thousands of images, National Geographic editors selected these 28 striking animal pictures.
How fake animal rescue videos have become a new frontier for animal abuseJune 30, 2021 – National Geographic finds continued animal suffering and exploitation in these YouTube videos. Here's what's being done months after the platform pledged to take swift action.
Tylosaurus ProrigerSeptember 10, 2010 – The Tylosaurus's massive size, razor-sharp teeth and lethal grip made it the deadliest predator of the ancient seas.
USDA must now publicly report all animal welfare violationsAugust 09, 2022 – As ordered by Congress, the agency has ended a practice that allowed animal welfare inspectors to omit certain violations from public reports.
Brachychampsa MontanaMay 10, 2011 – This 80-million-year-old reptile is among the earliest alligatorids known to science. It looked much like today's gators—though it had a bigger bite.
Ankylosaurus MagniventrisSeptember 10, 2010 – Meet the prehistoric tank of the dinosaur world, a creature covered in bony plates, rows of spikes, and horns. Its only enemy? T. rex, of course.
Xiphactinus AudaxSeptember 10, 2010 – It's ferocious, fanged, and always famished. Meet the Xiphactinus, one of the fiercest creatures of the Cretaceous seas. Get to know the monster of the dangerous underworld.
