Mononykus OlecranusMarch 12, 2010 – Mononykus olecranus is an animal of mystery. What were its strange one-fingered forelimbs for? And was it even a dinosaur at all?
The 12 most intriguing animal discoveries of 2021December 08, 2021 – Here are our editors’ picks for the most compelling wildlife findings of the year, from ants that can regrow their brains to the world’s tiniest reptile.
Dolichorhynchops OsborniMay 10, 2011
Goliath BirdeaterDecember 18, 2018 – The biggest spiders on the planet, Goliath birdeaters can grow to be the size of a dinner plate.
SnakesJanuary 25, 2019 – Of the 3,000 known species of snakes, only a fraction can actually kill you.
Pachycephalosaurus WyomingensisSeptember 10, 2010 – The largest of the "thick-headed" dinosaurs, this dynamo is known for its extremely thick skull. What did Pachycephalosaurus wyomingensis do with this distinctive cranium?
Velociraptor MongoliensisSeptember 10, 2010 – Misrepresented star of Jurassic Park, this intelligent dinosaur highlights many similarities between dinosaurs and birds.
Troodon FormosusSeptember 10, 2010 – Scientists say this animal was likely one of the smartest dinosaurs to ever walk the Earth—and it may be a critical link in prehistoric evolution.
Hippos, hyenas, and other animals are contracting COVID-19December 10, 2021 – More species are found to be susceptible to the coronavirus, with most cases detected in zoos.
Hesperornis RegalisSeptember 10, 2010
Tusotheuthis LongaSeptember 10, 2010 – Learn about the precursor to the modern squid, Tusoteuthis, an ancient tentacled cephalopod that swam the Cretaceous seas. Find out what it shares with its contemporary cousin.
Styxosaurus SnowiiSeptember 10, 2010
Leptoceratops GracilisSeptember 10, 2010 – What does this large-headed, late Cretaceous herbivore have in common with its better-known cousin, Triceratops?
TermiteApril 21, 2016 – A queen stretches out in her spacious home as her subjects scurry around her. The queen’s workers try to make her comfortable and keep her dwelling clean. This “royal” is well cared for, but you couldn’t exactly call her lifestyle luxurious. That’s because she’s a termite! LARGE AND IN CHARGE Over 2,000 species of termites can be found around the world. Termite colonies, which can include thousands of individuals, often live in large dirt mounds. When a female termite hits breeding age, she may emerge from her colony and find a mate. The pair then creates a burrow in the ground and the female (called a queen) begins to produce eggs—a lot of them. In fact this female generates around 30,000 eggs a day! Once her offspring hatch, they become part of her colony. As the female produces more and more eggs, she begins to grow. Over time she can become the length of an adult human’s index finger. That’s a hundred times bigger than any of the termites that surround her. Eventually the queen gets so large that she can barely move. Luckily members of the queen’s community are there to wait on her, um, antenna and foot. TERMITE TOWERS Many of the offspring that hatch from the queen's eggs become worker termites. They help the queen by keeping her clean, feeding her plant fibers, and looking after newly laid eggs. These insects may also double as construction workers, carrying up soil from underground to create the colony’s mound. Some termite mounds can reach over 17 feet in height. Sounds like the termite queen and her workers really know how to go big! Watch an amazing video about termites. Text by Andrea Silen, NGS Staff
