Spotlight

brown bear fishing for salmon

The Art of the Catch

To bulk up for winter hibernation, Alaska’s brown bears employ a range of techniques for snaring salmon.

Latest in Spotlight
White southern right whale calf
The Wonder of a Pale Whale

A curious calf with an atypical birthday suit is a good sign for southern right whales.

shrimp cleaning an eel's teeth
Saying “Ah!” at the Shrimp Spa

On coral reefs, an army of tiny cleaners eat their clients’ parasites, food particles, and dead skin, boosting biodiversity in the process.

flat worm inside a sea squirt
Friends or Foes?

A flatworm and a sea squirt mingle in the tropical waters of West Papua, offering a glimpse into the complexity of interspecies relationships.

sea lions playing with a pufferfish
Pass the Pufferball

California sea lions and other marine mammals engage in complex play that prepares them for life, improves their well-being—and may be just plain fun.

male ruff catching a mosquito
The Bard and the Birds

The frilled collars of ruffs—and the birds’ elaborate mating rituals—are straight out of a Shakespearean drama.

Japanese pygmy squid eggs
The Eyes Have It

The mysterious northern pygmy squid develops into a brilliant predator.

grass snake
The Reptile Who Plays Possum

Grass snakes fake death to avoid predation.

crown tree frog on a leaf
Sticking the Landing

Tree and torrent frogs defy gravity with complicated toes.

planktonic nautilus on salp
Pelagic Pack Animals

Gelatinous salps shuttle tiny creatures and excess carbon into the deep.

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