City Owl, Country OwlSpotlight 01.21.2022Unlike its more iconic cousin, the diminutive northern pygmy owl thrives in urban forests—some just a stone’s throw from the local café.
Eye SpySpotlight 10.28.2021While this highly adapted fish peers out on its prey- and predator-rich surroundings, shapeshifting, pigmented cells enable it to all but disappear into its environment.
Hanging with DadSpotlight 10.22.2021A male African jacana has his feathers full while navigating Botswana’s rich but treacherous wetlands.
Into the WildArticle 06.18.2021North America’s rarest wolf subspecies is finally reclaiming its native territory in the Southwest, thanks in part to a fostering program that places captive-born pups into wild dens.
Are You My Mother?Spotlight 03.29.2021Before a timber rattlesnake mom leaves her babies to fend for themselves, she passes on an important piece of information: her scent.
Billfish BountySpotlight 11.25.2020A striped marlin slices through a shoal of baitfish, a beautiful reminder of the struggle between predator and prey—as well as the fragility and importance of healthy ecosystems.
A Novel DemiseSpotlight 09.22.2020Although we’ve marveled over carnivorous plants for centuries, the plants’ penchant for vertebrate flesh has been largely overlooked.
Race Against the Biological ClockSpotlight 12.24.2019It turns out some contests between predators and their prey are more genetically determined than others.
The Scent of WaterSpotlight 12.10.2019Most mammals can’t smell underwater, but Eurasian otters may have a way of sniffing out prey even while swimming.
A Great EscapeSpotlight 12.03.2019Invasive American mink, having escaped from British fur farms over the past century, are now wreaking havoc on native species—but this lucky gannet got away.
Beguiling IntruderSpotlight 10.30.2019Lionfish are hungry, long-lived, and extremely fertile invaders in their new-found Atlantic home.
Snake FakeSpotlight 10.15.2019For a plump caterpillar with no defensive body parts, masquerading as a deadly viper is an effective adaptation for survival in the Peruvian Amazon.
Strength in NumbersSpotlight 09.26.2019A spirited game of tug-of-war is more than just a sweet moment among siblings—it’s a sign of an African wild dog pack with enough members to keep its pups both safe and well-fed.
Bobcat ManorPhoto Essay 08.14.2019Despite increasing hunting pressure, bobcats have proven themselves to be remarkably resilient in the face of human encroachment—and aren’t above raising their young in rural backyards.
Enemy of My EnemySpotlight 08.14.2019An Amazonian frog finds refuge under the watchful compound gaze of a surprising guardian.
Bounty HunterSpotlight 06.12.2019When the Cape fur seals along the Namibian coast have their pups each December, the desert’s top scavengers become seal-hunting specialists.
Mighty MomSpotlight 03.17.2019One of the most attentive of all insect parents, this tiny treehopper fiercely defends her offspring until they’re fully grown, using her thorn-shaped headdress as both shield and intimidation tool.
Allure of the Flower HatSpotlight 02.27.2019What looks like a flamboyant fashion accessory is actually this jelly’s brilliant evolutionary strategy for attracting prey.
Banquet on LegsSpotlight 01.25.2019When an octopus known for its size and hunting prowess encounters a football-field-sized team of spider crabs, the outcome isn’t what you might expect.
The Tuna HerdersPhoto Essay 11.06.2018Climate change has forced these Galápagos sea lions to turn to a new food source. Since they can’t outswim their prey, they use wits and teamwork instead.
