Are You My Mother? Spotlight 03.29.2021 Before a timber rattlesnake mom leaves her babies to fend for themselves, she passes on an important piece of information: her scent.
Billfish Bounty Spotlight 11.25.2020 A 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 Demise Spotlight 09.22.2020 Although we’ve marveled over carnivorous plants for centuries, the plants’ penchant for vertebrate flesh has been largely overlooked.
Race Against the Biological Clock Spotlight 12.24.2019 It turns out some contests between predators and their prey are more genetically determined than others.
The Scent of Water Spotlight 12.10.2019 Most mammals can’t smell underwater, but Eurasian otters may have a way of sniffing out prey even while swimming.
A Great Escape Spotlight 12.03.2019 Invasive 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 Intruder Spotlight 10.30.2019 Lionfish are hungry, long-lived, and extremely fertile invaders in their new-found Atlantic home.
Snake Fake Spotlight 10.15.2019 For 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 Numbers Spotlight 09.26.2019 A 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 Manor Photo Essay 08.14.2019 Despite 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 Enemy Spotlight 08.14.2019 An Amazonian frog finds refuge under the watchful compound gaze of a surprising guardian.
Bounty Hunter Spotlight 06.12.2019 When the Cape fur seals along the Namibian coast have their pups each December, the desert’s top scavengers become seal-hunting specialists.
Mighty Mom Spotlight 03.17.2019 One 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 Hat Spotlight 02.27.2019 What looks like a flamboyant fashion accessory is actually this jelly’s brilliant evolutionary strategy for attracting prey.
Banquet on Legs Spotlight 01.25.2019 When 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 Herders Photo Essay 11.06.2018 Climate 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.
Taking Down Goliath Spotlight 03.08.2018 The world’s largest frogs are also among the most coveted in the African bushmeat trade. Can grassroots efforts save the goliath frog from extinction?
Face Off Spotlight 02.20.2018 With eight eyes, two hydraulic legs, and impressive cognitive abilities, this jumping spider has a leg up on even the feistiest prey.
Beach Crashers Spotlight 02.06.2018 Risking it all, some orcas have taken their hunt onto the shore, and their strategy is catching on.
