Crows and ravens have been feared, hated, revered, and worshiped throughout human history, constantly exerting a powerful hold over the psyche of people throughout the ages. Some cultures viewed them as the harbingers of doom, while others saw the birds as the sacred servants of almighty gods. Their ability to attract the attention of humans [...]

The island of Madagascar is well known for its ecosystem of unique and unusual species, making it a destination for many scientists who seek to study the adaptations which creatures undergo when isolated from the rest of the world for many generations. The island is often associated with the lemurs which inhabit its forests, but [...]

The African savannah teems with a great variety of impressive and fascinating creatures. Among these animals are some of the most recognizable and renowned, such as the mighty elephant and the majestic lion. Yet some equally interesting species are often overlooked in the studies of African ecosystems, species which possess incredible qualities of their own. [...]

Seen by many people as symbols of doom and death as well as unappealing and disgusting creatures, the vultures are indeed in a tough spot when it comes to capturing the awe and wonder of humans. This is probably not much of a surprise, considering the myriad of unusual and unattractive adaptations that these birds [...]

Shamans desired to become like it and adopt its strength and speed, turning the humans into fierce hunters. The people of the Amazon saw in its shiny, reflective eyes proof that it was connected with supernatural forces. The ancient Mayans believed its striking, spotted coat represented the night sky. It was even seen as a [...]

A large crowd cheers with great excitement as dust flies into the air in a massive arena. As the cloud of dust begins to clear, drops of blood can be seen sprinkled throughout the arena. A man wielding a sword and adorned in a flamboyant outfit gracefully dodges the attack of a powerful foe, swiftly [...]

Beautiful yet uncanny and fascinating yet lethal, no animal has managed to attract the fear and wonder of humans throughout history as persuasively as the snake. While some cultures have despised snakes and seen them as symbols of deceitfulness and vindictiveness, others have revered and worshiped the serpents. These varying viewpoints reflect the different ways [...]

Commonly associated with Halloween, misfortune, witches, horror movies, and the devil, the infamous vampire bats have been at the center of ominous folklore for centuries. Then again, with their intimidating design, purely nocturnal lifestyle, and diet consisting solely of blood, it is not difficult to see how these unique animals received their unattractive reputation. And [...]

In the frigid Antarctic Ocean, a group of emperor penguins is returning to dry land after a much needed hunt for food. The weather is unforgiving and the waters are dark in color, obscuring any view of its contents deep within. As the group begins to near shore, they are oblivious to the presence of [...]

Madagascar possesses what is possibly one of the most amazing modern ecosystems known to science. It contains a wide variety of unique and exotic animals, many of which are found only in this large island off the southeastern coast of Africa. This isolation from the rest of the world has allowed many of its inhabitants [...]