SA Special Editions

Some arachnids go to extraordinary lengths to mimic the appearance and behavior of ants

The homes that animals build are just as much a product of evolution as the creatures themselves

On the deep seafloor, the carcasses of the largest mammals give life to unique ecosystems

Conventional wisdom holds that the ability to recognize faces requires a complex mammalian brain. But some insects are quite adept at this task

Homosexual behavior is surprisingly common in the animal kingdom. It may be adaptive—helping animals to get along, maintain fecundity and protect their young

A special chemical blend injected into the brains of cockroaches makes them pawns in the jewel wasp’s control—and perfect live food for its offspring

Research shows that animals interact in amazingly sophisticated ways

Some fish species turn out to be very good problem solvers. At times they even use tools

Chickens are smart, and they understand their world, which raises troubling questions about how they are treated on factory farms

Long-term observations of wild equines reveal a host of unexpected behaviors

Scientific findings uncover what our best friends know, why they do what they do and how to keep them happy

The answer may surprise you

Mounting evidence from species as diverse as cats, dogs, giraffes and dolphins indicates that humans are not unique in grieving over the loss of loved ones

Nonhuman species can seem to comprehend procreation, but even apes lack the cognitive traits to truly understand

Fossils of enormous extinct seabirds are now illuminating how such behemoths took wing

The star-nosed mole has what is very likely the world's fastest and most fantastic nose

Cichlid fishes have undergone a mind-boggling degree of speciation. New research is revealing features of their genomes that primed them to diversify so spectacularly

Killer whales appear to be splitting into several separate species, perhaps because cultural differences among populations are driving them apart

New fossils put T. rex in its place

Jellyfish manipulate physics to become the most efficient animals moving in the sea

Our gorilla cousins sing as they supper