Story
Surviving the Arctic Winter
When the sun sets for months and the land locks itself in ice, the animals that remain do not merely endure the dark; they have rewritten their bodies to live inside it.
The World of Animals
The extraordinary
The extraordinary
lives of animals.
Species, behaviour, stories and habitats, from the fox in the field to the whale in the deep. A digital atlas of animal life.
Explore the Animal World
All species →Featured Species
The species database →
Animal of the Week
Wolf Spider
Pardosa amentata
The wolf spider is a fast, agile ground-hunter that takes its name from the way it chases down prey rather than trapping it in a web. Mottled in browns and greys, it is beautifully camouflaged against soil and leaf litter and is one of t…
HabitatGardensDietCarnivore — small insects and other invertebratesStatusLeast Concern
Explore species
Stories from the Animal World
All stories →
Story
A Mother's Migration
Across thousands of miles of open ocean, a humpback whale carries her newborn from warm breeding lagoons to the cold, rich seas that will feed them both.
Story
An Unlikely Friendship
In the wild and at the margins of human care, animals of different species sometimes form bonds that defy easy explanation.
Wildlife
Explore wildlife →Pet World
All breeds →
Animal Behaviour
More behaviour →
Behaviour
The Languages of Animals
From the dance of a honeybee to the dialects of a sperm whale, animals exchange information in ways that stretch our definition of language to its limits.
Behaviour
How Wolves Hunt Together
A wolf pack pursuing prey many times its own weight is not a mob but a coordinated society, and its success rests on patience, communication and shared risk.
Behaviour
How Elephants Grieve and Remember
Elephants return to the bones of their dead, carry the knowledge of decades in the minds of their matriarchs, and show us a depth of memory and feeling we are still learning to measure.
Animal Science
More science →
Science
The Longest Lives: Why Some Animals Defy the Clock
A clam that lived for centuries and a whale that may outlast two human lifetimes are forcing scientists to rethink the biology of ageing.
Science
Clever Beasts: Animal Intelligence and the Surprising Reach of Tool Use
Crows that bend wire into hooks and octopuses that carry shelters reveal that sophisticated problem-solving is far more widespread than once believed.
Science
The Art of Disappearing: The Science of Animal Camouflage
From insects that mimic dead leaves to cephalopods that change their skin in an instant, camouflage is nature's most refined visual deception.
Explore by Habitat
All habitats →Protecting Animal Life
Conservation →
Conservation
The Return of the Beaver
Hunted almost to oblivion and now cautiously welcomed back, the beaver is reshaping rivers and rewriting our ideas about how to repair a damaged landscape.
Conservation
Saving the Last of a Species
When a species dwindles to its final few, conservationists face an agonising race against extinction, armed with science, stubbornness and sometimes the slenderest of hopes.
Conservation
Why Habitat Corridors Matter
As wild places are carved into ever smaller islands, the thin strips of land that connect them may decide whether whole populations live or die.
Guides
All guides →Dogs
How to Care for a New Puppy
Everything you need to settle a new puppy into your home with confidence in those first crucial weeks.
Cats
Understanding Your Cat's Body Language
Learn to read the subtle signals cats use to tell you exactly how they feel.
Dogs
Choosing the Right Dog Breed for Your Lifestyle
A practical guide to matching a dog's needs with your home, routine and energy levels.
Dogs
A Beginner's Guide to Basic Dog Training
Simple, kind techniques to teach your dog the essentials and build a lasting bond.