When you think of “gory” animals, creatures like great white sharks, tigers, and vampire bats might come to mind. But the most gruesome defense mechanism of any animal belongs to something much ...

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. I write about biodiversity and the hidden quirks of the natural world. In the arid plains and rocky deserts of North America, a ...

In the animal kingdom, surviving often means adapting. Animals must, over time, adapt not only to climate changes, habitat alterations, and changes in food sources, but also to how they protect ...

Those same animals, the Texas horned lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum), have now effectively vanished from the state’s uplands, ...

Komodo dragons kill using a one-two punch of sharp teeth and a venomous bite, scientists have confirmed for the first time. The find dispels the common belief that toxic bacteria in the Komodos' ...

Contrary to appearance, reflex bleeding is a voluntary defense rather than a lethal injury. The Texas horned lizard can shoot, on average, 2% of their body mass in blood. These lizards’ diets play a ...