Predator

Some species have an incredible knack for hacking others to get what they want. Scientists have now discovered a fascinating new example – some spiders have been seen manipulating fireflies’ flashes to attract more bugs to their webs.

Mowing might seem like a pretty sensible way to keep weeds at bay. But in the case of the silverleaf nightshade, the activity puts the plant into survival mode causing it to fight back with some pretty powerful defense mechanisms, says a new study.

It almost sounds like a fairytale: a tiny ant dramatically impacting a giant lion. But thanks to a study that reveals just how interconnected all life forms really are, researchers have just figured out that it happened on the savannas of Africa.

Scientists have uncovered a new huge predatory worm species thought to have hunted in the Earth’s water column around 518 million years ago. They also believe this worm, whose name means terror beast, was one the earliest carnivorous swimming animals.

In a twist on using animals as biological control, a method that in the past has often had disastrous outcomes for native wildlife, scientists have successfully trained native bush rats to actively seek out a new food source they’ve never seen before.

In 2009, one frisky bird put a spotlight on his extremely endangered species when he mounted a zoologist’s head and proceeded to show the world his best mating skills. Now, in another bold move, four of his flock are returning to New Zealand's mainland.

With evolution there’s always a trade-off – long necks may help you find food but they’re also a massive weak spot. Now, paleontologists have found direct fossil evidence of prehistoric, long-necked marine reptiles being decapitated by predators.

Paleontologists have discovered fossils from a gigantic marine predator that stalked the Jurassic seas. The creature could have grown to twice the size of an orca, and fed on pretty much anything else unlucky enough to be in the ocean at that time.

Name a type of organic matter and chances are some type of organism has evolved to eat it. Plants, meat, algae, insects and bacteria are all consumed by different creatures, but now scientists have discovered something new on the menu – viruses.

Scientists have discovered a completely new branch on the tree of life. This “supergroup” contains an incredibly diverse range of predatory microbes that are extremely different genetically from any other form of life on Earth.

Archaeologists have discovered the skeleton of an enormous 240 million year old reptile, which has the contents of its last meal – an almost equally massive sea creature – still visible in its stomach.

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc has announced that one of its MQ-9 Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) has completed its first ferry flight. On January 8, 2020, the craft flew from Palmdale, California, to Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico.