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Ian Harrison first became interested in sea life during family vacations to the southwest coast of England.

The striped bass has been a popular catch for fishermen for centuries. These fishes are known for their spiny fins an...

What kind of person becomes an ichthyologist, a scientist who studies fish?

Discover how these deep sea creatures create their own light!

Estuaries are places where a river meets the sea. This ever-changing ecosystem is bursting with life. Saltwater from...

Dive into the oceans with an ichthyologist.

If you came face to face with a pacu, what would you do? Never fear -- the pacu may look like a big and scary fish, b...

The body of a sawfish may look like a fish, but its long, flat snout sets it apart. Rimmed with razor-sharp points, t...

The giant squid is the largest invertebrate, or animal without a backbone, ever to have lived on Earth!

For over 1,000 years, people called the Inuit lived in the Arctic. Long ago, they relied on fishing and hunting for s...

With its long, dramatic crest, the giant Pteranodon longiceps is easy to recognize.

Find out how scientists are using genetics to change the food you eat.

Manatees were once mistaken for mermaids. In fact, manatees are part of a small group of marine mammals known as &quo...

For centuries, orange roughy went mostly unnoticed by humans. These fish thrived in the dark, the cold, and the inten...

From Madagascar to Indonesia, travel around the world with Museum scientists.

Many animals and plants use color to warn predators to stay away, and the blue ringed octopus is no exception. When t...

Far beneath the ocean's surface is a mysterious world of cold temperatures, intense pressure, and almost total darkne...

Solve these interactive story puzzles to find out how people and other animals live in the Arctic.

All aboard! Hop on a submersible and explore an amazing diversity of life at the ocean floor.

Imagine a flying reptile the size of a two-seater plane! That's Quetzalcoatlus, one of the largest flying animals eve...

You can tell a hammerhead shark by its wide head with eyes on the ends.

Find out what you can do to protect the oceans and ocean life.

Growing up in Argentina, Adriana Aquino loved nature, especially the ocean. As a young girl, she wondered what it wou...

If you watched an American black bear lumbering through the forest, you might not notice anything unusual about how i...

The oceans are filled with creatures that use poison to survive. Some use chemical defenses to deter predators. Other...

Find out what lives in the deep sea, coral reef, and continental shelf.

Even though this whale of a whale weighs many tons, the humpback whale can make acrobatic leaps out of the water!

It's no fluke that Howard Rosenbaum is wild about whales -- especially the endangered right whales and humpback whales.

Unlike modern reptiles, pterosaurs weren't covered in scales. They were covered in fuzz! Pterosaurs kept warm with a...

With their white bellies and dark backs, dolphins can be found jumping above the water, swimming alongside fishing sh...

Most ocean plants and animals live near the shore, on a narrow ribbon of seafloor called the continental shelf.

The seafloor covers more than half of the Earth's surface. Most of the seafloor consists of the flat, expansive abyss...

Some of Earth's oddest creatures live arounddeep-sea hydrothermal (hot water) vents. These vents spew plumes of hot,...

Many other animals use camouflage -- colors, textures, or patterns that help them blend in with their environment.

The deep sea is not an easy place to explore. To observe the ocean below 2,000 meters (or 6,562 feet), scientists mus...

With its furry coat, friendly face, and playful nature, the sea otter is perhaps one of the most endearing animals in...

The blue whale is the largest animal ever to have lived on Earth.

Imagine you are a marine biologist, traveling far beneath the ocean surface in a submersible.

Like many kids interested in science, Ro Kinzler thought she wanted to be a marine biologist. But later on, she reali...

Confuciusornis is the earliest-known toothless, beaked bird.

Scientists all over the world send precious cargo to Julie Feinstein: frozen samples of animal tissues.

A firefly's light seems rare and magical. Yet there are many living things that blink, glow, flash, and glitter. The...

Most amphibians start their lives in water, and grow up to live on land. But axolotls live their whole lives in water...

This treehopper looks more like an ant than the flying insect it is. Its costume, called a "helmet," grows...

Can you make it down to the ocean floor? Along the way, discover what makes water special.

How do mammals move? Make flipbooks to see six different mammals in action.

Test your knowledge about the major groups of life on Earth.

Think today’s great white shark is scary? Megalodon was three times as long!

Make a bracelet that matches a section of DNA code from your favorite plant or animal.

A marine biologist answers kids' questions about how climate change affects life in the ocean.

The Sumatran tiger is found in only one place on the Earth -- on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia. Fewer than 500 o...

Growing up, Joel Cracraft loved reading travel and adventure books. In high school, he became interested in ornitholo...

That toothy grin might make you think this is a crocodile or an alligator. But the Yacaré caiman is neither. Caimans...

Some people may call invertebrates spineless because they lack a backbone or spine! But these amazing creatures are t...

The first vertebrates to fly took to the skies about 215 million years ago. These creatures were neither birds nor ba...

The most dazzling feature on many pterosaurs was a spectacular head crest. Tupuxuara leonardii had one of the most im...

Create land and sea animals that "glow" in the dark!

Join scientist George Amato on his quest to stop criminals smuggling illegal goods.

What adaptations help these creatures survive?

California sea lions are playful, intelligent, and fast—in and out of water. Their large flippers enable them to leap...

It's easy to see how the starfish got its name -- with their pointed arms, these creatures look like stars fallen to...

Animals and plants are usually adapted to survive best in particular environments, known as their habitats.

The Portuguese man-of-war is actually a floating colony of individuals called polyps that are all dependent on each o...

The frigid waters of the Arctic and the Antarctic may seem like hostile habitats. But a variety of marine life -- fro...

Animals swim, walk, crawl, slither, squirm, and even fly through the air. They can catch free rides by attaching them...

Like humans, animals need to communicate with each other. Through sight, touch, sound, smell, and even electrical pul...

Take a world-wide tour of biodiversity with three scientists.

Invent a story about an endangered species. Then draw and write about it!

The American crocodile has lived on Earth for millions of years, but today their numbers are rapidly declining becaus...

The electric eel is long and narrow like an eel, but it is actually not an eel at all. In fact, electric eels are pro...

The hellbender is one of the largest salamanders in North America.

The whooping crane is known as the tallest bird in North America. This long legged creature has been struggling to su...

Some exotic creatures lurk in the polar seas, but perhaps none is more bizarre than the giant sea spider.

This large dark bird is unmistakable soaring in the air along the coast.

Reading + Game

Sharks have been around for 450 million years. Find out about their unique features and way of life!

Explore this family tree of living things on Earth.

What does this marine biologist like most about her work? Find out!

Saying "deoxyribonucleic acid" is a real mouthful. Luckily, you can call it DNA for short.

Thousands of plants and animal species may be in danger of becoming extinct and disappearing forever.

As a conservation geneticist, Yael tries to help endangered species by studying their DNA.

In college, Rob DeSalle wanted to study the narwhal, an Arctic whale with an eight-foot spiral tooth.

With vibrant colors and fantastic shapes, coral reefs are a breathtaking sight. These underwater structures are actua...

Bustling with a spectacular diversity of life, coral reefs are the rain forests of the oceans.

Found along tropical coastlines, thick mangrove forests were once considered a nuisance, infested with mosquitoes and...

Plankton are the microscopic organisms of the sea. Just as plants form the basis for the ecosystem on land, phytoplan...

All animals of the sea depend on plankton, the tiny organisms that drift in the ocean.

Mexico is the home of ancient cultures like the Maya and Aztecs. Today, Mexican culture is a blend of old and new.

Over 100 years ago, an archaeologist named Marshall Saville began exploring ancient ruins in Mexico.

Hundreds of years ago, European sailors placed carved mermaids on the front of their ships as figureheads and told ta...

Polar bears are the top predator of the icy Arctic. But these large, furry white mammals have to work hard for their...

Many mammals run and walk. Some hop, swim, and even glide from trees.

On the dry grasslands of eastern Africa, the Thomson's gazelle grazes in the tall grass. Suddenly, it hears a noise a...

The red kangaroo is an amazing mammal. With its powerful hind legs and long tail, it can leap up to 45 feet (13.5 m)...

Have you ever caught a firefly on a warm summer night? Chances are it was a common eastern firefly (Photinus pyralis)...

Over 80 kinds of poison frogs live in the tropical forests of Central and South America.

A coral reef may look like a colorful underwater garden, but these living structures are made by thousands of tiny an...

Dug up in the Alxa Desert in China, this is the oldest and most complete therizinosaur ever found.

This theropod belonged to a group called ornithomimids, also called "ostrich-mimics."

Compared to other titanosaurs, Gondwanatitan was a peewee at only about 7.5 meters (25 feet) long.

As you can tell from its body plates and tail spikes, this dinosaur is related to Stegosaurus.

This horned dinosaur had two long spikes on the back of its frill, the bony extension behind its skull.

This plant-eating dinosaur was an ornithopod, as are duck-bill dinosaurs.

With its bird-like features, this animal was mistaken for a giant bird for a while.

This prehistoric relative of living ducks had a long neck, tall legs, webbed feet, and a duck-like head.

Because of the diamond-shaped plates on its back, Stegosaurus was given a name that means "roof lizard."

Throughout the world's oceans, tiny particles swirl, drift, and fall like snowflakes from the ocean's upper levels.

Create a flounder fish that's hard to spot!

Why are many animal and plant species dying out forever?

Find out how Lisa’s work impacts the health of communities.

At age 10, George Barrowclough began bird watching with his dad. He pursued his interest in birds by becoming an orni...

In the wild, ruffed lemurs live in only one place -- the eastern rain forests of Madagascar.

An invasive species is a living thing that moves into a new region. Species often become "invasive" as a re...

Compared to the continent of Africa, Madagascar may seem small. But this island, the fourth largest in the world, is...

During the 13th and 14th centuries, a group of people called the Aztecs flourished in Mexico. They built an advanced...

One look at Redondasaurus, and you might think it's a crocodile. After all, it has a similar long, armored body, with...

Until 1828, pterosaur fossils had been found only in Germany. Then a new kind of pterosaur fossil was discovered in E...

About 100 million years ago, a flying reptile called Pterodaustro guinazui soared above the coast of what is now Arge...

A dinosaur book led to this paleontologist's lifelong fascination with fossils.

Its brow horns and snout horn inspired this dinosaur's name, which means "three-horned face."

Solve these story puzzles to find out more about how life in the Arctic is affected by climate change.

Can poisons be used for good? Yes, and Robert will tell you why.

Ornithologists, or scientists who study birds, want to prevent the forests of the Pacific Northwest from being choppe...

The St. Vincent parrot makes its home on the tropical island of St. Vincent in the Caribbean. These parrots are cover...

Tipping the scales at more than 7 pounds, the Goliath is the largest frog in the world. Just two of these frogs weigh...

The king cobra is the largest venomous snake in the world. Whether slithering on land, climbing trees, or swimming, i...

Dinoflagellates are tiny, one-celled organisms that live in oceans and freshwater ponds, rivers, and streams. Some di...

Think of giant kelp as the Godzilla of the seaweeds.

Giant puffballs aren't your typical mushrooms.

You might think that all mosquitoes are alike, but did you know that there are actually about 2,500 different kinds?...

Although the rosy periwinkle stands only one foot tall, in the world of medicine it's a giant.

What do we have in common with sharks, bluebirds, lizards, and toads? We are all vertebrates, or animals with backbon...

The snowy egret is a beautiful sight. An adult egret is distinguished by its dark slender beak, long black legs, and...

Take a look at the science of where it ALL begins.

Conservation biologist Ana Luz Porzecanski answers kids' questions.
¡TAMBIÉN EN ESPAÑOL!

Biodiversity is the rich variety of life on Earth. But why is it important?

Did you know that biodiversity provides us with things that we need?

See how many different plants and animals you can find in this virtual mangrove swamp.

Our oceans are full of colorful creatures. Find out how animals use color for attraction, communication, and camouflage.

Can you solve these three poison mysteries?

Discover where starry-eyed Neil has followed his curiosity.

The Asian elephant is one of the largest land mammals in the world. Some people believe that elephants feel joy and s...

The Tibetan antelope, also known as "chiru," is one of the most beautiful mammals in the world.

California condors are the largest birds in North America. Like all vultures, condors are carrion-eaters. This means...

The Komodo dragon lumbers through the forest on its thick, stocky legs. It sways its head back and forth, flicking it...

The leatherback is the world's largest turtle. Unlike the bony exterior of other sea turtles, the exterior of the lea...

The mountain gorilla lives high up in the forests of east central Africa.

It only seems like the world's entire ant population attends your picnics.

Cassava is one tough plant because it can grow in poor and unfertile soil in most tropical environments. Cassava is a...

Have you ever seen pond scum -- that thick, smelly layer of slime floating on the surface of the water? That's probab...

Based on fossils of ancient dragonflies, we know these winged insects have been soaring around for at least 300 milli...

Most people know red and black spotted ladybird beetles as friendly insects that are fun to pick up and watch fly awa...

If you looked at the contents of a vacuum cleaner bag with a microscope, you'd probably find millions of tiny creatur...

A rotting log is a mighty tasty meal -- if you're a termite. Termites not only eat wood, some kinds live in it, too....

Not all spiders spin webs to catch their meals. When night falls in Australia, the white-tailed spider hunts its prey...

Many people have seen the beautiful spiral triton trumpet shell. Unfortunately, most people can see these brown and w...

Vietnam is a country of amazing biodiversity, including many rare and unusual species. One fascinating example is the...

Most mammals that live on land use their legs to get around. But the white-handed gibbon relies mostly on its arms. U...