Mental Floss

ANIMALS

Courtesy of the Westminster Kennel Club

12 Historic Westminster Best in Show Winners

The award has a long and interesting history.

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10 Roaring Facts About Jaguars

4. Jaguars will take on bears.

F. Glaw

New Gecko Species Gets Naked to Escape Predators

When trapped, the little lizard simply sheds its big scales and regrows them later.

Kedi

Kedi, A Heartwarming New Documentary, Stars Istanbul's Street Cats

The residents of Istanbul have a special friendship with the cats that roam their streets.

Clifford estimating a fraction of the poop he produces in a single day.

A Genius Theory for How Clifford the Big Red Dog's Owner Would Pick Up the Pup's Poop

Clifford the Big Red Dog's size poses a lot of interesting issues for a pet owner—including how one would clean up after this ginormous canine, as no pooper scooper would be big enough.

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9 Fluffy Facts About the Shih Tzu

Learn more about the so-called "lion dogs."

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Have You Seen This Bobcat? Ollie Escapes From National Zoo

She's mostly harmless to humans, but hide your chickens.

David McNew/Getty Images

California Condors Will Be Reintroduced to the Wild

Government agencies and the Yurok tribe are teaming up to try to restore the endangered bird to its historic habitat.

Mariomassone via Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 2.0

Museum Immortalizes Weasel That Shut Down the Large Hadron Collider

Fans of the weasel will be delighted to learn that its stuffed and slightly singed body will soon go on display at the Rotterdam Natural History Museum in the Netherlands.

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10 Slippery Facts About Slugs

Their slime is actually liquid crystal.

Fat Cat via Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 2.0

8 Ways Domestic Cats Are a Serious Threat to Nature

We adore them too. Really. But this is a major problem.

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In Australia, Horses Kill More People Than Venomous Creatures Do

But you should still watch out for bees.

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Villagers in India Knit Giant Sweaters for Rescued Elephants

Snug, and stylish to boot.

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The Most Rat- and Roach-Infested Cities in the U.S.

One city reported vermin in 2 out of 5 households.

Deep-sea urchins are seen in an ocean trench near New Zealand.

8 Surprising Facts About the Deepest Part of the Ocean

Just a handful of people have ever been to the deepest part of the ocean, but what we've learned about life in the hadal zone is astonishing.

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This Week, Dog Lovers Can Take a London Bus Tour With Their Furry Friends

The 90-minute tour takes riders to the city's best dog parks and canine-themed cultural attractions.

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Zoos Are Tracking Elephant Fitness, and It's Improving the Animals' Health

The Elephant Welfare Initiative makes sure captive elephants get enough exercise.

Fan Peng-Fei

New Ape Species Named for Skywalker Family

It’s a partial pun on the gibbon’s Chinese name, which translates as “Heaven’s movement.”

How the Global Bird-Poop Trade Created a Traveling Mummy Craze

Bird poop has been a favored fertilizer for centuries—and, it turns out, is an excellent preserver of human flesh.

Paul Ventner via Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 3.0

15 Facts About Maggots

Maggot therapy is making a comeback.

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Pup Named After David Bowie (With Eyes to Match) Needs a Forever Home

The dog has reportedly been ignored by potential owners because of his different colored eyes.

Alex Wong/Getty Images

Where Swimming With Otters Brings Peace and Healing to Kids (and Adults)

Nurtured by Nature’s main goal is to offer animal programs for kids through the Make A Wish Foundation.

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This Year's Puppy Bowl Will Feature Three Dogs With Disabilities

Get to know Lucky, Doobert, and Winston.

The Farm Sanctuary

Chickens Are Much, Much Smarter Than They Look

Scientist Lori Marino says the farmyard fowl are “vastly underrated.”