World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/earthworm): Earthworm — wildlife guide.

## One-line answer
Earthworms are segmented worms that burrow through soil, eating organic matter and recycling nutrients as they go. They breathe through their moist skin, have no eyes or lungs, and are hermaphrodites.

## Introduction
Earthworms are segmented worms that burrow through soil, eating organic matter and recycling nutrients as they go. They breathe through their moist skin, have no eyes or lungs, and are hermaphrodites. By aerating and mixing soil and producing nutrient-rich castings, they are among the most important animals for healthy ground and farming.

## Takeaway
An earthworm's body is divided into many ring-like segments, most carrying tiny bristles called setae that grip the soil as it moves.

## Takeaway
As earthworms tunnel and feed, they swallow soil and organic matter and excrete nutrient-rich waste called castings.

## Takeaway
Earthworms are detritivores that feed on decaying leaves, roots, and other organic matter in the soil.

## Body and breathing
An earthworm's body is divided into many ring-like segments, most carrying tiny bristles called setae that grip the soil as it moves. It has no eyes, ears, or lungs, and breathes by absorbing oxygen directly through its moist skin. This is why earthworms must stay damp and often come to the surface after heavy rain.

## Soil engineers
As earthworms tunnel and feed, they swallow soil and organic matter and excrete nutrient-rich waste called castings. Their burrows loosen and aerate the ground, improve drainage, and mix decaying material deeper into the soil. These actions make earthworms vital for fertile soil and healthy plant growth.

## Diet and digestion
Earthworms are detritivores that feed on decaying leaves, roots, and other organic matter in the soil. Because they have no teeth, they swallow small stones and grit that grind food inside a muscular gizzard. Their digestion releases nutrients in a form plants can readily absorb.

## Reproduction and regeneration
Earthworms are hermaphrodites, with each worm carrying both male and female organs, but two worms still mate to exchange sperm. After mating, a band on the body called the clitellum forms a cocoon in which the eggs develop. Some species can regrow a lost tail end, though they cannot regenerate a whole new worm from any piece.

## WARN work
WARN does not run a dedicated earthworm programme — this guide is part of the World Animal Rescue Network's free educational library. The earthworm is currently widespread and not globally threatened, and this guide helps readers understand the pressures that can change that. Building public understanding of species like the earthworm supports the broader conservation awareness that underpins WARN's partner-led rescue work across its network.

## Donation hook
If clear, science-based wildlife guides like this help you understand and value animals, please consider supporting the World Animal Rescue Network's educational and rescue work so we can keep producing them.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/earthworm): Earthworm — wildlife guide.

## Do earthworms have eyes?
No. Earthworms have no eyes, ears, or lungs. They sense light and vibration through special cells in their skin and breathe by absorbing oxygen through their moist surface.

## Why are earthworms good for soil?
Earthworms loosen and aerate soil as they burrow, improve drainage, and produce nutrient-rich castings. This recycling of organic matter makes them essential for fertile soil and healthy plant growth.

## If you cut an earthworm in half, do both halves survive?
No, that is a myth. An earthworm cannot become two worms. The head end may survive and regrow part of its tail, but the tail end generally dies.

## What do earthworms eat?
Earthworms are detritivores that eat decaying leaves, roots, and other organic matter in the soil. They swallow grit that helps grind the food inside a muscular gizzard.

## Why do earthworms come out after rain?
Earthworms breathe through their skin and need moisture, but waterlogged soil can be low in oxygen. After heavy rain they often surface to breathe and move more easily across the wet ground.

## Where do earthworms live?
Earthworms live in moist soils worldwide, from gardens and farmland to forests and grasslands. They burrow through the ground, breathing through their moist skin rather than lungs, which is why they surface after heavy rain when waterlogged soil is low in oxygen. By aerating soil and excreting nutrient-rich castings, they are essential for fertile ground and healthy plant growth.

## Are earthworms dangerous?
Earthworms are not dangerous to people. They have no eyes, sting or venom and cannot bite. These segmented worms are detritivores that swallow decaying leaves, roots and other organic matter, using grit in a muscular gizzard to grind food. A typical earthworm is about 15 cm long and weighs around 5 g. They are hermaphrodites and play a vital role recycling nutrients in soil.

## How long do earthworms live?
Earthworm lifespan ranges from about one to six years depending on species and conditions, with six years cited as a typical maximum in this guide. They grow through ring-like body segments bearing tiny bristles called setae that grip the soil as they move. Because they breathe through moist skin, drought or dry soil is a greater threat than predators.

## How big is an earthworm?
Earthworms commonly measure 5–30 cm long, with a typical length around 15 cm and weight near 5 g. Their bodies are divided into many ring-like segments, most carrying tiny bristles called setae that grip the soil as they tunnel. Despite lacking eyes, ears or lungs, they sense light and vibration through their skin and are among the most important animals for aerating soil and producing fertile castings.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/giant-clam): Giant Clam — wildlife guide.

## One-line answer
The giant clam is the largest living bivalve mollusk, growing over 1.2 m (4 ft) wide and weighing more than 200 kg (440 lb). It lives anchored to coral reefs in the warm Indo-Pacific, where it feeds partly by filtering water and partly through algae living in its colorful tissue.

## Introduction
The giant clam is the largest living bivalve mollusk, growing over 1.2 m (4 ft) wide and weighing more than 200 kg (440 lb). It lives anchored to coral reefs in the warm Indo-Pacific, where it feeds partly by filtering water and partly through algae living in its colorful tissue. Giant clams grow slowly and can live more than 100 years.

## Takeaway
The giant clam is the biggest of all living bivalve mollusks, with two heavy, ribbed shells joined by a hinge.

## Takeaway
Much of the giant clam's food comes from tiny algae called zooxanthellae that live inside its brightly colored mantle tissue.

## Takeaway
The exposed mantle of a giant clam can be vivid blue, green, gold, or brown, with patterns created partly by the algae and by light-sensing cells.

## The largest bivalve
The giant clam is the biggest of all living bivalve mollusks, with two heavy, ribbed shells joined by a hinge. Once it settles on a reef as a young clam, it stays fixed in place for the rest of its life. Its huge shells can weigh hundreds of kilograms and outlast the animal itself.

## A partnership with algae
Much of the giant clam's food comes from tiny algae called zooxanthellae that live inside its brightly colored mantle tissue. The algae photosynthesize using sunlight and share sugars with the clam, which is why giant clams live in clear, shallow, sunlit reef water. The clam also filters plankton from the water for extra nutrition.

## Colorful and harmless
The exposed mantle of a giant clam can be vivid blue, green, gold, or brown, with patterns created partly by the algae and by light-sensing cells. Despite old myths about clams trapping divers, giant clams close too slowly to be a danger and cannot hold a person. They simply pull their mantle in and shut gradually when disturbed.

## Conservation
Giant clams grow slowly and are threatened by overharvesting for food, shells, and the aquarium trade, as well as by reef damage. They are listed as Vulnerable and protected under international trade rules, with farming and reef restocking helping some populations recover. Healthy reefs are essential to their survival.

## WARN work
WARN does not run a dedicated giant clam programme — this guide is part of the World Animal Rescue Network's free educational library. The giant clam faces documented conservation pressure in the wild, which is why clear, sourced public information about it matters. Building public understanding of species like the giant clam supports the broader conservation awareness that underpins WARN's partner-led rescue work across its network.

## Donation hook
If clear, science-based wildlife guides like this help you understand and value animals, please consider supporting the World Animal Rescue Network's educational and rescue work so we can keep producing them.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/giant-clam): Giant Clam — wildlife guide.

## How big do giant clams get?
Giant clams are the largest living bivalves, growing more than 1.2 m (4 ft) wide and weighing over 200 kg (440 lb). They reach this size by growing slowly over many decades.

## Can a giant clam trap a person?
No. Despite old myths, giant clams close their shells far too slowly to trap a diver and cannot hold a person. When disturbed, they simply retract their mantle and shut gradually.

## What do giant clams eat?
Giant clams get much of their food from algae living in their tissue, which photosynthesize and share sugars with the clam. They also filter plankton from the surrounding water.

## How long do giant clams live?
Giant clams grow slowly and can live more than 100 years in the wild. Their large shells can persist long after the animal has died.

## Are giant clams endangered?
Giant clams are listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN due to overharvesting and reef damage. They are protected under international trade rules, and clam farming helps support struggling populations.

## Where do giant clams live?
Giant Clams live in Coral reefs of the warm Indo-Pacific. The giant clam is the largest living bivalve mollusk, growing over 1.2 m (4 ft) wide and weighing more than 200 kg (440 lb).

## Are giant clams dangerous?
Giant Clams are not generally dangerous to people. The giant clam is the largest living bivalve mollusk, growing over 1.2 m (4 ft) wide and weighing more than 200 kg (440 lb). Give wild individuals space and do not corner or handle them.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/cuttlefish): Cuttlefish — wildlife guide.

## One-line answer
The common cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) is a soft-bodied marine mollusc found over sandy seabeds and seagrass in coastal seas of the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean. Despite its name it is not a fish but a cephalopod, related to octopuses and squid, and it can transform its colour and skin texture in a fraction of a second.

## Introduction
The common cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) is a soft-bodied marine mollusc found over sandy seabeds and seagrass in coastal seas of the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean. Despite its name it is not a fish but a cephalopod, related to octopuses and squid, and it can transform its colour and skin texture in a fraction of a second. It grows to about 50 cm including its arms, weighs around 2 kg, and lives only one to two years.

## Takeaway
Cuttlefish are among the most accomplished quick-change artists in the animal kingdom, altering their colour, pattern and even skin texture almost instantly.

## Takeaway
The common cuttlefish is a patient carnivore that preys on fish, crabs and shrimp.

## Takeaway
For everyday travel a cuttlefish swims gracefully by rippling the fin that runs around the edge of its body.

## Camouflage and colour change
Cuttlefish are among the most accomplished quick-change artists in the animal kingdom, altering their colour, pattern and even skin texture almost instantly. They achieve this using thousands of pigment cells called chromatophores, layered over reflective iridophores and leucophores that bounce light. Remarkably, cuttlefish are colour-blind, yet they still match the hues of their surroundings, probably by sensing light through their skin and detecting polarised light. This mastery lets them melt into a sandy seabed to ambush prey or vanish from a passing predator.

## Hunting and diet
The common cuttlefish is a patient carnivore that preys on fish, crabs and shrimp. It stalks or waits in ambush, then shoots out two long, sucker-tipped feeding tentacles to seize prey in a fraction of a second. Its parrot-like beak, hidden at the base of the arms, breaks apart hard shells, while venom in its saliva helps subdue struggling crustaceans. Some cuttlefish also hypnotise prey with rippling bands of colour that pulse across the body before they strike.

## Movement and the cuttlebone
For everyday travel a cuttlefish swims gracefully by rippling the fin that runs around the edge of its body. When it needs to flee, it draws water into its mantle and jets it out through a funnel, rocketing backwards at bursts of up to 25 km/h (16 mph). Buoyancy is controlled by the cuttlebone, a porous internal shell whose tiny gas-filled chambers let the animal hover effortlessly at any depth. If threatened it can also release a cloud of dark ink to confuse an attacker while it makes its escape.

## Intelligence and senses
Cuttlefish have the largest brain-to-body ratio of almost any invertebrate and show genuine problem-solving ability. Their W-shaped pupils give excellent vision, and experiments suggest they can exercise self-control, waiting for a preferred meal rather than taking an inferior one immediately. They can even remember details of past meals, adjusting their foraging accordingly. This combination of sharp senses and a large brain makes them formidable hunters despite their short lives.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/cuttlefish): Cuttlefish — wildlife guide.

## Reproduction and short life
Cuttlefish live fast and die young, surviving only one to two years. Males compete intensely for females and court them with dazzling displays of shifting colour, while smaller males sometimes disguise themselves as females to sneak past rivals. After mating, the female lays clusters of grape-like eggs, often stained black with her own ink, and attaches them to seaweed or rocks. Both parents die soon after breeding, a life cycle known as semelparity.

## WARN work
WARN does not run a dedicated cuttlefish programme — this guide is part of the World Animal Rescue Network's free educational library. The cuttlefish is currently widespread and not globally threatened, and this guide helps readers understand the pressures that can change that. Building public understanding of species like the cuttlefish supports the broader conservation awareness that underpins WARN's partner-led rescue work across its network.

## Donation hook
If clear, science-based wildlife guides like this help you understand and value animals, please consider supporting the World Animal Rescue Network's educational and rescue work so we can keep producing them.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/cuttlefish): Cuttlefish — wildlife guide.

## Is a cuttlefish a fish?
No. Despite the name, a cuttlefish is a cephalopod, a soft-bodied mollusc closely related to octopuses and squid. It swims rather than having fins and gills like a true fish, and it belongs to the invertebrates.

## How do cuttlefish change colour?
They use thousands of pigment sacs called chromatophores in their skin, backed by reflective cells that scatter light. By expanding and contracting these cells they can shift colour, pattern and even skin texture in a fraction of a second.

## How long do cuttlefish live?
Common cuttlefish live only about one to two years. They grow quickly, breed once, and die shortly after laying their eggs.

## What do cuttlefish eat?
Cuttlefish are carnivores that hunt fish, crabs and shrimp. They ambush prey and shoot out two long feeding tentacles to grab it, then break it apart with a hard, beak-like mouth.

## How big do cuttlefish get?
The common cuttlefish reaches about 50 cm (20 in) in length including its arms and weighs up to roughly 2 kg. Some tropical species grow considerably larger, but this is the typical size for the common Atlantic and Mediterranean species.

## Are cuttlefish intelligent?
Yes. Cuttlefish have an unusually large brain for an invertebrate and can solve problems, remember past experiences and even show self-control by waiting for a preferred food. Their intelligence rivals that of some vertebrates.

## Where do cuttlefish live?
The common cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) lives over sandy seabeds and seagrass in coastal seas of the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean. It is listed as Least Concern and can jet away at bursts of up to 25 km/h (16 mph) when threatened.

## Are cuttlefish dangerous?
Cuttlefish are not dangerous to people. They are carnivores that hunt fish, crabs and shrimp using a parrot-like beak and venom in their saliva to subdue prey, but they are shy and retreat rather than confront divers. Their main defence is camouflage and an ink cloud released through a funnel.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/blue-crab): Blue Crab — wildlife guide.

## One-line answer
The blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) is a swift swimming crab of the western Atlantic, abundant in the brackish estuaries of the United States east coast and Gulf of Mexico. It has a broad shell up to about 23 cm (9 in) across and a pair of flattened rear legs that let it swim sideways through the water.

## Introduction
The blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) is a swift swimming crab of the western Atlantic, abundant in the brackish estuaries of the United States east coast and Gulf of Mexico. It has a broad shell up to about 23 cm (9 in) across and a pair of flattened rear legs that let it swim sideways through the water. An omnivore that lives three to four years, it is listed as Least Concern.

## Takeaway
Unlike most crabs, the blue crab is a strong swimmer rather than a purely bottom-dwelling walker.

## Takeaway
Blue crabs live along the western Atlantic, from Nova Scotia south through the Gulf of Mexico and down to Argentina, with their heartland in the estuaries of Chesapeake Bay and the US east coast.

## Takeaway
The blue crab is an opportunistic omnivore that eats almost anything it can catch or scavenge.

## Swimming and body plan
Unlike most crabs, the blue crab is a strong swimmer rather than a purely bottom-dwelling walker. Its last pair of legs is flattened into broad paddles that beat rapidly, propelling the crab sideways through open water. On the seabed it also crawls on its walking legs, but the swimming paddles let it cover distance quickly and escape predators. The shell can reach about 23 cm (9 in) from spine to spine, and the crab weighs up to roughly 0.45 kg (1 lb).

## Habitat and range
Blue crabs live along the western Atlantic, from Nova Scotia south through the Gulf of Mexico and down to Argentina, with their heartland in the estuaries of Chesapeake Bay and the US east coast. They thrive in the brackish mixing zone where rivers meet the sea, tolerating a wide range of salinity. Adults move between deeper, saltier water and shallow grassy flats depending on the season and their stage of life. Seagrass beds and marsh edges offer both feeding grounds and shelter for moulting individuals.

## Diet and feeding
The blue crab is an opportunistic omnivore that eats almost anything it can catch or scavenge. Its menu includes small fish, clams, mussels and other molluscs, worms, plant matter, and carrion. Powerful claws let it crush shellfish, while it also scours the bottom for decaying material, helping to clean the estuary. This broad diet makes the blue crab an important link in the coastal food web.

## Life cycle and reproduction
Female blue crabs mate only once, shortly after their final moult into adulthood, and store sperm to fertilise multiple batches of eggs. A female carries a spongy egg mass beneath her abdomen, sometimes holding two million eggs, and migrates to saltier water near the sea mouth to release the larvae. The tiny larvae drift in the plankton before settling and growing through a series of moults. Blue crabs typically live three to four years.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/blue-crab): Blue Crab — wildlife guide.

## Fisheries and human use
The blue crab supports one of the most valuable shellfish fisheries on the US Atlantic and Gulf coasts, and its scientific name sapidus means "savoury" or "tasty". Crabs caught just after moulting, while their new shell is still soft, are sold as prized soft-shell crabs. Chesapeake Bay in particular has a long crabbing culture built around the species. Careful management of catch limits and female crabs helps keep the fishery sustainable.

## Conservation status
The blue crab is listed as Least Concern and remains widespread and common across its range. Populations do rise and fall with fishing pressure, water quality, and habitat condition in estuaries such as Chesapeake Bay. Loss of seagrass and pollution can reduce local numbers, so monitoring and catch limits are used to keep stocks healthy. Overall the species is not considered threatened.

## WARN work
WARN does not run a dedicated blue crab programme — this guide is part of the World Animal Rescue Network's free educational library. The blue crab is currently widespread and not globally threatened, and this guide helps readers understand the pressures that can change that. Building public understanding of species like the blue crab supports the broader conservation awareness that underpins WARN's partner-led rescue work across its network.

## Donation hook
If clear, science-based wildlife guides like this help you understand and value animals, please consider supporting the World Animal Rescue Network's educational and rescue work so we can keep producing them.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/blue-crab): Blue Crab — wildlife guide.

## Can blue crabs swim?
Yes. Blue crabs are among the few crabs that swim well, using their flattened rear legs as paddles to move sideways through the water. On the seabed they also crawl on their walking legs, but swimming lets them travel quickly and escape danger.

## How big do blue crabs get?
A blue crab's shell can span up to about 23 cm (9 in) from spine to spine, and a large adult weighs around 0.45 kg (1 lb). Males tend to be larger than females.

## What do blue crabs eat?
Blue crabs are omnivores that eat small fish, clams, mussels and other molluscs, worms, plants, and carrion. Their strong claws crush shellfish, and they also scavenge decaying material from the seabed.

## Where do blue crabs live?
Blue crabs live in the estuaries and coastal waters of the western Atlantic, from Nova Scotia through the Gulf of Mexico to Argentina. They are most abundant in brackish bays such as Chesapeake Bay, where fresh river water mixes with the sea.

## How long do blue crabs live?
Blue crabs typically live three to four years. They grow by moulting their shell repeatedly, and females mate only once during their lifetime, after their final moult.

## What is a soft-shell crab?
A soft-shell crab is simply a blue crab caught soon after it has moulted, before its new shell hardens. During this brief window the entire crab is edible, which makes soft-shells a prized delicacy along the US Atlantic and Gulf coasts.

## Are blue crabs dangerous?
Blue Crabs are not generally dangerous to people. The blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) is a swift swimming crab of the western Atlantic, abundant in the brackish estuaries of the United States east coast and Gulf of Mexico. Give wild individuals space and do not corner or handle them.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/horseshoe-crab): Atlantic Horseshoe Crab — wildlife guide.

## One-line answer
The Atlantic horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus) is an ancient marine arthropod, more closely related to spiders and scorpions than to true crabs. It has a domed horseshoe-shaped shell, a long spike-like tail, and reaches about 60 cm (24 in) including the tail.

## Introduction
The Atlantic horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus) is an ancient marine arthropod, more closely related to spiders and scorpions than to true crabs. It has a domed horseshoe-shaped shell, a long spike-like tail, and reaches about 60 cm (24 in) including the tail. Found in shallow coastal waters and sandy beaches, it crawls along the bottom feeding on worms and molluscs, often living more than 20 years. It is listed as Vulnerable.

## Takeaway
Horseshoe crabs belong to an ancient lineage whose body plan has changed remarkably little for hundreds of millions of years, earning them the nickname "living fossils".

## Takeaway
The horseshoe crab has a hard, domed carapace shaped like a horseshoe, a smaller abdominal section, and a long, pointed tail called a telson.

## Takeaway
Atlantic horseshoe crabs live in shallow coastal waters and estuaries along the western Atlantic, moving onto sandy beaches to breed.

## A living fossil
Horseshoe crabs belong to an ancient lineage whose body plan has changed remarkably little for hundreds of millions of years, earning them the nickname "living fossils". Despite the name, they are not true crabs but chelicerates, more closely related to spiders and scorpions. The Atlantic species, Limulus polyphemus, is one of only four horseshoe crab species alive today. Their long evolutionary history makes them a favourite subject for studies of animal design and survival.

## Anatomy and blue blood
The horseshoe crab has a hard, domed carapace shaped like a horseshoe, a smaller abdominal section, and a long, pointed tail called a telson. It grows to about 60 cm (24 in) including the tail and weighs around 2 kg, with several pairs of legs and multiple eyes, including large compound eyes on the shell. Its blood is copper-based and appears blue, and it contains a clotting agent that reacts to bacterial contamination. That property makes horseshoe crab blood valuable for testing the safety of medical products.

## Habitat and movement
Atlantic horseshoe crabs live in shallow coastal waters and estuaries along the western Atlantic, moving onto sandy beaches to breed. They are slow-moving bottom-dwellers that crawl and plough through the sand rather than swim quickly, with a top speed of only around 1 km/h. The tail is used mainly as a lever to right themselves if a wave flips them over, not as a weapon. They tend to stay in soft-bottomed areas where food is easy to find.

## Diet and feeding
Horseshoe crabs are omnivores that feed on marine worms, small molluscs, crustaceans, algae, and carrion. Lacking jaws, they crush food between the bristly bases of their legs and push it toward the mouth as they move. They forage mainly along the seabed, ploughing through sand and mud in search of buried prey. Their scavenging helps keep the shallow-water bottom clear of dead material.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/horseshoe-crab): Atlantic Horseshoe Crab — wildlife guide.

## Breeding and conservation
In spring and early summer horseshoe crabs gather on sandy beaches in large numbers to spawn, with females laying thousands of eggs in the sand and males fertilising them. These eggs are a vital food source for migrating shorebirds, so the crabs' breeding success affects other species too. The Atlantic horseshoe crab is listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN, threatened by habitat loss, harvesting for bait, and collection for the biomedical industry. Long-lived individuals, often surviving more than 20 years, take about a decade to reach breeding age.

## WARN work
WARN does not run a dedicated atlantic horseshoe crab programme — this guide is part of the World Animal Rescue Network's free educational library. The atlantic horseshoe crab faces documented conservation pressure in the wild, which is why clear, sourced public information about it matters. Building public understanding of species like the atlantic horseshoe crab supports the broader conservation awareness that underpins WARN's partner-led rescue work across its network.

## Donation hook
If clear, science-based wildlife guides like this help you understand and value animals, please consider supporting the World Animal Rescue Network's educational and rescue work so we can keep producing them.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/horseshoe-crab): Atlantic Horseshoe Crab — wildlife guide.

## Is a horseshoe crab really a crab?
No. Despite its name, the horseshoe crab is not a true crab but a chelicerate, more closely related to spiders and scorpions. It belongs to an ancient group that has existed for hundreds of millions of years.

## Why is horseshoe crab blood blue and valuable?
Their blood is copper-based, which makes it appear blue, and it contains a clotting agent that reacts to bacterial contamination. This property is used to test that medicines and medical devices are free of dangerous bacteria.

## Are horseshoe crabs dangerous?
Horseshoe crabs are harmless to people. They have no claws or stinger, and their long tail is used only to flip themselves upright if a wave turns them over, not to attack.

## What do horseshoe crabs eat?
They are omnivores that eat marine worms, small molluscs, crustaceans, algae, and carrion. Lacking jaws, they crush food between the bases of their legs as they crawl along the seabed.

## How long do horseshoe crabs live?
Atlantic horseshoe crabs often live more than 20 years. They grow slowly and take around a decade to reach breeding age, which makes their populations sensitive to overharvesting.

## Are horseshoe crabs endangered?
The Atlantic horseshoe crab is listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN. Habitat loss, harvesting for bait, and collection for the biomedical industry have reduced their numbers, and their eggs are also crucial food for migrating shorebirds.

## Where do atlantic horseshoe crabs live?
Atlantic Horseshoe Crabs live in Shallow coastal waters and sandy beaches. The Atlantic horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus) is an ancient marine arthropod, more closely related to spiders and scorpions than to true crabs. It has a domed horseshoe-shaped shell, a long spike-like tail, and reaches about 60 cm (24 in) including the tail.

## How big is an atlantic horseshoe crab?
An Atlantic Horseshoe Crab is about Often 20+ years. The Atlantic horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus) is an ancient marine arthropod, more closely related to spiders and scorpions than to true crabs. Conservation status: Vulnerable (IUCN).


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/centipede): Centipede — wildlife guide.

## One-line answer
Centipedes (class Chilopoda) are fast, venomous invertebrate predators recognised by their long, flattened bodies and many legs, one pair per body segment. Found in soil, leaf litter, and damp places worldwide, they range from a few millimetres to over 30 cm (12 in) long and run swiftly on their many legs to catch insects, spiders, and other small animals.

## Introduction
Centipedes (class Chilopoda) are fast, venomous invertebrate predators recognised by their long, flattened bodies and many legs, one pair per body segment. Found in soil, leaf litter, and damp places worldwide, they range from a few millimetres to over 30 cm (12 in) long and run swiftly on their many legs to catch insects, spiders, and other small animals. Most species live 1 to 6 years and are listed as Least Concern.

## Takeaway
A centipede has a long, flattened body divided into many segments, each bearing a single pair of legs, which is what sets it apart from the millipede with its two pairs per segment.

## Takeaway
Centipedes are active carnivores, hunting insects, spiders, worms, and, in the largest species, small vertebrates such as lizards.

## Takeaway
The centipede is built for speed and runs rapidly on its many legs, coordinating them in smooth waves so it can dart across the ground to catch prey or flee danger.

## Body and legs
A centipede has a long, flattened body divided into many segments, each bearing a single pair of legs, which is what sets it apart from the millipede with its two pairs per segment. Despite the name, which means hundred-footed, the number of leg pairs varies widely between species and is always odd. The many legs are set out along the sides so they do not tangle during a quick escape or chase. Body length ranges enormously, from tiny species just a few millimetres long to tropical giants exceeding 30 cm (12 in).

## Venom and hunting
Centipedes are active carnivores, hunting insects, spiders, worms, and, in the largest species, small vertebrates such as lizards. Just behind the head sits a pair of modified front legs called forcipules, curved fang-like claws that inject venom to subdue prey. They seize a victim, pin it with their legs, and deliver a venomous bite that quickly overwhelms it. Their swift movement and quick strike make them formidable ambush and pursuit predators in the leaf litter.

## Speed and movement
The centipede is built for speed and runs rapidly on its many legs, coordinating them in smooth waves so it can dart across the ground to catch prey or flee danger. Its low, flattened shape lets it slip through narrow cracks in soil, bark, and stone. Long rear legs and sensitive antennae help it feel its way and react instantly in the dark. This combination of quickness and agility is central to how it both hunts and avoids being eaten.

## Where centipedes live
Centipedes are found almost worldwide, thriving in soil, leaf litter, rotting wood, and other damp, sheltered places. Because they lose water easily through their bodies, they need moisture and generally hide by day, coming out at night to hunt. Some species enter houses in search of prey and humidity, most famously the house centipede that patrols bathrooms and basements. From tropical forests to temperate gardens, damp cover is the common thread in their habitats.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/centipede): Centipede — wildlife guide.

## Life cycle and lifespan
Depending on the species, centipedes live anywhere from about one to six years, which is long-lived for such small invertebrates. In many species the female guards her eggs and newly hatched young, curling protectively around them until they can fend for themselves. The young hatch resembling small adults and add segments and legs as they grow and moult. This slow maturation and parental care are unusual among the small predators of the leaf litter.

## Centipedes and people
A centipede bite can be painful to humans, and large tropical species deliver enough venom to cause significant local pain and swelling, though bites are very rarely dangerous to healthy people. In gardens and homes they are broadly beneficial, preying on cockroaches, flies, and other pests. Most of the roughly 8,000 known species are harmless to us and are assessed as Least Concern. Leaving them undisturbed usually means free pest control.

## WARN work
WARN does not run a dedicated centipede programme — this guide is part of the World Animal Rescue Network's free educational library. The centipede is currently widespread and not globally threatened, and this guide helps readers understand the pressures that can change that. Building public understanding of species like the centipede supports the broader conservation awareness that underpins WARN's partner-led rescue work across its network.

## Donation hook
If clear, science-based wildlife guides like this help you understand and value animals, please consider supporting the World Animal Rescue Network's educational and rescue work so we can keep producing them.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/centipede): Centipede — wildlife guide.

## How many legs does a centipede have?
A centipede has one pair of legs per body segment, and the total is always an odd number of pairs that varies by species. Despite the name meaning hundred-footed, different centipedes may have anywhere from around 30 to well over 300 legs.

## Are centipedes venomous?
Yes. Centipedes have a pair of fang-like front legs called forcipules that inject venom to subdue prey. A bite can be painful to humans, and large tropical species can cause notable swelling, but bites are very rarely dangerous to healthy people.

## What do centipedes eat?
Centipedes are carnivores that hunt insects, spiders, and worms, while the largest species can take small animals such as lizards. They catch prey by running it down, pinning it with their legs, and delivering a venomous bite.

## What is the difference between a centipede and a millipede?
A centipede has one pair of legs per body segment, a flattened body, and is a fast venomous predator. A millipede has two pairs of legs per segment, a rounded body, moves slowly, and feeds mainly on decaying plant matter rather than hunting.

## How fast can a centipede move?
Centipedes are quick runners for their size, sprinting on their many legs to chase prey and escape danger. Their flattened bodies also let them dart into narrow cracks in soil, wood, and stone.

## Where do centipedes live?
Centipedes live worldwide in soil, leaf litter, rotting wood, and other damp, sheltered spots. They lose moisture easily, so they hide by day and hunt at night, and some species come indoors into humid bathrooms and basements.

## Are centipedes dangerous?
Centipedes are venomous predators, but bites are very rarely dangerous to healthy people. Large tropical species can cause painful swelling, yet centipedes generally avoid humans and hunt insects, spiders and worms underground.

## How long do centipedes live?
Most centipede species live 1 to 6 years. This guide records a typical lifespan of about five years, though longevity varies with species and body size across the class Chilopoda.

## How big is a centipede?
Centipedes range from a few millimetres to over 30 cm (12 in) long. This guide records a typical length of about 0.15 m and weight of roughly 10 g, though the largest tropical species far exceed those figures.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/black-widow-spider): Black Widow Spider — wildlife guide.

## One-line answer
The southern black widow (Latrodectus mactans) is a small, glossy black spider famous for the red hourglass marking on the underside of the female's abdomen. It shelters in dark, undisturbed spots such as sheds, woodpiles and field debris, where it builds a tangled web to trap insects.

## Introduction
The southern black widow (Latrodectus mactans) is a small, glossy black spider famous for the red hourglass marking on the underside of the female's abdomen. It shelters in dark, undisturbed spots such as sheds, woodpiles and field debris, where it builds a tangled web to trap insects. The female's body is only about 1.3 cm long, yet her venom is a potent neurotoxin. Females live one to three years; males are far smaller and shorter-lived.

## Takeaway
The female black widow is unmistakable: a shiny jet-black body roughly 1.3 cm (0.5 inch) long, with legs spanning wider, and a vivid red hourglass on the underside of her rounded abdomen.

## Takeaway
Black widows are ambush hunters that rely entirely on their web rather than chasing anything down.

## Takeaway
Black widow venom is a neurotoxin called latrotoxin, drop for drop far more potent than a rattlesnake's, which is why the spider has such a fearsome reputation.

## Appearance and identification
The female black widow is unmistakable: a shiny jet-black body roughly 1.3 cm (0.5 inch) long, with legs spanning wider, and a vivid red hourglass on the underside of her rounded abdomen. Males are much smaller and paler, often marked with red or yellow streaks, and are rarely noticed. The glossy sheen and bold warning colour advertise the spider's toxicity to would-be predators. Juveniles look different again, with lighter, more patterned bodies that darken as they mature.

## Web and how it catches prey
Black widows are ambush hunters that rely entirely on their web rather than chasing anything down. They spin an irregular, tangled cobweb of exceptionally strong silk in a sheltered corner, then wait, hanging upside down at its centre. When an insect blunders into the sticky threads, the spider rushes over, wraps it in silk and delivers a paralysing bite. It then injects digestive enzymes and drinks the liquefied remains. Prey is mostly insects and other small arthropods.

## Venom and danger to people
Black widow venom is a neurotoxin called latrotoxin, drop for drop far more potent than a rattlesnake's, which is why the spider has such a fearsome reputation. A bite can cause intense muscle pain, cramping, sweating and nausea, a set of symptoms known as latrodectism. In practice, however, the spider injects only a tiny dose, and with modern medical care bites are very rarely fatal. Deaths are extremely uncommon, and most affect the very young, the elderly or those already unwell.

## Behaviour and temperament
Despite their reputation, black widows are shy and reclusive, biting people only when accidentally pressed against the skin or trapped. They are largely nocturnal and slow-moving, ambling across their web at little more than 1.5 km/h. Females spend almost their entire lives within a small web, rarely straying far from this sheltered refuge. Left alone, a black widow poses very little threat and would much rather retreat than confront a much larger animal.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/black-widow-spider): Black Widow Spider — wildlife guide.

## Mating and life cycle
The black widow earns its name from the female's occasional habit of eating the much smaller male after mating, though this happens far less often than folklore suggests. After mating, the female produces several round, papery egg sacs, each holding hundreds of eggs, which she guards within her web. The spiderlings hatch and disperse by releasing silk threads that carry them on the breeze, a technique called ballooning. Females can live one to three years, while males survive only a few months.

## WARN work
WARN does not run a dedicated black widow spider programme — this guide is part of the World Animal Rescue Network's free educational library. The black widow spider is currently widespread and not globally threatened, and this guide helps readers understand the pressures that can change that. Building public understanding of species like the black widow spider supports the broader conservation awareness that underpins WARN's partner-led rescue work across its network.

## Donation hook
If clear, science-based wildlife guides like this help you understand and value animals, please consider supporting the World Animal Rescue Network's educational and rescue work so we can keep producing them.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/black-widow-spider): Black Widow Spider — wildlife guide.

## How dangerous is a black widow bite?
A black widow's venom is a potent neurotoxin that can cause severe muscle pain, cramps, sweating and nausea. Despite this, the spider injects only a small dose, and with prompt medical care bites are very rarely fatal.

## How do you identify a black widow spider?
Look for a glossy jet-black female about 1.3 cm long with a bright red hourglass marking on the underside of her rounded abdomen. Males are much smaller, paler and usually go unnoticed.

## Do female black widows really eat the male?
Sometimes, but far less often than the name implies. Cannibalism after mating does occur in this species, yet in many encounters the male escapes unharmed, and the behaviour is more common in captivity than in the wild.

## What do black widow spiders eat?
They are carnivores that feed mainly on insects and other small arthropods caught in their web. The spider waits at the centre of its tangled web, then wraps and bites any prey that becomes stuck.

## How long do black widow spiders live?
Females typically live one to three years. Males are much smaller and live only a few months, often dying not long after they mate.

## Where do black widow spiders live?
They favour dark, sheltered and undisturbed places such as sheds, woodpiles, rock crevices and debris in fields. There they build a tangled cobweb close to the ground and remain hidden during the day.

## How big is a black widow spider?
The female's body is about 1.3 cm (0.5 in) long, with legs spanning wider. Males are far smaller and shorter-lived, and the spider's small size belies the potency of its neurotoxic venom.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/jumping-spider): Jumping Spider — wildlife guide.

## One-line answer
Jumping spiders (family Salticidae) are small, sharp-eyed hunters found on sunny walls, plants, and woodlands worldwide. Most are just 1 to 2 cm (0.4 to 0.8 in) including their legs, yet they have superb vision and can leap many times their body length to pounce on prey.

## Introduction
Jumping spiders (family Salticidae) are small, sharp-eyed hunters found on sunny walls, plants, and woodlands worldwide. Most are just 1 to 2 cm (0.4 to 0.8 in) including their legs, yet they have superb vision and can leap many times their body length to pounce on prey. Rather than build webs to catch food, they stalk and ambush insects by day. Individuals typically live about a year and are of Least Concern.

## Takeaway
Jumping spiders are compact and often furry, with most species measuring just 1 to 2 cm (0.4 to 0.8 in) including the legs.

## Takeaway
Rather than snaring prey in a web, jumping spiders are active daytime hunters that stalk and pounce.

## Takeaway
Jumping spiders do not have large muscles in their legs to power a jump.

## Appearance and remarkable eyes
Jumping spiders are compact and often furry, with most species measuring just 1 to 2 cm (0.4 to 0.8 in) including the legs. Their standout feature is a set of eight eyes, dominated by two large forward-facing eyes that give them the sharpest vision of any spider. This excellent eyesight lets them judge distance accurately before a leap and recognise prey, mates, and rivals. Many species are boldly patterned, and the males of some are strikingly colourful.

## How jumping spiders hunt
Rather than snaring prey in a web, jumping spiders are active daytime hunters that stalk and pounce. Using their keen eyes, a spider will spot an insect, creep closer, carefully line up the distance, and then leap onto it with a precise pounce. Before jumping it anchors a silk dragline to the surface, which acts as a safety line if it misses. They do not run down their prey over long distances, relying instead on stealth and a sudden, accurate leap.

## The secret of the leap
Jumping spiders do not have large muscles in their legs to power a jump. Instead they rapidly increase the blood-like fluid pressure inside the body, which extends the rear legs almost explosively and launches the spider forward. This hydraulic mechanism lets them leap many times their own body length despite an overall crawling speed of only about 1.6 km/h. The trailing silk dragline helps steady them in flight and lets them climb back if a jump falls short.

## Diet and behaviour
Jumping spiders are carnivores that feed on insects and other small arthropods, including flies, moths, and even other spiders. A few species supplement their diet with nectar or plant matter, and some specialise in hunting particular prey. They are curious and alert by nature, often turning to face and track movement, which gives them an unusually inquisitive appearance. Being active by day, they are among the spiders people most often notice on sunlit walls and leaves.

## Courtship and life cycle
Male jumping spiders perform elaborate courtship displays, waving their legs and, in some colourful species, showing off bright body patterns to females. After mating, the female lays eggs in a silk nest, often tucked under bark or a leaf, and may guard them until the young hatch. Most jumping spiders live for around a year, growing through a series of moults before reaching adulthood. They are harmless to humans and are of Least Concern.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/jumping-spider): Jumping Spider — wildlife guide.

## WARN work
WARN does not run a dedicated jumping spider programme — this guide is part of the World Animal Rescue Network's free educational library. The jumping spider is currently widespread and not globally threatened, and this guide helps readers understand the pressures that can change that. Building public understanding of species like the jumping spider supports the broader conservation awareness that underpins WARN's partner-led rescue work across its network.

## Donation hook
If clear, science-based wildlife guides like this help you understand and value animals, please consider supporting the World Animal Rescue Network's educational and rescue work so we can keep producing them.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/jumping-spider): Jumping Spider — wildlife guide.

## Do jumping spiders build webs?
No, jumping spiders do not build webs to catch prey. They are active hunters that stalk and pounce, though they do spin silk for shelter, egg sacs, and a safety dragline used when they leap.

## How far can a jumping spider jump?
Jumping spiders can leap many times their own body length, which is remarkable given their tiny size. They power the jump by increasing internal fluid pressure to extend their legs rather than using large leg muscles.

## Are jumping spiders dangerous to humans?
Jumping spiders are harmless to people. They are small, shy, and not aggressive, and a bite is rare and no worse than a mild sting.

## What do jumping spiders eat?
They are carnivores that eat insects and other small arthropods such as flies, moths, and even other spiders. A few species also take nectar or plant matter to supplement their diet.

## Why do jumping spiders have such good eyesight?
Because they hunt by stalking and pouncing rather than trapping prey in a web, sharp vision is essential. Their two large forward-facing eyes give them the best eyesight of any spider, allowing them to judge distance before a leap.

## How long do jumping spiders live?
Most jumping spiders live for around a year, though this varies by species. They grow through several moults before reaching adulthood.

## Where do jumping spiders live?
Jumping Spiders live in Sunny walls, plants, and woodlands worldwide. Jumping spiders (family Salticidae) are small, sharp-eyed hunters found on sunny walls, plants, and woodlands worldwide.

## How big is a jumping spider?
A Jumping Spider is about About 1 year (varies by species). Jumping spiders (family Salticidae) are small, sharp-eyed hunters found on sunny walls, plants, and woodlands worldwide. Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN, most species).


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/coral): Coral — wildlife guide.

## One-line answer
Corals are tiny colonial animals of the class Anthozoa that build the vast limestone structures we call reefs. Each coral is a colony of soft-bodied polyps, only millimetres wide, that secrete a hard calcium-carbonate skeleton and live fixed in place in warm, shallow tropical seas.

## Introduction
Corals are tiny colonial animals of the class Anthozoa that build the vast limestone structures we call reefs. Each coral is a colony of soft-bodied polyps, only millimetres wide, that secrete a hard calcium-carbonate skeleton and live fixed in place in warm, shallow tropical seas. Reef-building corals depend on symbiotic algae called zooxanthellae for most of their food and colour, and colonies can survive for decades to centuries.

## Takeaway
Although they look like colourful rocks or plants, corals are animals, closely related to sea anemones and jellyfish.

## Takeaway
Each polyp is a soft, sac-like body topped by a ring of stinging tentacles surrounding a central mouth.

## Takeaway
Reef-building corals owe their success to a partnership with microscopic algae called zooxanthellae that live inside the coral's tissues.

## What corals are
Although they look like colourful rocks or plants, corals are animals, closely related to sea anemones and jellyfish. A single coral is actually a colony of tiny individuals called polyps, each only a few millimetres across, joined by shared living tissue. Reef-building species secrete a hard skeleton of calcium carbonate beneath their bodies, and generation after generation builds on the remains of the last. Over centuries these skeletons accumulate into the massive limestone framework of a coral reef.

## Polyps and how they live
Each polyp is a soft, sac-like body topped by a ring of stinging tentacles surrounding a central mouth. Corals are fixed permanently in place and do not move about; they are sessile animals anchored to their skeleton. At night many polyps extend their tentacles to capture drifting plankton and tiny particles from the water using stinging cells. By day the polyps often retract, relying on their algal partners for energy while the colony rests.

## Symbiosis with zooxanthellae
Reef-building corals owe their success to a partnership with microscopic algae called zooxanthellae that live inside the coral's tissues. Through photosynthesis these algae produce sugars that supply most of the coral's energy, while the coral gives them shelter and nutrients in return. The algae also lend corals much of their brilliant colour. This symbiosis is why reef corals thrive in the clear, sunlit, nutrient-poor waters of the tropics, where sunlight can reach them.

## Reefs as ecosystems
Coral reefs are among the richest habitats on Earth, often called the rainforests of the sea. Though they cover a tiny fraction of the ocean floor, reefs shelter roughly a quarter of all marine species, providing food and refuge for fish, invertebrates and larger animals. The three-dimensional structure of the reef creates countless nooks and crannies for creatures to live in. Reefs also protect coastlines by absorbing the force of waves and storms.

## Coral bleaching and threats
When the water grows too warm, corals expel the zooxanthellae living in their tissues, turning ghostly white in a process called bleaching. Without their algae the corals lose their main food supply, and if stress continues they can starve and die. Rising sea temperatures, ocean acidification, pollution and destructive fishing have all put reefs under severe pressure worldwide. Some coral species are now threatened, though corals as a whole are broadly assessed as Least Concern.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/coral): Coral — wildlife guide.

## Growth and lifespan
Corals grow slowly, with many reef-building species adding only a centimetre or two of skeleton each year. Because colonies keep building over long periods, individual coral colonies can live for decades to centuries, and whole reefs are thousands of years old. Corals reproduce both by budding new polyps and through mass spawning events, when whole reefs release eggs and sperm into the water on the same night. New larvae drift away to settle and start fresh colonies elsewhere.

## WARN work
WARN does not run a dedicated coral programme — this guide is part of the World Animal Rescue Network's free educational library. The coral is currently widespread and not globally threatened, and this guide helps readers understand the pressures that can change that. Building public understanding of species like the coral supports the broader conservation awareness that underpins WARN's partner-led rescue work across its network.

## Donation hook
If clear, science-based wildlife guides like this help you understand and value animals, please consider supporting the World Animal Rescue Network's educational and rescue work so we can keep producing them.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/coral): Coral — wildlife guide.

## Is coral a plant or an animal?
Coral is an animal, belonging to the class Anthozoa alongside sea anemones and jellyfish. A coral is a colony of tiny animals called polyps, which is why it is easily mistaken for a plant or a rock.

## Do corals move?
No. Corals are sessile animals, fixed permanently in place on their hard skeleton, so they do not move about. Only their tiny polyps move, extending and retracting stinging tentacles to feed.

## What are zooxanthellae and why do corals need them?
Zooxanthellae are microscopic algae that live inside coral tissues. Through photosynthesis they produce sugars that supply most of the coral's energy, and they also give corals much of their colour, which is why reef corals thrive in sunlit tropical waters.

## What is coral bleaching?
Coral bleaching happens when stressed corals, usually from water that is too warm, expel the zooxanthellae living in their tissues and turn white. Without their algae the corals lose their main food supply and can starve and die if the stress continues.

## How do coral reefs form?
Reef-building corals secrete a hard skeleton of calcium carbonate beneath their polyps. As colonies grow on the remains of earlier ones over centuries, these skeletons accumulate into the vast limestone structures we call reefs.

## How long do corals live?
Individual coral colonies can live for decades to centuries because they keep building on their own skeletons over time. Whole reefs are far older still, with some structures thousands of years in the making.

## What do corals eat?
Corals eat Filter feeder plus algae symbionts. Corals are tiny colonial animals of the class Anthozoa that build the vast limestone structures we call reefs.

## Where do corals live?
Corals live fixed in place in warm, shallow tropical seas worldwide. Reef-building species depend on sunlight reaching their symbiotic zooxanthellae, so they thrive in clear, nutrient-poor tropical waters where polyps can extend tentacles to capture drifting plankton at night.

## Are corals dangerous?
Corals are not dangerous to swimmers in normal reef contact. Individual polyps have stinging tentacles for catching tiny prey, but they are millimetres wide and fixed in place. The greater risk runs the other way — rising sea temperatures cause bleaching that can kill colonies surviving decades to centuries.

## How big is a coral?
Each coral polyp is only millimetres wide, yet colonies and reefs grow vast over time. This guide's summary stats list typical colony length around 0.3 m, with whole reef structures accumulating over centuries as polyps secrete calcium-carbonate skeletons generation after generation.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/coconut-crab): Coconut Crab — wildlife guide.

## One-line answer
The coconut crab (Birgus latro) is the world's largest land-living arthropod, a giant terrestrial hermit crab found on tropical islands across the Indo-Pacific. Adults reach a leg span of about 1 m (3 ft) and weigh up to roughly 4 kg (9 lb).

## Introduction
The coconut crab (Birgus latro) is the world's largest land-living arthropod, a giant terrestrial hermit crab found on tropical islands across the Indo-Pacific. Adults reach a leg span of about 1 m (3 ft) and weigh up to roughly 4 kg (9 lb). Famous for climbing trees and cracking open coconuts with powerful claws, it is a long-lived omnivore that may survive 40 to 60 years. The IUCN lists it as Vulnerable.

## Takeaway
The coconut crab is the heaviest land arthropod on Earth, with a leg span reaching about 1 m (3 ft) and a body mass of up to roughly 4 kg (9 lb).

## Takeaway
Coconut crabs are accomplished climbers that scale palm trunks and other trees, sometimes several metres up, to reach fruit or to escape the heat.

## Takeaway
Despite the name, the coconut crab is a broad omnivore rather than a coconut specialist.

## Size and body
The coconut crab is the heaviest land arthropod on Earth, with a leg span reaching about 1 m (3 ft) and a body mass of up to roughly 4 kg (9 lb). Unlike its smaller hermit-crab relatives, an adult no longer carries a borrowed shell, instead hardening its own abdomen for protection. Its front claws are extraordinarily strong, capable of a pinch measured among the most powerful of any animal for its size. The body is armoured in a thick exoskeleton that ranges from bluish to reddish-orange depending on the island population.

## Climbing and coconuts
Coconut crabs are accomplished climbers that scale palm trunks and other trees, sometimes several metres up, to reach fruit or to escape the heat. They are named for their habit of husking and cracking coconuts, using their claws to strip the fibrous outer layer and hammer through to the flesh inside, a task that can take days. On the ground they are slow, moving at only around 4 km/h, so climbing gives them access to food that faster animals cannot reach. Their grip is strong enough to carry objects heavier than their own body.

## Diet and feeding
Despite the name, the coconut crab is a broad omnivore rather than a coconut specialist. It eats fallen fruit, seeds, nuts, the pith of toppled trees, and carrion, and will scavenge almost anything organic it encounters at night. It also feeds on other crabs and has been recorded taking small live animals when the chance arises. A keen sense of smell, unusual among crustaceans and more like that of insects, guides it to food across the forest floor.

## Life cycle and breeding
Coconut crabs are terrestrial as adults but remain tied to the sea for reproduction. After mating on land, a female carries her eggs on the underside of her abdomen and then releases the hatching larvae into the ocean, usually at high tide. The tiny larvae drift and develop in the water for several weeks before settling and, like young hermit crabs, occupying small shells while they mature on land. Once large enough, they abandon the shell for good and never return to the water, growing slowly over decades.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/coconut-crab): Coconut Crab — wildlife guide.

## Distribution and habitat
The species is found on tropical islands and coastlines throughout the Indo-Pacific, from the western Indian Ocean to islands scattered across the central Pacific. It favours forested coastal areas with plenty of cover, sheltering by day in rock crevices or burrows lined with fibre and emerging to forage after dark. Because populations are isolated island by island, numbers vary widely from place to place. It has vanished from some islands where humans are numerous and survives best on remote, undisturbed land.

## Conservation status
The coconut crab is listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN, with populations declining across much of its range. Its slow growth, late maturity, and long lifespan of possibly 40 to 60 years make it slow to recover from losses. Hunting for food, habitat loss, and predation of larvae and juveniles by introduced animals all put pressure on island populations. Several countries now regulate harvesting, setting size limits and protecting breeding females to keep local populations from collapsing.

## WARN work
WARN does not run a dedicated coconut crab programme — this guide is part of the World Animal Rescue Network's free educational library. The coconut crab faces documented conservation pressure in the wild, which is why clear, sourced public information about it matters. Building public understanding of species like the coconut crab supports the broader conservation awareness that underpins WARN's partner-led rescue work across its network.

## Donation hook
If clear, science-based wildlife guides like this help you understand and value animals, please consider supporting the World Animal Rescue Network's educational and rescue work so we can keep producing them.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/coconut-crab): Coconut Crab — wildlife guide.

## How big can a coconut crab get?
Coconut crabs are the largest land arthropods in the world. A full-grown adult can span about 1 m (3 ft) from leg tip to leg tip and weigh up to roughly 4 kg (9 lb).

## Can coconut crabs actually open coconuts?
Yes. They use their powerful front claws to strip the fibrous husk and then hammer and pry at the shell until it cracks, reaching the flesh inside. The process can take several days for a single coconut.

## Do coconut crabs climb trees?
They do. Coconut crabs regularly climb palms and other trees, sometimes several metres up, to reach fruit or escape the heat of the ground. Climbing is important because they move slowly on land, at only about 4 km/h.

## How long do coconut crabs live?
They are remarkably long-lived for an invertebrate, possibly reaching 40 to 60 years. They grow slowly and mature late, which is one reason their populations recover slowly from over-harvesting.

## Are coconut crabs dangerous to humans?
Their claws are among the strongest of any animal for their size and can deliver a painful, even injurious pinch, so they should be handled with care. They are not aggressive predators of people, but a grip from a large adult is difficult to break.

## Where do coconut crabs live?
They live on tropical islands and coasts across the Indo-Pacific, from the western Indian Ocean to the central Pacific. As adults they are fully land-dwelling, returning to the sea only to release their larvae.

## What do coconut crabs eat?
Coconut crabs are omnivores, eating coconuts, fruit, seeds and carrion. Despite the name, they are broad feeders rather than coconut specialists, using a keen sense of smell to locate fallen fruit, nuts and organic matter across tropical island forest floors at night.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/giant-house-spider): Giant House Spider — wildlife guide.

## One-line answer
The giant house spider (Eratigena atrica) is one of Britain's largest spiders, a fast-moving but harmless funnel-weaver often seen indoors in autumn. Females reach a body length of up to about 7.5 cm across the legs, with a leg span reaching around 12 cm, and adults live for around three years.

## Introduction
The giant house spider (Eratigena atrica) is one of Britain's largest spiders, a fast-moving but harmless funnel-weaver often seen indoors in autumn. Females reach a body length of up to about 7.5 cm across the legs, with a leg span reaching around 12 cm, and adults live for around three years. It builds sheet-like webs in sheds, garages and quiet corners and preys on flies and other invertebrates. It is common and of Least Concern.

## Takeaway
The giant house spider is a large, brown, long-legged spider with a leg span that can reach around 12 cm, making it one of the biggest spiders regularly encountered in Britain and northern Europe.

## Takeaway
Rather than spinning a sticky orb web, this spider weaves a flat sheet of silk that ends in a funnel-shaped retreat, where it waits out of sight.

## Takeaway
The spiders most people notice indoors are mature males, which leave their webs in early autumn to wander in search of females.

## Appearance and size
The giant house spider is a large, brown, long-legged spider with a leg span that can reach around 12 cm, making it one of the biggest spiders regularly encountered in Britain and northern Europe. Its body is mottled brown with darker markings, and the legs are covered in fine hairs. Females are bulkier than males, with body lengths of up to about 7.5 cm across the legs, while males have longer, spindlier legs relative to their bodies. Their size and speed make them look alarming, but the impression is misleading.

## Webs and how it catches prey
Rather than spinning a sticky orb web, this spider weaves a flat sheet of silk that ends in a funnel-shaped retreat, where it waits out of sight. When a fly, moth or other invertebrate blunders onto the sheet, the vibrations alert the spider, which rushes out from its tunnel to seize the prey before retreating to feed. The web is not sticky; it relies on the spider's speed to reach victims before they escape. These funnels are often tucked behind furniture, in the corners of sheds, or among log piles and garden debris.

## Why you see them in autumn
The spiders most people notice indoors are mature males, which leave their webs in early autumn to wander in search of females. This is why giant house spiders seem to appear suddenly in September and October, scuttling across floors or trapped in baths where they have fallen and cannot climb the smooth sides. They are not invading in greater numbers; they are simply more visible during the mating season. Once a male finds a female's web, he may stay with her for some time before mating.

## Are they dangerous?
Despite their size and the fright they can cause, giant house spiders are harmless to people. Their venom is used to subdue small invertebrate prey and has no significant effect on humans, and they are reluctant to bite, preferring to flee. On the rare occasion a bite does occur, it is comparable to a minor sting at most. They are, in fact, useful housemates that help keep down numbers of flies and other insects.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/giant-house-spider): Giant House Spider — wildlife guide.

## Habitat and life cycle
Giant house spiders live in and around human buildings, including houses, sheds, garages and outbuildings, as well as in natural sites such as log piles, cavities and gardens. Females stay close to their webs for life, laying eggs in silken sacs and living for up to around three years, longer than many spiders. Males have shorter lives and usually die within weeks of maturing and mating. The species is common and widespread and is classed as Least Concern.

## WARN work
WARN does not run a dedicated giant house spider programme — this guide is part of the World Animal Rescue Network's free educational library. The giant house spider is currently widespread and not globally threatened, and this guide helps readers understand the pressures that can change that. Building public understanding of species like the giant house spider supports the broader conservation awareness that underpins WARN's partner-led rescue work across its network.

## Donation hook
If clear, science-based wildlife guides like this help you understand and value animals, please consider supporting the World Animal Rescue Network's educational and rescue work so we can keep producing them.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/giant-house-spider): Giant House Spider — wildlife guide.

## Are giant house spiders dangerous?
No. Giant house spiders are harmless to people, with venom that only affects their small invertebrate prey. They are reluctant to bite and prefer to run away, and any rare bite is no worse than a minor sting.

## Why do giant house spiders come indoors in autumn?
The spiders seen indoors in September and October are mostly mature males wandering in search of a mate. They are not invading in greater numbers but are simply more visible as they roam. Many end up trapped in baths, unable to climb the smooth sides.

## How big do giant house spiders get?
They are among Britain's largest spiders, with a leg span reaching around 12 cm. Females have a bulky body up to about 7.5 cm across the legs, while males have longer, thinner legs. Their size makes them look more threatening than they are.

## What do giant house spiders eat?
They are carnivores that prey on flies, moths and other invertebrates. They build a flat sheet web with a funnel retreat and rush out to seize prey that lands on it. This makes them helpful in controlling household insects.

## How long do giant house spiders live?
Females can live for around three years, which is long for a spider. Males live much shorter lives, usually dying within a few weeks of maturing and finding a mate in autumn.

## Do giant house spiders make webs?
Yes. They weave a flat sheet of silk ending in a funnel-shaped tunnel where they hide. The web is not sticky, so the spider relies on speed to dash out and catch prey before it escapes.

## Where do giant house spiders live?
Giant House Spiders live in Houses, sheds, garages, log piles, gardens. The giant house spider (Eratigena atrica) is one of Britain's largest spiders, a fast-moving but harmless funnel-weaver often seen indoors in autumn.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/boa-constrictor): Boa Constrictor — wildlife guide.

## One-line answer
The boa constrictor (Boa constrictor) is a large, heavy-bodied, non-venomous snake native to tropical forests, savannas, and deserts across Central and South America. It typically reaches 2 to 3 m and weighs around 10 to 15 kg, killing prey not with venom but by coiling around it and squeezing until it can no longer breathe.

## Introduction
The boa constrictor (Boa constrictor) is a large, heavy-bodied, non-venomous snake native to tropical forests, savannas, and deserts across Central and South America. It typically reaches 2 to 3 m and weighs around 10 to 15 kg, killing prey not with venom but by coiling around it and squeezing until it can no longer breathe. A slow-moving ambush hunter, the boa can live 20 to 30 years and is listed as Least Concern.

## Takeaway
The boa constrictor is a thick, muscular snake that commonly grows to 2 to 3 m, with females larger than males and weighing up to around 15 kg.

## Takeaway
The boa constrictor is non-venomous and kills entirely by constriction, as its name suggests.

## Takeaway
Boas are carnivores that eat a wide range of warm-blooded prey, from rodents, birds, and bats to lizards and larger mammals such as opossums.

## Size and appearance
The boa constrictor is a thick, muscular snake that commonly grows to 2 to 3 m, with females larger than males and weighing up to around 15 kg. Its background colour ranges from tan and brown to grey, overlaid with distinctive dark saddle-shaped markings that deepen to reddish tones towards the tail, giving rise to the nickname red-tailed boa. This patterning is superb camouflage among leaf litter and dappled forest light. Unlike venomous snakes, it has a narrow head only slightly wider than its neck and no fangs.

## How it kills by constriction
The boa constrictor is non-venomous and kills entirely by constriction, as its name suggests. It seizes prey with backward-curving teeth, then throws several coils of its powerful body around the animal. Rather than crushing bones, the snake tightens its grip each time the prey exhales, cutting off blood flow and breathing until the animal quickly loses consciousness. It then swallows the meal whole, head first, its jaws stretching around prey far wider than its own head.

## Diet and hunting
Boas are carnivores that eat a wide range of warm-blooded prey, from rodents, birds, and bats to lizards and larger mammals such as opossums. They are ambush hunters, lying still and camouflaged before striking with a rapid lunge. Heat-sensitive scales around the mouth help them detect the body warmth of prey in darkness. After a large meal a boa may not need to feed again for weeks.

## Habitat and range
The boa constrictor ranges widely across Central and South America and some Caribbean islands, occupying a remarkable variety of habitats. It is found in tropical rainforest, dry woodland, savanna grassland, and semi-desert scrub, from sea level into the hills. Young boas often climb into trees and shrubs, while heavier adults spend more time on the ground, frequently near water. This adaptability across so many habitats is one reason the species remains widespread.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/boa-constrictor): Boa Constrictor — wildlife guide.

## Reproduction and young
Boa constrictors give birth to live young rather than laying eggs, a trait known as ovoviviparity. The female carries the developing embryos internally and delivers a litter that can number a couple of dozen fully formed babies, each around 40 to 50 cm long. The young are independent from birth, receiving no parental care, and begin hunting small prey almost at once. They grow steadily over several years before reaching breeding size.

## Conservation and people
The boa constrictor is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, reflecting its wide range and adaptability, though some local populations are pressured by hunting for the skin trade and collection for pets. It is one of the most familiar snakes in captivity, valued in the reptile hobby for its manageable temperament and striking pattern. Introduced boas have also established themselves in a few places outside their native range. Habitat loss is the main long-term concern for wild populations.

## WARN work
WARN does not run a dedicated boa constrictor programme — this guide is part of the World Animal Rescue Network's free educational library. The boa constrictor is currently widespread and not globally threatened, and this guide helps readers understand the pressures that can change that. Building public understanding of species like the boa constrictor supports the broader conservation awareness that underpins WARN's partner-led rescue work across its network.

## Donation hook
If clear, science-based wildlife guides like this help you understand and value animals, please consider supporting the World Animal Rescue Network's educational and rescue work so we can keep producing them.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/boa-constrictor): Boa Constrictor — wildlife guide.

## Are boa constrictors venomous?
No. Boa constrictors are non-venomous and have no fangs or venom. They kill prey entirely by constriction, coiling around the animal and tightening until it can no longer breathe.

## How big do boa constrictors get?
Boa constrictors typically reach 2 to 3 m in length and weigh around 10 to 15 kg. Females grow noticeably larger and heavier than males, and exceptional individuals can be longer still.

## What do boa constrictors eat?
Boa constrictors are carnivores that eat warm-blooded prey such as rodents, birds, bats, lizards, and larger mammals like opossums. They ambush their prey, seize it, and kill it by constriction before swallowing it whole.

## How does a boa constrictor kill its prey?
It grips the prey with its teeth and wraps several coils of its body around it, then squeezes tighter each time the animal breathes out. This cuts off blood flow and breathing, and the prey loses consciousness within moments before being swallowed whole.

## Do boa constrictors lay eggs?
No. Boa constrictors give birth to live young rather than laying eggs. A female carries the developing babies internally and delivers a litter of up to a couple of dozen fully formed young, which are independent from birth.

## How long do boa constrictors live?
Boa constrictors commonly live 20 to 30 years. Well-kept animals in captivity often reach the upper end of that range, and some live even longer with good care.

## Where do boa constrictors live?
Boa constrictors range across Central and South America and some Caribbean islands, occupying tropical rainforest, dry woodland, savanna grassland and semi-desert scrub from sea level into the hills.

## Are boa constrictors dangerous?
Boa constrictors are non-venomous and kill prey by constriction, not venom. They are ambush hunters of rodents and birds rather than a threat to people, and their wide range and adaptability are why the IUCN lists them as Least Concern.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/corn-snake): Corn Snake — wildlife guide.

## One-line answer
The corn snake (Pantherophis guttatus) is a gentle, colourful North American rat snake and one of the most popular pet snakes in the world. Native to the fields, woodlands and farmland of the southeastern United States, it grows to around 1.4 m (up to about 1.8 m) and is a non-venomous constrictor that hunts rodents.

## Introduction
The corn snake (Pantherophis guttatus) is a gentle, colourful North American rat snake and one of the most popular pet snakes in the world. Native to the fields, woodlands and farmland of the southeastern United States, it grows to around 1.4 m (up to about 1.8 m) and is a non-venomous constrictor that hunts rodents. Docile and easy to keep, corn snakes can live 15 to 20 years in captivity and are listed as Least Concern.

## Takeaway
The corn snake is named partly for the maize-like checkerboard pattern on its belly and partly for its habit of hunting around grain stores.

## Takeaway
The corn snake is completely harmless to people, with no venom and only tiny teeth.

## Takeaway
In the wild the corn snake ranges across the southeastern United States, favouring fields, woodlands, farmland and abandoned buildings.

## Appearance and colour
The corn snake is named partly for the maize-like checkerboard pattern on its belly and partly for its habit of hunting around grain stores. Wild individuals are typically orange or reddish-brown with bold, black-edged red or orange blotches down the back. Decades of captive breeding have produced a huge range of colour and pattern variations, known as morphs, from snow-white to lavender. A slender adult reaches about 1.4 m long and weighs around 0.9 kg (2 lb).

## A non-venomous constrictor
The corn snake is completely harmless to people, with no venom and only tiny teeth. It kills its prey by constriction, coiling around a rodent and tightening its grip until the animal stops breathing before swallowing it whole. Corn snakes are carnivores that feed mainly on mice, rats and other small rodents, along with the occasional bird or egg. This appetite for rodents makes them welcome around farms and barns, where they help control pests.

## Habitat and behaviour
In the wild the corn snake ranges across the southeastern United States, favouring fields, woodlands, farmland and abandoned buildings. It slithers across the ground and is a capable climber, scaling trees and rafters in search of prey and shelter. Mostly active at dawn, dusk and night, it spends much of its time hidden under logs, rocks or debris. When alarmed it may vibrate its tail against dry leaves, mimicking a rattlesnake to bluff predators.

## Why it is a popular pet
The corn snake is often recommended as an ideal beginner's snake because it is calm, tolerant of handling and simple to care for. It stays a manageable size, feeds readily on frozen-thawed rodents, and rarely bites. Its wide array of colour morphs also makes it a favourite among keepers and breeders. With good care a pet corn snake can live 15 to 20 years.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/corn-snake): Corn Snake — wildlife guide.

## Reproduction and life cycle
Corn snakes breed in spring, after emerging from a cooler winter dormancy that helps trigger the cycle. The female lays a clutch of around a dozen eggs in a warm, humid, hidden spot such as rotting wood or leaf litter, then leaves them to develop on their own. The eggs hatch after about two months, and the young snakes are independent from birth. In the wild corn snakes generally live several years, but in captivity they commonly reach 15 to 20 years.

## Conservation status
The corn snake is listed as Least Concern and remains common across its native range in the southeastern United States. It is one of the most widely bred snakes in the world, so the pet trade draws overwhelmingly on captive-bred animals rather than wild ones. Habitat loss and road deaths affect some local populations, but the species as a whole is secure. Its adaptability to farmland and disturbed land has helped it persist alongside people.

## WARN work
WARN does not run a dedicated corn snake programme — this guide is part of the World Animal Rescue Network's free educational library. The corn snake is currently widespread and not globally threatened, and this guide helps readers understand the pressures that can change that. Building public understanding of species like the corn snake supports the broader conservation awareness that underpins WARN's partner-led rescue work across its network.

## Donation hook
If clear, science-based wildlife guides like this help you understand and value animals, please consider supporting the World Animal Rescue Network's educational and rescue work so we can keep producing them.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/corn-snake): Corn Snake — wildlife guide.

## Are corn snakes venomous or dangerous?
No. Corn snakes are completely non-venomous and harmless to people. They kill prey by constriction, are very docile, and rarely bite, which is why they are considered one of the safest pet snakes.

## How big do corn snakes get?
Corn snakes typically grow to around 1.4 m long, with some reaching about 1.8 m (6 ft), and weigh roughly 0.9 kg (2 lb). They are a slender, moderately sized rat snake.

## What do corn snakes eat?
Corn snakes are carnivores that feed mainly on mice, rats and other small rodents, along with the occasional bird or egg. In captivity they are usually fed appropriately sized frozen-thawed rodents.

## How long do corn snakes live?
With good care a pet corn snake can live 15 to 20 years. Wild corn snakes generally live shorter lives because of predators and other hazards.

## Why are corn snakes good pets for beginners?
Corn snakes are calm, tolerant of handling and simple to care for. They stay a manageable size, feed readily on frozen-thawed rodents, rarely bite, and come in a wide range of attractive colour morphs.

## Why is it called a corn snake?
The name comes partly from the maize-like checkerboard pattern on the snake's belly and partly from its habit of hunting rodents around grain and corn stores. It is a type of North American rat snake.

## Where do corn snakes live?
Corn Snakes live in Fields, woodlands, and farmland. The corn snake (Pantherophis guttatus) is a gentle, colourful North American rat snake and one of the most popular pet snakes in the world.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/frilled-lizard): Frilled Lizard — wildlife guide.

## One-line answer
The frilled lizard (Chlamydosaurus kingii) is a tree-dwelling reptile of northern Australia and southern New Guinea, famous for the wide, leathery frill it snaps open around its neck when threatened. It grows up to about 0.9 m (3 ft) long including the tail and weighs around 0.5 kg (1.1 lb).

## Introduction
The frilled lizard (Chlamydosaurus kingii) is a tree-dwelling reptile of northern Australia and southern New Guinea, famous for the wide, leathery frill it snaps open around its neck when threatened. It grows up to about 0.9 m (3 ft) long including the tail and weighs around 0.5 kg (1.1 lb). When alarmed on the ground it sprints away on its hind legs, and it can live 10 to 20 years.

## Takeaway
The frill is a fold of skin supported by long rods of cartilage attached to the jaw.

## Takeaway
If the display fails, the frilled lizard turns and flees in a way few reptiles can match.

## Takeaway
Frilled lizards are strongly arboreal and spend most of the day clinging to trunks and branches in tropical woodland and dry forest.

## The famous frill and its bluff
The frill is a fold of skin supported by long rods of cartilage attached to the jaw. Normally it lies flat against the shoulders, but when the lizard opens its mouth the frill springs out into a disc that can be up to 30 cm across. Combined with hissing, gaping, and tail-lashing, this display makes the animal look far larger and more dangerous than it really is. The bluff is meant to startle a predator long enough for the lizard to escape.

## Running on two legs
If the display fails, the frilled lizard turns and flees in a way few reptiles can match. It rears up and runs on its hind legs alone, tail held out for balance, in a comical upright sprint toward the nearest tree. This bipedal dash can reach around 30 km/h over short distances. Once it reaches a trunk it scrambles up and freezes against the bark, where its grey-brown colouring blends in.

## Life in the trees
Frilled lizards are strongly arboreal and spend most of the day clinging to trunks and branches in tropical woodland and dry forest. From this vantage point they watch the ground for movement and drop down to snatch prey. They are ambush hunters that stay motionless for long stretches, relying on camouflage rather than active searching. Height also keeps them clear of many ground predators.

## Diet and feeding
This lizard is a carnivore that feeds mainly on insects. Cicadas, beetles, ants, termites, and spiders make up the bulk of its diet, and larger individuals will also take small lizards and the occasional small mammal. It hunts by sitting still and ambushing anything that wanders within reach. Feeding activity rises sharply in the wet season, when insect numbers explode.

## Seasons and breeding
Northern Australia's climate swings between a hot wet season and a long dry season, and the frilled lizard's year is built around it. The animals are most active and breed during the wet, when food is abundant, and become far more sluggish and secretive through the dry months. Females lay clutches of roughly 8 to 23 eggs in shallow nests dug into soft soil. The eggs hatch after two to three months, and hatchlings are independent from birth.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/frilled-lizard): Frilled Lizard — wildlife guide.

## Conservation status
The frilled lizard is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN and remains widespread across its northern Australian and New Guinean range. The main pressures it faces are habitat clearance, wildfire, and predation by introduced cats and foxes. It is also collected for the exotic pet trade, though wild populations are currently considered stable. Healthy tree cover is the single most important thing for its long-term survival.

## WARN work
WARN does not run a dedicated frilled lizard programme — this guide is part of the World Animal Rescue Network's free educational library. The frilled lizard is currently widespread and not globally threatened, and this guide helps readers understand the pressures that can change that. Building public understanding of species like the frilled lizard supports the broader conservation awareness that underpins WARN's partner-led rescue work across its network.

## Donation hook
If clear, science-based wildlife guides like this help you understand and value animals, please consider supporting the World Animal Rescue Network's educational and rescue work so we can keep producing them.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/frilled-lizard): Frilled Lizard — wildlife guide.

## Why does the frilled lizard have a frill?
The frill is a defensive bluff. When a predator approaches, the lizard opens its mouth and flares the frill into a wide disc, making itself look much bigger and scarier so the attacker hesitates. It is not used for feeding and has no venom behind it.

## Can a frilled lizard really run on two legs?
Yes. When it flees on open ground the frilled lizard rears up and runs on its hind legs alone, holding its tail out for balance. This upright bipedal sprint carries it quickly to the nearest tree, where it climbs to safety.

## How big does a frilled lizard get?
A frilled lizard reaches up to about 0.9 m (3 ft) in total length, though most of that is its long tail. Body weight is only around 0.5 kg (1.1 lb), so it is a lightly built, agile climber rather than a heavy reptile.

## What do frilled lizards eat?
Frilled lizards are carnivores that eat mostly insects, including cicadas, beetles, ants, termites, and spiders. Larger individuals also take small lizards and occasionally small mammals. They hunt by ambush, staying still and grabbing prey that passes close by.

## Are frilled lizards dangerous to humans?
No. Despite the dramatic threat display, frilled lizards are harmless to people. They have no venom, and a large one can deliver only a mild bite if handled. Their whole strategy is to frighten enemies off rather than to fight.

## How long do frilled lizards live?
Frilled lizards typically live between 10 and 20 years. Lifespan depends heavily on avoiding predators such as birds of prey, snakes, and introduced cats and foxes, especially while young and small.

## Where do frilled lizards live?
Frilled Lizards live in Tropical woodlands and dry forest. The frilled lizard (Chlamydosaurus kingii) is a tree-dwelling reptile of northern Australia and southern New Guinea, famous for the wide, leathery frill it snaps open around its neck when threatened.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/garter-snake): Garter Snake — wildlife guide.

## One-line answer
The garter snake is one of the most common and widespread snakes in North America, found in meadows, marshes, woodlands, and gardens from Canada to Mexico. It is a slender snake, typically 0.5 to 1.3 m long and about 150 g, usually striped in yellow or green along a darker body.

## Introduction
The garter snake is one of the most common and widespread snakes in North America, found in meadows, marshes, woodlands, and gardens from Canada to Mexico. It is a slender snake, typically 0.5 to 1.3 m long and about 150 g, usually striped in yellow or green along a darker body. Harmless to people, it slithers actively by day hunting worms, amphibians, and fish, and lives around four to ten years.

## Takeaway
Garter snakes are best known for the long stripes that run the length of the body, usually one down the back and one along each side, in yellow, green, or cream against brown, grey, or black.

## Takeaway
The garter snake is a carnivore with a broad appetite, eating earthworms, slugs, amphibians, small fish, and the occasional rodent or nestling.

## Takeaway
Few snakes are as adaptable, and the garter snake ranges from Canada through the United States into Mexico across an enormous variety of habitats.

## Appearance and identification
Garter snakes are best known for the long stripes that run the length of the body, usually one down the back and one along each side, in yellow, green, or cream against brown, grey, or black. Adults are slim and typically measure 0.5 to 1.3 m (about 1.5 to 4.3 ft) and weigh around 150 g. There are many regional colour forms, so patterning varies widely across the species' huge range. The keeled scales give the skin a slightly rough, matte look rather than a glossy sheen.

## Diet and hunting
The garter snake is a carnivore with a broad appetite, eating earthworms, slugs, amphibians, small fish, and the occasional rodent or nestling. It slithers actively through vegetation and shallow water by day, using sight and a flicking tongue to track prey rather than lying in wait. Some populations tolerate the toxins of newts and toads that would poison other predators. Prey is seized in the jaws and swallowed whole, as the snake has no venom potent enough to subdue large animals.

## Habitat and range
Few snakes are as adaptable, and the garter snake ranges from Canada through the United States into Mexico across an enormous variety of habitats. It thrives in damp meadows, marshes, pond edges, woodland, and suburban gardens, rarely far from water. This tolerance of cool climates lets it live farther north than almost any other North American snake. Its willingness to live alongside people makes it one of the reptiles most familiar to gardeners.

## Reproduction and hibernation
Garter snakes give birth to live young rather than laying eggs, producing litters that can number from a handful to several dozen. In colder regions they spend winter in communal dens called hibernacula, sometimes gathering by the hundreds or thousands in the same rocky shelter. When they emerge in spring, males may form writhing mating balls around a single female. The newborn snakes are fully independent from birth and receive no parental care.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/garter-snake): Garter Snake — wildlife guide.

## Defence and predators
When threatened, a garter snake first tries to flee, slithering quickly into cover. If cornered it may flatten its body, strike, or release a foul-smelling musk from glands near the tail to deter a predator. Its saliva contains a mild toxin that helps subdue small prey but is harmless to humans, causing at most minor irritation. Hawks, larger snakes, raccoons, and domestic cats are among its many predators.

## Lifespan and conservation
In the wild garter snakes typically live four to ten years, though predation means many do not survive their first year. The species is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN and remains abundant across its range. A few localised subspecies, such as the San Francisco garter snake, are threatened by habitat loss and are protected. For the species as a whole, adaptability and a varied diet keep populations healthy.

## WARN work
WARN does not run a dedicated garter snake programme — this guide is part of the World Animal Rescue Network's free educational library. The garter snake is currently widespread and not globally threatened, and this guide helps readers understand the pressures that can change that. Building public understanding of species like the garter snake supports the broader conservation awareness that underpins WARN's partner-led rescue work across its network.

## Donation hook
If clear, science-based wildlife guides like this help you understand and value animals, please consider supporting the World Animal Rescue Network's educational and rescue work so we can keep producing them.