Strange Creatures

In nature, the right stench can mean the difference between life and death at the jaws of a predator. Meet some of nature's odor-equipped inhabitants, from vomiting grasshoppers to dung-flinging hippos--and even a flower that's adapted to smell like death.

The biggest bird in the world can't fly. Another relies on a mustache to attract mates. And one colorful aviator has a bill so big, it needs special vertebrae to carry it around. Meet nature's flying iconoclasts and learn why they've evolved a unique appearance to give themselves an edge.

When it comes to survival, could nature's big winners be the most distinct-looking creatures? Take the terrifying lamprey, who sucks blood out of its prey, or the bizarre wolf eel, who isn't an eel at all. Learn how these species, and more, use their unique appearances to come out on top.

Get up close and personal with a beetle that convincingly plays dead, a snail that eats everything in its path, and other tiny, crawly species with extraordinary survival skills.

Are they guinea pigs, beavers, or something else entirely? Capybaras, the world's largest rodents, seem to embody the features of several different animals at once, as do warthogs, anteaters, and more. Delve into the world of fascinating genetic hybrids and learn why they display such particular physical traits.

Different animals resort to camouflage for different reasons. Some, like the stick insect, mimic their environment to avoid predators, while others, such as the lionfish, use their disguises to ambush prey. Take a blink-and-you'll-miss-it look at some of nature's most gifted deceivers.