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.

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.

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.

When evolution bestows its gifts, it sometimes does so in ways that defy belief. From the coconut octopus's mind-blowing mastery of camouflage to the sunburst beetle's genius use of makeshift diving equipment, witness a stunning showcase of nature's evolutionary superpowers.