Pure Science = Raw Awesome

Teensy Frog

Credit: Naomi Dook, ZSL

The Gardiner’s Seychelles frog is a pipsqueak, growing to a max length of just 11 millimeters or smaller than your thumbnail. This species along with another Seychelles frog are now found only on the Seychelles islands of Mahe and Silhouette.

Color-changing Frog

Credit: © Stefan Hertwig

Called Rhacophorus penanorum, this tiny frog species, whose males grow to just 1.4 inches (3.5 centimeters), was discovered in Gunung Mulu National Park, Sarawak, in the Heart of Borneo. Also called the Mulu flying frog, the amphibian has a small pointed snout and is unusual in that the species has bright green skin at night but changes color to display a brown hue during the day. Its eyes follow suit to change color as well. And while the minute animal may not fly with the birds, it uses its webbed feet and aerodynamic flaps of skin on the arms and legs to glide from tree to tree.

This is the caterpillar for the pink underwing moth and is commonly referred to as the skull caterpillar. It is found in certain regions of Australia and is listed as endangered. As an adult moth, it will have a wingspan up to 170 mm.

Photo credit: Lui Weber/ Rex Features

Artist Nickolay Lamm has depicted what New York City would look like if it were on the other seven planets. To make sure the details were right, Lamm partnered with a former NASA astrobiologist.

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Slender Loris

Photo credit: Alex Pyron

This is the Chinese giant salamander, the largest known salamander and amphibian in the world. Adults can reach up to an astonishing 180cm (6ft) from head to tail, although sadly they rarely reach that size today. It is considered critically endangered due to habitat loss and its status as a “delicacy” and component in traditional folk medicine.

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Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s …. flying squid.

Many tales of flying squid have been reported over the years but this behaviour was only confirmed last year. Turns out they don’t just fly - they fly through the air faster than Usain Bolt can run! They launch themselves into the air using a high powered jet of water and can cover upwards of 30m using this method.

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Some species of woodpecker have amazing tongues. It is covered in small hooks that allow it to ensnare insect larvae from a piece of wood. The tongue is approximately three times the length of the beak, allowing it to capture evasive prey. It is so long, it has to fork at the back of the throat and wrap around the woodpecker’s skull when retracted.

Photo credit: Top- Hilton Pond Center, Bottom- Robert Benson