The African savannah teems with a great variety of impressive and fascinating creatures. Among these animals are some of the most recognizable and renowned, such as the mighty elephant and the majestic lion. Yet some equally interesting species are often overlooked in the studies of African ecosystems, species which possess incredible qualities of their own. Among these animals are the beautiful and formidable African wild dogs.

Seen by many people as symbols of doom and death as well as unappealing and disgusting creatures, the vultures are indeed in a tough spot when it comes to capturing the awe and wonder of humans. This is probably not much of a surprise, considering the myriad of unusual and unattractive adaptations that these birds possess in order to assist them in their survival.

Shamans desired to become like it and adopt its strength and speed, turning the humans into fierce hunters. The people of the Amazon saw in its shiny, reflective eyes proof that it was connected with supernatural forces. The ancient Mayans believed its striking, spotted coat represented the night sky. It was even seen as a formidable lord of the underworld in some traditions.[1] This widely revered creature, whose name means “he who kills in one leap,”[2] is none other than the beautiful yet deadly jaguar.

A large crowd cheers with great excitement as dust flies into the air in a massive arena. As the cloud of dust begins to clear, drops of blood can be seen sprinkled throughout the arena. A man wielding a sword and adorned in a flamboyant outfit gracefully dodges the attack of a powerful foe, swiftly puncturing his opponent as he moves out of the way. The crowd once again roars with sheer excitement as this dangerous battle continues. As the dust completely diminishes, the second fighter in this battle is revealed.

Beautiful yet uncanny and fascinating yet lethal, no animal has managed to attract the fear and wonder of humans throughout history as persuasively as the snake. While some cultures have despised snakes and seen them as symbols of deceitfulness and vindictiveness, others have revered and worshiped the serpents. These varying viewpoints reflect the different ways in which men throughout history have viewed these unique reptiles. Yet what is it about these creatures that captivates the human mind? Is it their unusual design, or their mysterious nature? The answer may just as well lie in the serpents’ fearsome ability to kill.

Commonly associated with Halloween, misfortune, witches, horror movies, and the devil, the infamous vampire bats have been at the center of ominous folklore for centuries. Then again, with their intimidating design, purely nocturnal lifestyle, and diet consisting solely of blood, it is not difficult to see how these unique animals received their unattractive reputation. And yet, though the images and concepts vampire bats represent throughout different cultures are interesting, the science and finesse behind their design is far more extraordinary.

In the frigid Antarctic Ocean, a group of emperor penguins is returning to dry land after a much needed hunt for food. The weather is unforgiving and the waters are dark in color, obscuring any view of its contents deep within. As the group begins to near shore, they are oblivious to the presence of another creature within their vicinity, a creature which has also been searching for food.