About half of all known catfish species—many more than expected—bear spines that, when agitated, can rip open venom glands and stymie predators, a new study says.

Despite its name, the sucker-footed bat of Madagascar—one of the few bats known to roost upright—actually uses "modified sweat" to cling to surfaces, a new study says. With video.

The stars of the most watched videos on National Geographic News were a decidedly deep lot—hopping fish, countertop "sea monsters," underwater eruptions, and more.

Strange beasts—including a giant rat, a lungless worm, and a vegetarian spider—dominated National Geographic News's most popular new-species coverage of 2009.

The distinctive T-shaped heads of hammerhead sharks give the predators human-like stereo vision and depth perception, helping the sharks track speedy prey, a new study says.

The "lounge lizard" lifestyle helped a prehistoric goat adjust its growth and metabolism during lean times—but its energy-saving methods may have spelled its ultimate doom, a new study says.

Solving a longstanding puzzle among bird experts, scientists have found that the sharp, violin-like sounds of a South American songbird come not from the beak but from a suite of specially evolved, vibrating feathers. With video.