Often man-made, noise pollution or environmental noise is adversely affecting birds, frogs, whales, dolphins, crabs, elephants and many other animals.

This week's tragic killer whale attack at SeaWorld has stirred controversy about the orca in question, Tilikum, and whether these dolphins should be captive.

Animal hybrids can occur naturally or through the machinations of Mankind - either way, the resulting hybrids can be surprisingly vigorous.

Researchers have recently discovered some interesting mating behaviors by fruit flies, fruit bats, cane toads, beetles and a group of birds called great tits.

In addition to habitat loss, chlamydia and other threats, Australian koalas are now rapidly suffering from KIDS (Koala AIDS) that is similar to human AIDS.

The dreaded, invasive Asian carp could be entering the Great Lakes, posing a serious threat to not only the ecosystem but fishermen on boats.

Sharks are the oceans' most efficient predators and have evolved to fit a wide range of bizarre ecological niches. Here are ten of the strangest.

Just as Peyton Manning and Drew Brees are known for great downfield vision, sea urchins, hammerhead sharks and bees possess quite eye-opening visual skills.

It would be easy to see Claire Morgan's installation art as macabre. But at its heart, it's more about a healthy fascination with science and nature.

Unseasonably cold weather and globally warm scenarios pose grave animal dangers to tropical fish, sea turtles, colobine monkeys, gorillas and other marine animals.

These spiders' bold faux faces and smile-like markings aren't there to make you laugh, instead they serve to scare and confuse potential predators.

Seemingly mild creatures like cleaner fish, damselfish and fruit flies have recently shown that they have surprising wild sides when push comes to shove.

Arachnophobia: the irrational fear of spiders. These hairy 8-legged, multi-eyeballed spiders may inspire fear, but get up close and they look almost cuddly.

From past (venomous dinosaurs) to present (venomous jellyfish) to future (venom treatments), the evolution, dangers and benefits of venom continue to surprise.

From insects and brain size to genetically-altered mice and Alzheimer's to sea lions and toxic brain damage, these animals help educate about the brain.