New monster tarantula species is 'hairy giant among dwarves'

Biologists have discovered a new tarantula species in Cuba that is bigger and hairier than other spiders in its genus.

New Zealanders work together to save stranded whales

“This response demonstrates the deep connection we all share with our marine environment," Joel Lauterbach, a Department of Conservation spokesperson, said in a statement.

Lost penguin’s 2,000-mile journey to Australia ends with return to Southern Ocean

The emperor penguin, dubbed Gus, had somehow swam over 2,000 miles from his icy home and was found on a sun-drenched beach in Denmark, Western Australia, earlier this month.

Snake found slithering inside Hawaii Christmas tree shipment

Shop workers unloading a supply of Christmas trees in Hawaii found an unexpected visitor hiding within the shipment.

See it: Mummified cat cub provides glimpse of what animals looked like

The frozen mummy of a sabre-toothed cub found in Siberia was so well-preserved that it gave scientists the chance to study an extinct mammal unlike ever before.

Watch: Great white shark swims close to Australian surfers

A group of surfers had a close encounter with a great white shark off the coast of Emerald Beach, New South Wales, on November 13.

Photos: See lone emperor penguin 1st to swim from Antarctica to Australia

A lone emperor penguin was found malnourished on a popular beach after making the shocking 2,200 mile swim from Antarctica to Australia.

Escaped monkeys update: More than half safely recovered, several still on the loose

Officials in South Carolina have recaptured over half of the 43 Rhesus macaques that escaped from the Alpha Genesis research facility in Yemassee last week.

Florida surfer survives near-fatal shark attack at same beach, 12 years after first bite

This wasn't Cole Taschman's first brush with a shark. Twelve years prior, he had been bitten by a smaller shark while surfing in the same exact spot at Bathtub Beach in Stuart, Florida.

60 rare Siamese crocodiles hatch in Cambodia’s Cardamom National Park

Sixty critically endangered Siamese crocodiles hatched in Cambodia’s Cardamom National Park this summer, marking the largest wild breeding record of the species this century.

Volcanic ash from Mexican volcano spotted over Florida

Popocatépetl is Mexico’s most active volcano and has been erupting for decades about 45 miles southeast of Mexico City.

Famous Alaska volcano sees seismic unrest after more than 30-year slumber

Several small earthquakes have been detected around Mt. Spurr this past week, prompting the Alaska Volcano Observatory to raise the volcano's alert level to "yellow" from the base green.

Photos: Polish zoo celebrates birth of critically endangered Sumatran tigers

A Polish zoo is celebrating the birth of four bright-eyed Sumatran tiger cubs in what’s being hailed as “a breeding success on a global scale."