The Creatures

Interest is surging around legendary deep-sea creatures, including the Bloop — an unexplained ocean sound recorded in 1997 — alongside mythical giants like El Gran Maja, the Leviathan, the so-called Sea Eater and the Sand Shark. Audiences are engaging heavily with content exploring these monsters, mixing real ocean mysteries such as unexplained acoustic signals with folklore and internet-created sea beasts.

The horror and genre outlet Rue Morgue has published a review of 'Beware Boiúna', a creature-feature adventure centred on a giant killer snake drawn from Brazilian folklore. The review's verdict is that the film is 'properly scaled' — that is, it keeps its monster premise at a size and tone that works, rather than overselling it. The write-up positions the movie as a deliberate throwback-style snake adventure for genre audiences.

The 18 finalists for the 2026 Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards have been revealed, featuring humorous animal images that capture creatures in amusing poses and moments. The shortlist, highlighted by Forbes, showcases wildlife photographers from around the world competing in the annual competition that celebrates funny nature photography while drawing attention to wildlife conservation.

A drawing of a violet-backed starling is being shared and praised for its vivid violet plumage. Commenters note the bird's colouring is so saturated it almost evokes the asexual pride flag, though it would need more black and grey to match. The artwork, tagged under community art tags, is being appreciated as a depiction of a genuinely colourful creature.

The Wow in the World kids' podcast is out with a new episode exploring robot cockroaches, inviting young listeners to discover how engineers are building tiny robotic insects inspired by one of nature's most resilient creatures. The episode uses the classic superhero joke as a playful hook to get children curious about robotics and biomimicry.

An artist shared a new painting of small creatures inspired by rainy weather, done in Schmincke Horadam gouache. The piece, tagged with art, watercolor and anime communities, has drawn modest engagement from fellow traditional-art enthusiasts who follow her nature-themed work.

Game of Thrones: War for Westeros, an upcoming title set in the world of Westeros, has revealed that the Night King's ice spiders will feature in it. The creatures were teased in early Game of Thrones lore but never fully shown on screen, so their arrival is drawing attention from fans of the franchise.

Divers around the Gili Islands off Lombok, Indonesia are drawing attention to sea squirts, marine animals known as ascidians found on the region's reefs. The posts spotlight these often-overlooked filter-feeding creatures as part of the rich sea life encountered while scuba diving at sites around Gili Trawangan and Gili Air.

A nature photographer has shared a close-up photo of plants and asked viewers if they can spot the hidden animal camouflaged somewhere in the frame. The post mixes English, German and Spanish nature hashtags and is drawing engagement from people enjoying the challenge of finding the concealed creature in the summer foliage.

A visitor to the National Crafts Museum in Delhi shared work by Bhil tribal artists from Madhya Pradesh, highlighting a squid painting alongside the artist's other marine-themed pieces such as seahorses, turtles and eels, as well as scenes of tribal people taking a bus. The post has drawn attention to the artists' distinctive style and the museum as a place to meet them and buy their work directly.

Animator Kate Renshaw-Lewis has released "Busy Bodies," a hand-drawn animation following a workforce of chugging creatures. The short is being featured on the art and culture site Colossal, where its playful, labor-intensive craft style is drawing attention from animation fans. The film showcases traditional frame-by-frame drawing applied to a whimsical cast of hardworking characters.

Roblox creators Tyler & Snowi are adopting baby animal anomalies in the game, drawing big audiences. The quirky premise of raising strange baby creatures has caught on with players, fueling discussion among Roblox fans and boosting interest in anomaly-themed adopt-me style gameplay.

Diving publication Divernet has compiled a list of ten new wildlife books aimed at divers, covering marine life and ocean-themed reading. The roundup highlights recent releases for underwater enthusiasts looking to expand their knowledge of sea creatures and marine ecosystems through print.

Scientists have identified a previously unknown species of sea spider, according to a new report in Nautilus. Sea spiders, or pycnogonids, are marine arthropods found in oceans worldwide, and new species continue to be described as deep-sea and polar exploration expands. Readers are sharing and discussing the finding, with many drawn to the creatures' unusual anatomy and what the discovery says about how much ocean life remains undocumented.

Researchers at the University of Georgia say jellyfish may play a role in addressing plastic pollution. The finding suggests the marine creatures could help break down or manage plastic waste in oceans, offering a possible new angle in the fight against one of the world's most persistent environmental problems. Further details of the research have not yet been widely reported.

World Animal Day is being marked with messages honouring the planet's wildlife. Posts describe humanity's deep connection to a web of life, citing examples such as migratory birds crossing continents, forest animals and elusive fish, and call on people to remember that every creature matters.

A playful French-language comparison is circulating on Mastodon, pairing a line about spending entire weekends drooling in trees with Marguerite Duras and the red panda, or Ailurus fulgens. Users are sharing it under tags on animals, weekends, books and trees, treating the image of the sleepy tree-dwelling creature as a fitting Duras-style mood.

A macro photograph of a juvenile jumping spider is drawing attention from nature photographers. The image highlights the spider's flat, square cephalothorax, which carries eight eyes including two large forward-facing principal eyes, with additional eyes set on the sides and rear corners. Commenters marvel that the arrangement gives the tiny spider full-circle vision, with some saying the creature looks like a cool little robot.

The Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards have released their 2026 shortlist, featuring photos and videos of animals caught in amusing poses and antics. The images showcase creatures from around the world in moments of apparent comedic behaviour, from awkward landings to bemused expressions. The shortlist is drawing attention online as viewers pick their favourite entries ahead of the competition's next stage.

A turtle photographed with its neck arched upward in a pose resembling cobra yoga posture is charming wildlife and nature enthusiasts. Observers are sharing the image as a lighthearted example of animals appearing to mimic human behaviour, with comments focused on the amusing timing and the creature's stretching-like posture.

A gardener reports seeing an unusual range of new wildlife in their garden this summer, including a praying mantis and a tiny toad. They credit the biodiversity to the many flowers planted by their spouse, noting that the newly attracted creatures are now helping keep pests away from the plants naturally.