The Creatures

The complete brain of a fruit fly has been turned into an open-source dataset, letting anyone download and study the full wiring of a living creature's mind. The Thai tech channel 9arm highlighted the release, drawing huge attention in Thailand and beyond. Researchers say the fly connectome maps roughly 140,000 neurons and their connections, a milestone for neuroscience that opens brain research to hobbyists and coders worldwide.

A whale spotted alongside a small fishing boat in the open ocean is drawing attention online, with observers saying the size of the animal is impossible to grasp until seen next to a vessel. The comparison offers a striking sense of scale for one of the ocean's largest creatures, and many are sharing it as a reminder of just how enormous whales are.

Valeska, a 55-year-old from the Netherlands, relocated to tropical Suriname and opened a rescue centre for animals. She shares her life caring for monkeys and other creatures, saying a howler monkey named Kees sees her husband as a father figure. Her story has drawn attention from Dutch readers, highlighting the close ties between the Netherlands and its former colony Suriname.

The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards has released its latest batch of finalists and winners, showcasing animals caught in amusing poses and expressions. Outlets including CNN and KOMU are featuring galleries of the funniest images, from photobombing creatures to seemingly laughing animals. The annual competition combines humor with a conservation message about protecting wildlife.

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 fantasy film Merrow tells the story of a woman who secretly raises a sea creature that grows into the last mermaid. The full movie, released in 4K, is attracting a large international audience, with hundreds of thousands of viewers engaging with it. Viewers of fantasy and ocean-themed cinema appear to be sharing and discussing the film widely.

A photographer has shared a close-up image of a yellowmargin moray eel, known in Hawaiian as puhi, peering out from a hole in a reef with its mouth open. The picture is being shared among ocean and wildlife photography fans, with prints of the shot offered for sale. The eel's striking appearance and its Hawaiian name are drawing attention from marine life enthusiasts.

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.

The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2026 have announced their 18 finalist images, showcasing funny animal moments captured in the wild. The selection features creatures caught in amusing poses and expressions, and the photos are being widely shared as lighthearted viewing. The finalists are competing for top honors in the competition, which celebrates wildlife photography with a comedic angle.

Jonathan, a giant tortoise living on the island of Saint Helena, holds the title of the oldest known land animal on Earth. Believed to have been born around 1832, he is roughly 190 years old and has lived through generations of human history, drawing continued fascination and renewed attention online.

A recurring question-of-the-day prompt is asking people which fictional animal they would most want as a real-life pet, mount or companion. The question spans books, TV, film, comics, anime, video games and tabletop RPGs, inviting answers from across science fiction and fantasy fandoms, with participants naming favourite creatures from their preferred media.

A new ocean-themed production explores legendary deep-sea creatures, featuring the Bloop, El Gran Maja, the Leviathan, the Sea Eater and the Sand Shark. The piece has drawn close to 750,000 likes from viewers around the world, ranking among the most engaged-with ocean content currently circulating online and fuelling fresh interest in sea monster lore.

Mojang is giving Minecraft its first new dimension in over 14 years, called The Shift, alongside future updates bringing new biomes, creatures and expanded crafting options to the sandbox game. The announcement is drawing attention from players and gaming outlets, with many noting how significant it is that a new dimension is finally being added to the long-running title.

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.

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.

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.

New research describes large long-legged deep-sea creatures that produce their own light, shedding light on how bioluminescent life thrives in the dark ocean depths. Scientists say the findings expand what is known about life in little-explored deep-sea habitats.

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.

The Pokémon Fossil Museum is set to open at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, bringing a touring exhibition that pairs Pokémon creatures with real fossils and paleontology education. The exhibit, which has traveled to museums in Japan and elsewhere, will give visitors a playful way to learn about prehistoric life. Fans and families in Colorado are welcoming the news of the collaboration.

Photographer Catherine Babault shared an image of animal tracks left in the sand on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, asking followers to guess which creature made them. The post, tagged under wildlife and Vancouver Island wildlife photography, has drawn engagement as people weigh in with their guesses about the local animal behind the prints.

A new fire hydrant street artwork by New York urban artist Tom Bob is getting attention online, with art fans sharing photos of the playful piece. Tom Bob is known for transforming everyday city objects like hydrants, pipes and utility fixtures into whimsical characters and creatures. Admirers praised the work as a fun example of urban art brightening public spaces.

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.

A beachcomber collecting seashells found a small, unusual sea creature stranded in a rapidly drying tide pool. Naming it Toby, she scooped it into a jar to save it from distress and shared photos of the find online. The charming rescue and the creature's odd appearance are drawing warm, amused reactions.

The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards' funniest animal photos of the year are drawing attention, showing creatures caught in awkward, amusing poses. The shortlisted images range from startled expressions to clumsy landings, celebrating the lighter side of wildlife. Viewers are sharing their favorites as the contest showcases humor alongside nature photography.

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.

An artist is taking part in the Spookytober drawing challenge with a sketch riffing on 'Where the Wild Things Are' and the German 'Wilde Kerle' books, placing the wild creatures in their own caravan. The piece was shared under art and traditional-art tags as part of the October art challenge.