Explore stories from behind the Fantastic Beasts™: The Wonder of Nature exhibition
There are countless tales of fantastical creatures in legends and folklore, but many are rooted in reality.
Discover where science and fiction overlap.
The Fantastic Beasts™: The Wonder of Nature exhibition closed on 3 January 2022.
Where myth, magic and nature meet
Snakes turned to stone and unicorns may sound as though they come straight from a work of fiction, but our natural world has been inspiring stories like these for millennia.
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What on Earth?Sea monsters and their inspiration: serpents, mermaids, the kraken and more
Discover the real sea creatures behind the lore.
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What on Earth?Ten animals named after mythological creatures
From the goblin shark to a tiny wasp named after a creature in Harry Potter, discover the animals that take their names from folklore or fiction.
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Science newsThe Siberian unicorn lived at the same time as modern humans
It likely went extinct at around the same time as Neanderthals.
26 November 2018
Surprising survival strategies and incredible abilities
Some animals have fantastic abilities that can seem almost unbelievable. Discover some of the most extraordinary talents found in nature.
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What on Earth?Curious collectors and hoarders of the animal world
Because sometimes more is more.
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What on Earth?Mutualism: eight examples of species that work together to get ahead
In nature, species will sometimes form unexpectedly close bonds and work to their mutual benefit.
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CollectionsEleven elusive creatures of the natural world
Many animals are very difficult to spot in the wild. Get to know some of nature's most elusive creatures.
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What on Earth?Marine iguanas: the incredible shrinking lizards of the Galápagos
Growth is usually thought of as from small to large, but marine iguanas occasionally do the opposite.
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What on Earth?Can you spot the hidden animals that use cunning camouflage?
Take a look at these photos and see whether millions of years of evolution will outwit you.
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OceansOctopuses keep surprising us - here are eight examples how
They have blue blood, three hearts and a doughnut-shaped brain. But these aren't even the most unusual discoveries made about octopuses!
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What on Earth?Amazing eyes: 17 vision champions
Meet the creatures with the most crafty, strange and sophisticated eyes in the animal kingdom.
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OceansSeven sneaky survival strategies of reef animals
Coral reefs attract deadly predators. Find out how their inhabitants survive using everything from camouflage to chemical warfare.
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What on Earth?Fantastic flyers: 10 animals that fly in surprising ways
The air isn't just for insects, bats ora birds - there are a few other animals that can take to the skies.
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What on Earth?Hagfishes: how much slime can a slime eel make?
There's more to the snot-like secretions of the internet-famous hagfish than meets the eye.
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What on Earth?Superior senses in the dark
From bioluminescent lures to infrared abilities, meet some of the animals that have found ways to master life in the dark.
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Take a virtual tour of the exhibition with Google Arts & Culture
The exhibition may have ended, but you can still step into an online world full of fantastic real-life and magical beasts. There are highlights, stories and games galore.
Read more
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CollectionsCaring for specimens at the Museum
Take a behind-the-scenes look at the conservation work undertaken for the Fantastic Beasts™: The Wonder of Nature exhibition.
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What on Earth?What fantastic real-life beast are you?
Find out which real-life fantastic creature you are in this quiz.
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What on Earth?Best foot forward: eight animals that dance to impress
Meet some of the animals that bust out their best moves to attract a mate.
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AnthropoceneNew Zealand's quirky kākāpō are pulled back from the edge of extinction
Specialised conservation work saves kākāpō from the brink of extinction.
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Butterfly wings: the science behind the colour
Masters of disguise, butterflies can look like animal faces, rolled-up leaves and even snakes. Explore their kaleidoscopic world.
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What on Earth?Ten reasons to love echidnas
Discover the many interesting quirks of the elusive echidna.
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British wildlifeInvasion of the giant spiders? Not quite
Are giant spiders invading Britain's homes? Find out with expert Stuart Hine.
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What on Earth?The sting of love
Meet some of the animals whose search for a mate may actually be physically painful.
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CollectionsCurious collections: two-tusked narwhal
Marine mammal expert Richard Sabin takes us through what scientists know - and don't know - about narwhals, also known as unicorns of the sea.
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CollectionsGiant squid: from the deep sea to display
Curator Jon Ablett tells the tale of how an elusive monster from the deep came to be one of our popular attractions.
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AnthropocenePangolins in pictures
Wildlife Photographer of the Year finalists document the desperate story of the pangolin.
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AnthropoceneSteller's sea cow: the first historical extinction of marine mammal at human hands
Unusually for a modern mammal, we know little of it from a true natural history perspective.
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Spotlight: the owl butterfly
The owl butterfly's love of fruit juice can land it in trouble. Expert Luke Brown explains why.
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British wildlifeFinding love on the web
Spiders may seem scary, but most of them are just looking for love. Read some dating profiles of spiders searching for the perfect mate.
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British wildlifeShould we be scared of British snakes?
There are four species of snake found in Britain - but are they dangerous to humans?
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CollectionsLucy Evelyn Cheesman: the woman who walked
Whether liaising with cannibals or escaping giant spider webs, Cheesman took the challenges of perilous fieldwork - and patriarchal views - in her stride.
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British wildlife
How to make and use a nature journal to record your wildlife observations
Keeping a nature journal is a great way to record any nature you see.
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AnthropoceneThe world is in trouble: one million animals and plants face extinction
Humanity is eroding its own life-support system.
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British wildlifeSpider webs: not just for Halloween
Explore seven common styles of spider web and discover the arachnids that make them.
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AnthropoceneCould giraffes become extinct?
Mammals expert Richard Sabin explains why giraffe numbers have plummeted in the past 15 years.
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Squid art in squid ink
The Museum's giant squid specimen so inspired one visiting artist that she felt compelled to draw it. Life size.
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Collections
The art of preserving a fish
Find out how Museum scientists used a new technique to preserve this enormous blue marlin forever.
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AnthropoceneHow Malaysia lost its rhinos
The last male rhino in Malaysia has died - here's how it happened.
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CollectionsThe platypus puzzle
Watch Dr Ronald Jenner explore the venomous puzzle that the platypus poses.
