Absurd Planet

Say hello to Mother Nature’s all-star cast of confounding beasts, featuring Madagascar’s own death-metal lizard: the satanic leaf-tailed gecko.

Time to talk about the birds, the bees and all the other animals with strange mating rituals. When two scorpions make love, it’s anything but lovely.

Take to the skies to discover amazing murmurations of starlings and adorably pudgy puffins. Don’t mind the flying snakes, those wingless weirdos.

Get ready for a rumble in the jungle. Whether clawing, crashing or headbanging, animal gladiators like to fight if love or status is on the line.

Humans share a surprising number of traits with their critter kin, such as using tools, yawning, soaking in saunas and flipping real estate.