Try GOLD - Free
TINY DANCER
BBC Wildlife
|May 2022
The immortal freshwater organism that tangles prey with its toxic, harpoon-flinging tentacles
GREEN HYDRA
IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY THE HYDRA WAS a poisonous, many-headed serpent with frustratingly effective powers of regeneration - cut off one of its heads and two would grow in its place. A monster of myth, right? Well, actually, no. Hydras do exist. You can find them in your local pond and they're as terrifying as the mythological one, just a bit smaller.
The green hydra (Hydra viridissima) is the only one of our four native species that's green. It's also less than 10mm long, so the only things it'll be terrorising are water fleas and small fish fry.
Think of them as skinny sea anemones. They're part of the Cnidaria group of animals, which also includes jellyfish and corals. They're quite simple creatures, little more than a flexible tube with a mouth at one end, surrounded by a crown of tentacles. They have no heart, brain, eyes, or gills. But don't let the simplicity of this particular cnidarian fool you: hydras are fascinating creatures.
This story is from the May 2022 edition of BBC Wildlife.
Subscribe to Magzter GOLD to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MORE STORIES FROM BBC Wildlife
BBC Wildlife
SNAP-CHAT
Lara Jackson talks magical otters, curious rhinos and ticks in the toes
3 mins
October 2025
BBC Wildlife
What's the difference between global warming and climate change?
PEOPLE OFTEN USE THE TERMS global warming and climate change interchangeably, but they describe different concepts. Global warming refers to Earth’s increasing surface temperature.
1 min
October 2025
BBC Wildlife
THE FROZEN CONTINENT
Visit the epic landscapes of Antarctica with HX Hurtigruten Expeditions, the unique cruise line made for curious travellers
3 mins
October 2025
BBC Wildlife
Dragonfly dialogue
STARTED TALKING TO DRAGONFLIES IN India at a place where my husband and I stayed several times in the foothills of the Himalayas.
1 mins
October 2025
BBC Wildlife
What's the largest animal gathering on Earth?
PEOPLE LOVE A PARTY. BUT AS POPULOUS as our species is, the headcounts at our gatherings don't match those of other species. The Maha Kumbh Mela, a Hindu pilgrimage in Prayagraj, India, drew more than 660 million people in January 2025. But this horde - thought to be the largest in human history – pales in comparison to the groups formed by our animal relatives.
1 mins
October 2025
BBC Wildlife
Do plants have memory?
TO HAVE TRUE MEMORY AN ORGANISM requires brain cells to store experiences through the action of sophisticated neurotransmitters. Plants lacking brain cells therefore cannot be said to have that capacity for memory. However, there is evidence that some plants adapt their characteristics based on 'remembered' experiences.
2 mins
October 2025
BBC Wildlife
wild OCTOBER
7 nature encounters for the month ahead
3 mins
October 2025
BBC Wildlife
Do sharks have bones?
WHILE HUMANS HAVE A BONY skeleton, parts of our bodies - such as our noses - are made of cartilage. This soft, flexible material forms the entire skeletons of sharks and rays.
1 min
October 2025
BBC Wildlife
KATE BRADBURY
As the nights draw in, encountering bats can be a magical adventure
2 mins
October 2025
BBC Wildlife
Cool runners of the desert
The beetle that beats the heat by sprinting
1 mins
October 2025
Translate
Change font size