Play is important for animals in captivity, both as an indicator of their emotional states and as a contributor to their long-term welfare. But we have a lot to learn about how and why different animals play.

Read more at my Animal Minds blog: The Role of Play in Animal Welfare.

In humans, personality similarity between partners can lead to better compatibility and well-being. Is the same true for other pair-bonding primates?

Read my latest Animal Minds post: Monkey Matchmaking and Why It Matters.

Female praying mantises are notorious for eating their mates during or after sex. Now, scientists have discovered a dwarf mantis species in which males avoid this fate with an elaborate dance performance.

Read more about this new species, and see photos and video, at National Geographic: Newly Discovered Mantis Species Dances Like a Snake to Avoid Death After Sex.

‍ ‍

What happens when bats meet rats? Recent videos reveal the surprising dynamics of bat-rat relationships — and suggest how human activity is fueling these interspecies conflicts.

Read my latest for National Geographic: Rats wage war on bats in stunning new footage.

Research over the last three decades has begun to reveal the diversity and complexity of spider behavior. In addition to complex communication and signaling behavior, spiders demonstrate learning and reversal learning, significant problem-solving skills, and possibly even the ability to count.

‍I talked with biologist Ximena Nelson, author of the 2024 book The Lives of Spiders, about studying spider smarts in the lab and what she wants people to know about these often-misunderstood arachnids.

Read the Q&A at my Animal Minds blog: Spiders Are Smart, Not Scary.