Can anyone think of one good reason why David Attenborough performing What A Wonderful World should not be this year's Xmas Number 1 single? Just one… Anyone…?

Thought not…

Nature Wants to Eat You:

A celebration of the animal kingdom's terrifying mouths, jaws, teeth, and tongues.

[Via jwz]

ZooBorns. So much cuteness it hurts. (Some are less cute, but still interesting.)

[Via slipstream]

Coming to the extras disc of the next David Attenborough box set?

Moderator: Before we begin this panel discussion, I'd just like to say that it's always a pleasure to witness great artists collaborating together on film, and with this film in particular, the result was a remarkably profound experience. So without further ado, please welcome the stars of the film: Lion, Wildebeest, and the Hyenas.

[Audience applauds.]

Moderator: Lion, let's start with you. What did you see in this project that made you want to be a part of it?

Lion: When I learned that British Human Who Smells Like Ham was going to direct I immediately knew this was something I wanted to do. Whenever I get an opportunity to participate in what I believe will gratifying work, I leap at the chance.

[...]

Meet the iron-plated Snail:

Also called the "scaly-foot gastropod", Crysomallon squamiferum was discovered back in 1999, over two miles below the central Indian Ocean, deep within hydrothermal vent fields. Fluids in these vents are high in sulfides and metals, which the snail incorporates into its shell. The gastropod's shell has three layers: a highly calcified inner layer, a thick organic middle layer, and an outer layer that is fused with granular iron sulfide. It is unlike any other known natural or synthetically engineered armor.

[Via collision detection]

It's hard to pick a favourite from this selection of images from National Geographic's International Photography Contest 2009, but if pressed I'd probably go for #12 or #23.

Apparently bees from hives in Newcastle commute across the River Tyne just like the rest of us:

[Beekeeper Ian Wallace...] said: "Bees don't like crossing bodies of water, it throws their navigation. However Newcastle has lots of bridges, so the bees would fly from the roof, cross the bridge, collect honey and nectar and come back again across the bridge."

Gymnarchus niloticus is awesome!

The gallery of this year's winners of the National Geographic Traveler's Photo Contest contains some gems.

As the gallery is done in Flash I can't link directly to my favourite: the second photograph, "Great Egret with Nesting Material" by Daniel Cedras.

[Via 3quarksdaily]

50 Stunning Underwater Photos does exactly what the title promises.

My favourites: a Tiger Shark, Shelly, an Underwater canyon and a Translucent Cowfish.

[Via MetaFilter]

Never, ever annoy a mantis shrimp:

Mantis shrimps are aggressive relatives of crabs and lobsters and prey upon other animals by crippling them with devastating jabs. Their secret weapons are a pair of hinged arms folded away under their head, which they can unfurl at incredible speeds.

The 'spearer' species have arms ending in a fiendish barbed spike that they use to impale soft-bodied prey like fish. But the larger 'smasher' species have arms ending in heavy clubs, and use them to deliver blows with the same force as a rifle bullet.

[...]

With each punch, the club’s edge travels at about 50 mph

Wait, there's more…

[Each...] of the smasher's strikes produced small flashes of light upon impact. They are emitted because the club moves so quickly that it lowers the pressure of the water in front of it, causing it to boil.

[Via MemeMachineGo!]

Recent volcanic activity.

The word "spectacular" seems woefully inadequate…

This gallery of photos of the Chaitén volcano in Chile is astonishing.

It's the sort of weather you want to observe from a safe distance, preferably accompanied by a soundtrack of Metallica or Led Zeppelin.

[Via MetaFilter]