Penguins and seals may rule Antarctica’s waters, but its largest land animal is a 6mm midge that “freezes” and dries out come winter—only to thaw and keep going when it’s warmer. Here is its story.

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. I write about biodiversity and the hidden quirks of the natural world. When we think about the scope of our world’s diversity, ...

Due to its vast size — stretching from Canada and Greenland in the north, to Mexico in the south — North America contains a vast range of habitats. From land to sea, there are forests, mountains, ...