AskNature

Bill of toco toucan acts as a heat exchanger to regulate body temperature by adjusting blood flow

Fungal gardens of leafcutter ants are free of undesired, parasitic fungus due to presence of symbiotic Streptomyces bacteria.

Wings of morpho butterflies create color by causing light waves to diffract and interfere.

Aerial roots on orchids rapidly absorb water and nutrients

Leaves of tropical plants such as Leptospermum recapture light with purple pigment.

Toucan beaks are built lightweight and strong thanks to a rigid foamy inside and layers of fibrous keratin tile outside.

The nests of fungus-growing ants avoid flood damage and create uniform microclimates via necklace-like or tree-like architecture.

Leaves of tropical rainforest understory plants are protected from excess sun by blue iridescence.

The head of cassowaries may be protected from impact as they traverse dense forest thanks to a foam-like 'helmet' with keratinized covering.

Architecture of vines increases flexibility via soft tissue components and ribbon-like shape.

The exoskeleton of the Hercules beetle changes from green to black with increasing humidity using thin film interference by reversible modification of layer thickness.

Trees gain support by growing together in an upward spiral.

The leaves of some tropical plants channel water off their surface via unique shape, called drip tips.

The leaves of begonias maximize photosynthesis in low-light conditions by using clear surface cells to focus light.

Brazil nut seed pods hurtle down from tall treetops, but their complex structure deters them from cracking open. 

A slight rise in humidity triggers pine cones to curl up their scales to prevent ineffective seed dispersal in wet weather.

The feathers of scarlet macaws gain their red coloration via five lipochromes produced only in parrots.

To catch prey from a distance, chameleons have a coordinated system of body parts that shoots out their tongues with high speed and power.

Platypus bills integrate signals from two different sensory systems to better identify and track prey.

The Caesaria tree helps maintain diversity and prevent extinctions in its forest ecosystem because it produces fruit to sustain several animal species through times of scarcity.