SCIENCE · The New York Times

Why Did Snakes Lose Their Legs? And 9 More Animal Mysteries

Published: 2026-11-02T10:00:21.000Z · 3-Minute Executive Summary

The New York Times explores ten zoological enigmas regarding the more than 1.5 million known animal species on Earth. The list includes questions about the evolutionary history of snakes and their loss of limbs, alongside nine other biological mysteries.