Life, Death, and Taxonomy

“…And today we’re talking about another fox with shifty, untrustworthy eyes. But more on that later.” The Eurasian Steppe is a vast plain where water and food can be scarce. But a wily creature can take advantage of the forbidding environment. Foxes live and thrive on every continent except for Antarctica. But to survive in […]

“…and today we’re talking about a tiny tiger that’s got its mind set on you. But more on that later.” When it comes to the speediest speedsters, you don’t often look for champions in the insect world. They may be small, but they can be quick once you factor in their size. The Australian tiger […]

“…and today we’re talking about a curious king with a golden crown. But more on that later.” When you’re the king of the swingers it means you’ve reached the top and had to stop. But balancing at the top branches of an Indian forest requires considerable skill. For a monkey that spends most of his […]

“…and today we’re talking about the type of guy who will never settle down, where delicious bugs are, well you know that he’s around. But more on that later.” When Harry Belafonte tells his fellow banana pickers to hide the deadly black tarantula, he may have been talking about a different spider entirely. The Brazilian […]

“…and today we’re talking about a Gouldian bird with a golden mouth. But more on that later…” Nature has all kinds of odd developments where several species are in close competition. When resources are limited, it takes some stand out skills to survive and grow. For a species of finch, the stand out performance starts […]

“…and today we’re talking about lipstick?! In my Honduran white bat?!” The apostle Paul was known as a tent-maker, which could mean that he created a shelter of hope for the gentiles in the first century. It could also mean that he created actual tents since it costs money to travel the known world. Probably […]

“…and today we’re talking about a familiar creature with a Lovecraftian feature. But more on that later.” The sea is full of creatures aberrant to polite society. They swim in the murky depths or live in dark crevasses. But even a familiar sea creature may be alien to you when you really get to know […]

“…and today we’re talking about the pink panther of the river. But more on that later.” The Amazon River is one of the world’s longest rivers and flows through some of the most biologically fascinating places on Earth. It’s home to all manner of animals, but what you may not have known is that it’s […]

“…and today we’re talking about a reptilian mood ring. But more on that later.” You ain’t been blue till you’ve had that mood indigo? Maybe you’ve experienced red hot anger. For humans, it’s mostly metaphor, but there’s one animal that does display real mood-ring-like qualities. The chameleon is an alien looking reptile, a fact that […]

“…and today we’re talking about the most romantic sea creature. A brown lump! But more on that later.” At the bottom of the ocean, a brown lump inches along the coral and sands, keeping its notable lack of eyes out for potential predators. But when trouble does come a-sniffin, the slow sea cucumber has a […]

“…And today we’re talking about a woman who doesn’t give a darn about her bad reputation.” The black widow spider is nature’s ultimate example of the femme fatale. An unyielding queen in the middle of her silken throne, waiting for the lowly male, driven to her by an instinct most basic.  Though her signature red […]

“…and today we’re talking about the titans of the tundra, the cervids of Santa. But more on that later.” Reindeer are famous for flying, being rude to those that are different from them, and fiercely defending Johnny’s Turbo Man action figure. But one reindeer has an unusual nose that’s even more famous. Researchers have spent […]

“…and today we forgot to say an intro blurb because we had housekeeping stuff.” Life among the rocks provides cover from predators and a quick escape when necessary, but it also comes with its challenges. But the rock hyrax has accepted the task of adapting to this rugged terrain. For a nice warm spot to […]

“…And today we’re walking about a lanky tooth missile that isn’t scared of nobody. But more on that later.” The Amazon is home to many of the western hemisphere’s most successful predators. But the most surprising apex predator isn’t the piranha, the anaconda, or even the legendary jaguar – it’s the giant otter! Alone, they […]

“…and today we’re talking about an insect that wants you to think it floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee.” What would you do if you only had energy from the food you ate when you were a kid? You may move as little as possible, and only when you had to. That’s […]

“…and today we’re talking about a chill amphibian with a cool pair of sunglasses. But more on that later.” Being cold blooded is usually fine, as long as you live in a warm-ish area. But what about the chilly-bloods living in the less-than-warm regions of the world? Some dig into the ground, some just die, […]

“…and today we’re talking about yet another crustacean that packs a punch. More on that later.” For a small crab with very little claws, there’s a ton of pressure on the ocean floor. Bigger fish can swallow you up like you were supposed to be in Nineveh. But when the challenge of survival is laid […]

“…and today we’re talking about everyone’s favorite animal! But more on that later…” You know ‘em, you hate ‘em, you have ‘em – they’re cockroaches. Yes, it’s time for the interesting animal podcast to talk about everyone’s favorite scittering critter. Odds are good that you’ve encountered one of these pleasant house guests within the last […]

“…and today we’re talking about the Christmas decoration of the sea. More on that later.”  The ocean can be a dangerous place. There’s always a bigger fish waiting for an unsuspecting creature to become its next meal. One brightly colored eel avoids these threatening open maws by rarely leaving their homes in the crevasse of […]

“…and today we’re talking about a bug that sounds like a pokemon, but looks like a dark souls enemy.” The insect world is a horrifyingly brutal one. For most, life is hard, stressful, and short. This is due, in part, to the work of players like the Assassin Bug. Many bugs that rely on their […]

“…and today we’re talking about a lizard that is great at getting out of sticky situations. But more on that later.” In the outback you need an exit strategy for whenever you get into trouble, especially if you’re a lizard of modest stature. The Golden-tailed gecko is a striking subject to look at, but it’s […]

“Today we’re talking about bug spray… in a manner of speaking. But more on that later.” When you’re a small beetle in a big world, you can easily become someone’s lunch if you’re not careful. So having a secret weapon is vital to survival. When danger rears its ugly head, the bombardier beetle rears its […]

“…and today, on our 200th episode, we’re talking about an adorable video game character.” For a true generalist, nothing is off the menu. Sometimes survival is all about versatility, and if you have an adventurous palate, there are more resources at your disposal. For one Japanese canine, finding enough food to last through the winter […]

“…And today we’re talking about a frog that rolls with the punches. But more on that later.” High in the table-top mountains of Venezuela, a tiny pebble toad inches its way across the moist sandstone outcroppings. Little does he know that danger lurks just around the corner. A toad-eating tarantula is on the hunt and […]

“…and today we’re talking about a little porpoise with a big problem. But more on that later.” If you’re in the Gulf of California and you see a small figure break through the glistening surface of the water, you may be witnessing a rare site. Like a glimpse of ball lightning, you may stare, unbelieving […]

“…and today we are literally talking about a creature that lives by a pattern of life and death and has an interesting taxonomy. But more on that later.”  Every fall, the arid wilderness of Australia is peppered with the fallen bodies of tiny marsupials. What could create such a scene? Predators, disease, global warming? The […]

“…and today we’re talking about a reptile who’s lady is the sea. But more on that later.” We all know and share a healthy fear of snakes. They live under rocks and slither on their bellies to get around. But there are actually dozens of snake species that don’t live on land at all. Instead, […]

“…and today we’re talking about a lost boy that lives in caves and doesn’t want to grow up. But more on that later.” Living in the pitch blackness of the caves of southern Europe is a tiny eyeless Chinese dragon that can regrow its arms and sense prey using electricity. Intrigued? Well that’s not even […]

“…and today we’re talking about the largest shelled reptile that lives on land maybe! But more on that later…” A strange reptile that lives on a strange type of island will surely deliver in the weird department. Islanders are known for showing some interesting adaptations that mainlanders may find funny. But when you’re surrounded by […]

“…and today we’re talking about slimy yet satisfying frogish fish, but more on that later.” While other fish are relegated to the vast oceans, lakes, and rivers that cover 70% of the planet, some decided that it wasn’t enough room. Bent on total global domination, the Atlantic Mudskipper wants to be where the people are. […]

“…and today we’re talking about Moto Moto and why he doesn’t like you. But more on that later.” A beast lies in a river bed. He is confident when the waters run against his mouth. And he has no fear of turbulent waters. You can’t take him by his eyes or pull his nose with […]

“..and today we’re talking about the most direct path imaginable. But more on that later…” When you’re a little bird surrounded by larger predators, you need to have a strong support network to fend off the baddies. Just like Flik in a Bug’s Life, the least terns have realized that there is true strength in […]

“…and today we’re talking about an ocean journey that puts Finding Nemo to shame! But more on that later…” Some animals are born, live, and die in one place. Their homes are never far away and they’re familiar with all they survey. But some species travel great distances, driven by some unknown impulse. A journey […]

“…and today we’re talking about a spicy dish. But more on that later.” Deep in the water where the fish hang out, lives a small sleepy saucer we know not too much about He’s a zap zap fish with a zap zap belly And his neat electric organs turn your insides into jelly He hides […]

“…and today we’re talking about a great big plant-based carnivore, but more on that later.” When you have a particular problem you call in a specialist. In nature, specialists give up traditional paths to get very good at one thing. It usually refers to the place they live and the food they eat. In China’s […]

“…and today we’re talking about what the internet has dubbed the world’s happiest animal.” You know that old joke where there are two guys hiking in the woods who see a bear and one of them says “How are we gonna outrun it” and the other says “I just need to outrun you”? Well, the […]

“…and today we’re talking about the closest thing to a traditional fire breathing dragon we’re going to get.” Reptilians once dominated the food chain as the largest animals in their ecosystems until some natural checks and balances relegated them to smaller bodies that were better at sneaking under rocks and bushes. But nature’s memo failed […]

“And today we’re talking about a horror pancake. But more on that later.” The northern region of South America is home to the Amazon Basin, which in turn hosts a wide variety of fascinating rainforest dwellers. With one of the most odd-looking being the surinam toad. What looks at first like a dead frog that’s […]

“…and today we’re talking about a bird that loves chocolate chip cookies. But more on that later.” Description Has an overall build of a sandpiper with a rotund body and long legs. Its feathers are black or dark brown along the back, tail, and wings. There’s a small rufous patch just under the shoulders and […]

“…and today we’re talking about a gecko that just does what it wilsts. But more on that later.” The 80s spawned a lot of things: Reaganomics, Terminator, Steve Perry. But it also gave rise to the Satanic Panic. And one of the most prominent kinds of Satanists that the decade produced was an evil race […]

“…we’re talking about a colorful jungle bird that follows his nose for froot… I mean fruit. But more on that later.” The jungle is a paradise of delectable nectar and fantastic fruit. For those that can reach these delights, the jungle provides everything you need. But it takes some special equipment to take advantage of […]

“…and today we’re talking about the tibetan fox of antelopes. By that I mean it looks like a child’s drawing of the antelope that isn’t quite right. But more on that later.” On the steppes of the stans in Central Asia, a goofy-looking antelope grazes around the countryside, using its odd snout to sniff the […]

“…and today we’re talking about an owl with an eye for allies. But more on that later.” Small things slithering across the woodlands know to watch the skies. A killer approaches silently as it glides from high perches. For most small mammals and invertebrates that meet this aerial doom, it’s time to say goodbye to […]

“…and today we’re talking about the sloooowest mammal in the world. But more on that later.” The Amazon jungle is home to a wide variety of animals both fast and slow, with one of the slowest being the brown-throated sloth. But with so many fierce predators on the jungle floor, it helps to spend all […]

“…and today we’re talking about a bug that looks like a deep fried praying mantis. But more on that later.” The forest is a dangerous place for an egg. They are packed with proteins and fats in order to grow the new creature inside, but those qualities also make them tasty morsels for foragers. Moms […]

“…and today we’re talking about the plume in the room. But more on that later.” At the bottom of the deepest oceanic trench, you’ll find an animal that’s worth writing home about. The sea pen is a feathery friend with multiple personalities and penchant for puffing itself up when the coast is clear. But when […]

“And today we’re talking about one of the fastest ungulates west of the Mississippi. But more on that later.” North America has a few big animals, but it’s mostly dominated by smaller fauna that have learned to thrive in the amber waves of grain. However, America was once a continent like Africa, home to great […]

“…and today we’re talking about an insect that’s part ant and part dump truck. But more on that later.” For most animals, storing food for later is for jive squares. It’s all about getting as much food as you can stomach right now and letting tomorrow take care of itself. For the more prudent, however, […]

“…and today we’re talking about a spike-covered tush that lives out in the bush. But more on that later.” The subterranean lifestyle has it’s benefits and many small animals make their beds below the earth. From the sleeping cicada to the idle fox, the shelter of a sand and soil roof provides protection from predatory […]

“…and today we’re talking about a fish that enjoys working at the carwash. More on that later.” When you run a lucrative maritime cleaning service, you gotta protect your turf. The dominant bluestreak cleaner wrasse defends its territory, its business, and its family on a daily basis. But when the don disappears, it’s up to […]