Life, Death, and Taxonomy

“…and today we’re talking about the mountain lamb that the Lord provided. Literally, because it’s just a wild sheep.” If you’re in America’s western snow capped regions and you hear a sudden crack that echoes through mountains, it might not be thunder. If that cracking continues at periodic intervals for close to an hour, you […]

“…and today we’re talking about Yennefer of Vengerbird, the black and white songbird downunder. But more on that later.” If you’re out for a stroll in the wilds of Australia, Europe, or North America, you might stumble upon a peculiar and gruesome sight: the impaled victims of the butcherbird. Setting its sights on larger prey […]

“…and today we’re talking about the biggest and the strongest primate in the world.” The largest primate in the world is also the strongest. In fact, the eastern lowland gorilla is among the strongest animals pound for pound. Their size and strength has led to their depiction as classic monsters that Superman and Godzilla need […]

“…and today we’re talking about something that looks just like an iguana but it’s apparently not a lizard at all.” Scattered along the northern coast of New Zealand’s north island is a living fossil that was thought to be extinct: the tuatara. A laid-back lizard with a lazy lifestyle, the tuatara spends most of its […]

“…and today we’re talking about a mongoose most foul. But more on that later.” The savannah is a brutal place for the animals that call it home. Between lions, leopards, and hyenas, many of the mammals that populate Africa’s jungles and plains are built with sharp claws and powerful jaws. But when it comes to […]

“…and today we’re talking about the longest boy in the ocean. But more on that later.” Earthquakes are some of the most destructive events on this planet, snuffing out lives by the thousands and destroying entire cities. The worst part is, we can’t really predict them in advance-or can we? The elusive oarfish is often […]

“…and today we’re talking about the ghost of the forest. But more on that later.” A hare grazes in a clearing surrounded by the forest edge. An uneasy feeling comes over him, like he’s being watched. He makes for the tree line, seeking safety among the trees and shrubs. But it does him no good. […]

“…and today we’re talking about an animal that sounds like a delicious Caribbean dish but looks like it inspired the Witcher’s endrega monsters. But more on that later.” Scattered across the islands of the south Pacific is a population of crabs that are great in a pinch. The coconut crab is the largest land crab […]

“…and today we’re talking about a modern day dinosaur with a name to match. But more on that later.” Lizards sometimes retain primordial qualities. To look at them, you may see the scaly faces of ages long gone. The sailfin dragon lizard has a look that matches it’s fantastical name. But the dinosaur-esque nature of […]

“…and today we’re talking about a poo poo paladin that rolls with the punches and makes the most out of a smelly situation. But more on that later.”  One animal’s waste is another animal’s treasure. The dung beetle was worshipped by the ancient Egyptians for its apparent fecal-oriented immortality, but modern discoveries have found new […]

“…and today we’re talking about a deadly insect that’s carried on the winds of change. But more on that later.” Many animals have amazing abilities that make them especially ferocious and formidable. But few are so terrible and mighty that they can be classified as a natural disaster. No we’re not talking about a giant […]

“…and today we’re talking about the devil down under and his horrifying night time death screams.” Far from the reckless, neckless monstrosity that Warner Brothers uses to move their cartoon plots along, the real Tasmanian Devil is a semi-cute mongoose pig that will eat anything that comes across its path. From its brutal and competitive […]

“…and today we’re talking about a coveted animal crossing catch. But not much more on that later.” The sponge life is a simple one. With nowhere to go and no way to get there, a sponge needs to make the most of its surroundings. To protect against the current, sponges form skeletons out of whatever’s […]

“…and today we’re talking about an animal that I could have sworn we did before but I can’t find it in our list!” Avoiding becoming someone else’s meal is typically priority number one for most animals. While there are many different ways to live another day in the “eat or be eaten” kingdom of Animalia, […]

“…and today we’re talking about a bug with a prickly personality. But more on that later.”  The tropics are teaming with life. That means there’s an abundance of resources for you and your brood to enjoy. It also means that there’s plenty of competition looking to eat your food or eat you. Protecting yourself can […]

“…and today we’re talking about a waterlogged football with eyes and a taste for shrimp. But more on that later.” The blobfish might be the subject of cruel internet memes for many a year, but that digital ridicule may be unduly bestowed upon our deep-sea friend. He may look goofy, but that’s just because he’s […]

“…and today we’re talking about a frog with a secret underground life. But more on that later.” The forests of India’s Western Ghats, are teaming with life. Many amphibian species live there, and many have only been discovered in the last few decades. As frogs hop from log to log and branch to branch, one […]

“…And today we’re talking about Marco Polo’s thick unicorn! But more on that later.” Grazing along the African savannah, the white rhino keeps his ears peeled for the danger bird – despite not having many predators to worry about. When opportunity squawks, the rhino definitely listens. But the classic symbiotic relationship between the rhino the […]

“…Today we’re talking about a prickly bush pig, though it’s not a pig at all. But more on that later.” The cutest and most mild mannered animals often find themselves in the pet trade. But in the wild world of woodland creatures, cute doesn’t get you very far. For those creatures that tread the line […]

“…Today we’re talking about a cephalopod that wears a beautiful gown. But more on that later.” The ocean is home to many a strange and wondrous creature, but few are so strange as the blanket octopus. Worthy of its name, the blocktopus drifts and flutters with dazzling colors across the pelagic seas. But unfurling your […]

“…And today we’re talking about a sea noodle that’s as disgusting as we’ve come to expect from the bottom of the ocean.” Imagine you’re a big fish with a hankering for some ocean detritus. You find a carcass that’s descended to the seafloor, but you’re late to the party. It’s surrounded by a nightmare mob […]

“…and today we’re talking about a creature that looks like it specced into every skill tree. But more on that later.” In the land down under, there’s dwelleth a strange mammal that looks like an otter that glued a bunch of other animal parts onto its body. The platypus is famous not only for its […]

“And today we’re talking about something we were supposed to talk about a few weeks ago but we goofed and now we’re talking about it now. More on that now.” Hunters have all kinds of methods to help catch their prey. There’s ambushing, stalking, and brute force. But one of the most clever ways may […]

“…and today we’re talking about one of the most famous sea animals of all time. The white hat to the black hat of the great white shark. Though, PR can be deceiving. But more on that later…” When life kicks mud in your face, most of us, and most animals, would give up or bemoan […]

“…And today we’re talking about a legendary animal friendship. But more on that later.” The American coyote is a famous animal in folklore and fables. The cunning animal is a mainstay in Native American folk tales and culture. Coyotes have long exhibited a behavior that was thought to only be true in stories. In fact, […]

“…and today we wrestle between good SEO and saying the awkward name of a bird over and over. But more on that later.” If you were walking through the woods one day, you might see something strange… a fluffy white mass up in the trees. You might think it was a hanging goat carcass or […]

“… and today we’re talking about a predator so adorable, it rivals the pika-killing stoat in deadly cuteness.” Predators come in all shapes and sizes, but a small size doesn’t necessarily mean an animal is a less effective hunter. And if you’re a rodent in the semi-desert plains of southern Africa, it’s a lesson you […]

“…and today we’re talking about a formal feathered friend. But more on that later.” Birds of a feather waddle together. And that’s never been truer than it is for the Adelie penguin. As the dapper flippers make their way across the Antarctic ice each year, it’s important for each one to stake their claim on […]

Today, in the podcast, we talk about the horned viper and sidewinding!

“…and today we’re talking about a mysterious organic, deep-diving submarine. But more on that later.” Deep down at the bottom of the ocean, there sits an alien monster fish that stares up straight through its own skull to spy prey: the barreleye. How does it do this? By being one of the weirdest creatures alive, […]

“…And today we’re talking about an arthropod that might be right at home on English dining table next to a bottle of brown sauce. But more on that later…” The desert is home to some strange creatures with some even stranger adaptation. Few phyla find as much success in arid climates like arthropods, which develop […]

“…and today we’re talking about a bug of very many names. But more on that right now.” You might think that gills are just for ocean dwellers, and you’d be wrong. For the terrestrial woodlouse or roly-poly, using gills is as easy as breathing. But how and why does it have gills? It’s all a […]

Sharks are a primordial design. A torpedo built to catch and shred prey. These cold black eyes, like a doll’s eyes, are nothing but dark pools of basic, rudimentary instinct, right? Well some sharks are built differently than their kin. The mako shark is one of a few fish with an interesting adaptation that is […]

“…and today we’re talking about a buccal pumping pup sucking histotroph in huge chunks. That sentence will only get grosser when you know what those words mean. But more on that later…” Sometimes the biggest giants are the gentlest giants. But this gentle giant is also a genius giant. While the oceanic manta ray might […]

We talk about a floral-patterned crab spider and how it catches prey in this episode.

“Today we’re talking about a tree frog with a bright personality. But more on that later.” The tropical rainforests of South America hide all kinds of rare and fascinating animals – including a host of one-of-a-kind frogs. The polka-dot tree frog may look like your typical aimless amphibian but it actually leads a secret glamorous […]

“…and today we’re talking about a seriously amazing cetacean sensation. But more on that later…” Upon first look, a cetacean may seem perfectly alien to a human being. But a closer look may reveal soulful eyes, intelligent behavior, and playful attitudes. An even closer inspection will uncover the fact that these organic torpedoes are extremely […]

In this episode of the podcast, we talk about the damselfly, an insect with an interesting childhood.

In this animal podcast episode, we talk about the scaly foot snail, an animal with metal armor.

“…Thank you to Casy Michelle for creating our theme song. Hear more of Casy’s music by searching Casy Michelle on Youtube. Today we’re talking about a sluggish forest clown! But more on that later.” If you’re slow in the animal kingdom, you’d better have a plan when trouble comes a-knockin’. Some animals freeze, some hide, […]

“Thank you to Casy for our theme song. Hear more of Casy’s music by searching Casy Michelle on Youtube. Today we’re talking about a bird with a penchant for piracy, but more on that later…” Birds often display unexpected ingenuity. They’re famous for building nests, and those nests come in all shapes and sizes, from […]

“Thank you to Casy for our new theme song. Hear more of Casy’s music by searching Casy Michelle on Youtube. Today we’re talking about a familiar looking lizard with an unfamiliar amazing ability!” From the time of Alexander the Great, air breathers have been fascinated by the world beneath the waves. And humans aren’t the […]

“…And today we’re talking about a naughty slug that doesn’t play by the rules. But more on that later.” Hi, LDT listeners. You’re about to hear something special: Life, Death and Taxonomy’s first ever theme song. We’ve long set the mood with free to use web found music, but thanks to our friend Casy, we […]

“…and today we’re talking about another misnamed sea creature with a sneaky nature.” The coral reefs of Australia are bright and colorful places of happiness for all kinds of fish and sea critters. But there’s always danger lurking around every corner. One surly cephalopod has a habit of hypnotizing its prey and tricking its rivals […]

“…and today we’re talking about a tiny bright yellow animal that doesn’t have to worry about most predators. But more on that later.” The rainforest is a lush verdant landscape covered in shades of green and brown. Organisms that deviate from this chromatic conformity usually want to be seen like budding flowers or lovestruck birds. […]

“…and today we’re talking about an insect that’s not as pious and charitable as it’s posture projects. But more on that later.” While the prayers of a righteous man availeth much, the prayers of a righteous bug aren’t as effective. In fact, there is no such thing as a righteous bug. But that doesn’t stop […]

“…and today we’re talking about the sultan of the Savannah, the prince of the pride, the king of the jungle. But more on that later.” Cats are a solitary bunch. They prefer quiet naps in trees or in the sunbeam cast in an otherwise vacated living room. The loner lifestyle is just easier for felines […]

“Today we’re talking about a bird that’s as fearless as it is big. More on that later.” Life in the rainforest can be hard, but not if you’re a harpy eagle. Enjoying a top spot at the head of its food chain, these frilly feathers can choose from a wide variety of animals to make […]

“And today we’re talking about a big sneaky horse, giraffe, zebra. But more on that later.” The African Savannah is dominated by predators but the jungles of the Congo aren’t much safer. The dense forests conceal powerful predators like the leopard, which catches prey that didn’t even know she was there. Today, poachers are even […]

“And today we’re talking about a sci-fi fish with some grumpy gills. But more on that later.” If you were to go diving almost anywhere in the shallows of an Indo-Pacific ocean, there’s a good chance you’ll find a moray eel stationed in some of the porous holes left in the rocky coral reefs. Looking […]