Creature Feature

What happens when you stick two different animals together and let nature take its course? Some whacky evolutionary mixups! We’re talking scientists who accidentally created a hybrid, how hybridization works in the first place, and the mysteries of animals like the narulga and pizzly. Discover this and more as we and guest Kayla Maria answer the age-old question: how come scientists tried to make...

Today on the show we’re talking about D-D-D-DANK ANIMAL MEMES, KIDS with Alex Schmidt! Did you know humans aren’t the only ones spreading sweet memes? That’s right, we’re talking about viral birdsong that’s getting retweeted like crazy, otter tupperware parties, and dolphins engaging in the hottest new trend, “shelling.” Footnotes:  Otter tupperware parties Dolphins shelling!   Tandem recruitment...

Summary:  This week we're talking about something very important. We’re going to cover the use of dogs in cases of police brutality, the history of how dogs have been used as weapons, and the harm this does to people as well as to the dogs themselves. And at the end, we'll cover some of the positive jobs that dogs can do that are better for people and better for dogs. Guests: Pallavi Gunalan, Joel...

Catch some Z’s with nap-time transformers, contortionists, animals who barely need a wink, and animals who slept in past their alarm by a few years. Discover this and more as we answer the age old question: how do you sleep floating in the middle of the sea? You’ll be otter-ly surprised with guest Alexis Torres!  Footnotes: Dead leaf butterfly More of the dead leaf butterfly Malachite sunbird Mala...

Today on the show, we’ll be talking about a BRIEF HISTORY OF BIRDS. Are there secretly still dinosaurs still lurking among us? How did birds learn how to fly? Why did some birds decide to be so small? Discover this and more as we answer the age old question, is birds dinosaurs?  Footnotes: Birds is dinosaurs? Archaeopteryx WONDERCHICKEN Sandhill crane Baby blue heron Baby southern ground hornbill...

Today, we’re going to be playing a little game: see if you can guess which one of these animals we’re about to discuss is more likely to kill you than to cuddle you with Joey Cliff? Discover this and more as we answer the age-old question: can you trim your hedges with a crocodile?  Footnotes:  Striped Eel Catfish The Gharial Crocodile The Basking Shark Blue-Ringed Octopus (if you see this RUN AWA...

We’re talking about animals who are all about the presentation with Katie Cullen! Sequined spiders, mantises with deadly cosplay, fish who prove the devil really does wear Prada, a bird who literally slays on the runway, and the cutest little Billie Eilish loving hyena on the planet. Discover this and more as we answer the age old question: have you ever watched a crab swim? I mean, really watched...

Today we’re talking about PETS with Dr. Lisa Lippman and Richie Redding! When did humans decide to own pets? Do we own pets, or do pets own us? We’re also going to go into depth on animals, coronavirus, and zoonotic diseases, and how you can protect yourself and your pet. Discover this and more as we answer the age old question, should we be making dog arcades? Footnotes:  History of pet ownership...

Today I'm joined by particle physicist Daniel Whiteson to talk about RADIATION! What does it do to humans? How have animals adapted to radioactive contamination? Also: killer bananas!?! Footnotes:  Birds Adapting to Chernoby l Study on Chernobyl's Birds Chernobyl Wildlife 30 Years Later Tardigrades Have Radiation Shields!  How Tardigrades Might Help Human Cells Conan the Bacterium Learn more about...

Today we’re talking about introverts! Fish who want to stay inside all day and play Fintendo, an animal who doesn’t want to see anybody right now, in fact, it’s completely ditched its eyeballs, and spiders who should be called shy-ders, because, well, they’re very shy. Footnotes:  Aquarium in Tokyo needs your help to socialize eels!  Garden eels getting facetimed European conger That's a moray!  T...

Today on the show: INVASION OF THE MURDER HORNETS! I’ll also be talking with Alex Schmidt about two of the world’s other most notorious invasive species, a big toad with a bad attitude, and an adorable little fuzzy noodle who just loves to kill things! Discover this and more as we answer the age old question: how many decapitations a minute can the murder hornet do? Footnotes:  Murder hornet!  Jap...

Today we're admiring some particularly devilish animals, like the Dracula parrot, a very gothic gastropod, a satanic gecko, bleeding plants, exploding trees, and a beetle with a biblical reputation. Discover this and more while we, and out guest Megan Salinas, answer the age-old question: can humans and birds unite over our love of fashion?  Footnotes :  The Dracula Parrot is a Gothic Icon Dracula...

Today we’re gonna CREATURECISE! We’re gonna see some of the most impressive animal athletic feats! Woodcocks love to boogie! Dung beetles are gymnasts! Bats do crunches every time they pee! Discover this and more as we answer the age-old question: Are dolphins jerks?  Footnotes : Woodcock dancing : Chameleon video to soothing classical music :  Dance of the dung beetle :  Baby bat learning to back...

Today on the show, we review the Animal Crossing game from a scientific perspective. We’ll be fact-checking some Blathers facts about evolutionary biology! Can goldfish grow bigger than a foot? Do they have teeth in their throats? Can tarantulas shoot butt hair at you? Discover this and more as we answer the age old question: what is Blathers the owl hiding? We attempt to answer all these question...

 We’re gonna talk about some goat invaders, macaque riots, and what pandas are up to with some added...privacy. Discover this and more as we answer the age-old question: when you let penguins take over an aquarium, what’s next? The world??  Footnotes: The Vaquita The Sea Shepherds Mission to Protect the Vaquita in Danger Goats Taking Over Welsh Resort!  Macaques Brawling in  Lopburi, Thailand Sika...

Right now, dating is difficult amidst this pandemic. So let's check in on some animals and how their romantic lives are going. Will you be wooed by throbbing red face balloons, pufferfish art, and sea slug conga lines? Discover this and more as we answer the age old question: if your date is 30 times your size, how do you make sure you don’t end up as her appetizer? Footnotes: Hooded seals doing s...

Today it's an auditory journey as we listen to some ANIMAL SOUNDS! Listen to lyrical lynxes, possessive porcupines, chirping cheetahs, whistling walruses, and other very vocal critters! Discover this and more a we answer the age old question, are horses mocking us? Our guest this week is David Bell. Footnotes: Lynx argument Lynxes REALLY love to argue Grey go-away bird The ballad of Mr. McBouncy P...

Check out theses weird adaptations! We’ll look at some incredible immunities from critters we think of as “dirty” or “dangerous,” some animals who are hardcore to the bone, and some insects who are getting pretty creative with this whole adaptation thing. Discover this and more as we answer the age-old question: are birds real?  Footnotes: Creature Feature shirts! Opossums help fight against lyme...

Today I want to talk to you about animal homes! We’ll discover animals who built their homes out of straw, built their homes out of sticks, and built their homes out of bricks and… poop… and… mucus? Discover this and more as we answer the age old question: what the heck is that ant doing with that larva’s butt???  Footnotes : Baya Weaver Nest Sociable Weaver Nest Weaver Ant Nest Weaver Ant Using B...

Today we’re talking about POKEMON ANIMALS! These creatures are even more unbelievable than those fantastic little pocket monsters. I’m talking cute little critters crazier than Pikachu, sea animals that seem too cute to be real, and behavior that you’d think you’d only find in a Pokedex. Footnotes: Check out our new shirts in the shirt store! Lowlandstreaked Tenrec Someone did a fanart of a tenrec...

Today we’re talking about ALIENS! Right here on earth. Does that sound paradoxical? Well, maybe you should think about whether we were the aliens all along??? We’ll be looking for aliens on earth from the bottom up: aliens under the sea, on land, and in the skies. Discover this and more as we answer the age-old question, do animals really need to breathe? With special guest Joelle Monique. FOOTNOT...

On today’s episode we’re talking about WEREWOLVES! Where are they? What are they? And is there any truth behind the werewolf legends? Discover this and more as we answer the age-old question: does your dog want to eat your face? With special guest Nick Turner. FOOTNOTES: The weird origins of the werewolf Dire wolf skulls at the La Brea Tar Pits! Breeding a dire wolf dog? Learn more about your ad-c...

I want to take on a trip to Imagination Station for the WHOLE ENTIRE EPISODE! That’s right, we’re exploring the world of imagination. What is imagination? Do animals have imagination? And can your imagination run as wild as nature itself? Discover this as we answer the age old-question: what’s the point of having a broom for a butt! With special guest Kim Winder. FOOTNOTES: Sloth bears are smart!...

Happy Valentines times! Today I thought that we’d look at a different type of love… platonic love between species! That’s right we’re looking at some cross-species cuddles, some dynamic duos, and truly unusual friendships within the animal kingdom! Discover this and more as we answer the age-old question: is it fun to suck on a shark? With special guest comedian Blake Wexler. FOOTNOTES: Microhylid...

Let's discover the CUTEST bugs on the planet! Bugs are some of the most populous and diverse animals on the planet, with a fascinating range of behaviors. I think that bugs are often overlooked: everybody loves a cute cuddly panda, but an adorable jumping spider? Who will hug ITS eight fuzzy arms? With special guest Carmen Angelica. FOOTNOTES: Velvet worm in action Velvet worm looking absolutely a...