Creature Feature

Today on the show, I answer your animal behavior questions! Why do birds sound like robots? What's up with two-headed animals? And do cats like to be meowed at? If you have an animal question you'd like answered, you can email me at creaturefeaturepod@gmail.com  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New episodes starting next week! But here's one of my favorite classics dug up from the dirt!  We’re taking on scary urban legends about animals, and showing you that there’s nothing to fear! Well… okay, maybe there is, but it's not what you think! Join us with special guest Maggie Mae Fish. Footnotes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1zPY_hNdmrgUy8GgrctKEBmwielWQNYfv080K...

Katie's taking a brief break (she'll be back soon!!), so here's a favorite episode!  Don't worry, these critters haven't been mutilated, but rather through evolution, they've ditch certain appendages. Legs? Don't need 'em. Wings? Forget about it. Tails? Lose 'em. Sometimes efficiency requires sacrifice, and body parts have go to go!  Guest:  Joelle Monique Footnotes: https://docs.go...

LIPS! The lovely luscious lips of living and extinct animals. Who has the best pout? Plus, a talking beluga! Discover this and more as we answer the age-old question: if you have a real long tongue, where do you keep it?  Guest: Anna Hossnieh  Footnotes:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hKwcP67esS0xOVIWmWJI9SXHbOByADpRbRMghZMCZHY/edit?usp=sharing See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informa...

Primates have been found to be three times faster than humans at healing, so what's up with that? Plus, there's a mouse out there who can regrow ears and survive 60% of its skin being ripped off—turns out, it's a feature, not a bug! I'm joined by (medical) Dr. Kaveh Hoda to discuss why we're the best (at being the worst) at wound healing!  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informa...

Please enjoy one of my favorite episodes, especially with the new season of that fungus zombie show! In this interview with infectious diseases expert Professor David Boulware, we discuss the real impact ophiocordyceps  has on ants, and whether we humans should be concerned.  Guest: Professor David Boulware  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nightmare noodles! Terror tubes! We talk about some of the strangest, creepiest, most ghoulish caterpillars and worms in the world! From the dreaded bone collector with a morbid fashion sense, to worms with a mouth full of copper. Discover this and more as we answer the age-old question: who is a squid's midwife? Joining me is friend of the show and comedy writer for American Dad, Soren Bowie!&nbs...

I'm joined by children's writer Brooke Hartman, author of the book Cute Animals That Could Kill You Dead,  to discuss the deadliest, most adorable animals out there! The ferocious feline deadlier than a lion and smaller than a house cat, toxic armpits, and more!  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today I answer your emails! News about mice genetically modified with a candidate for the "human speech gene!" Then we discover why baby penguins are so cute, and more!  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An octopus riding a shark! I'm joined by comedian and writer Ella Yurman as we discuss the evolutionary biology concept of "phoresis," the symbiotic act of one organism riding another. Yeehaw!  Footnotes  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens in the mysterious, not-so-dusty behind-the-scenes of natural history museums? Today we're talking about how museum collections extend far beyond what's visible to the public, and how they are a repository of massive amounts of knowledge for amazing (and weird) research. I'm joined today by the assistant director of the Museum of Zoology at Cambridge University and author of the new bo...

All the pee-news that's fit to print! We're talking whale pee, soft-shelled turtles peeing (out of a place you wouldn't expect) and the animal whose pee smells like movie popcorn? I'm joined by Alex Schmidt of Secretly Incredibly Fascinating!  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I answer your questions, from potoos (aka, GHOST BIRDS), to bees who like perfume! If you have an evolutionary biology question you'd like answered, write to me at creaturefeaturepod@gmail.com  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Owl the news that's fit to print! We've got bird news stories today, including an orange snowy owl, owl tinder, and a real life "Wild Robot" situation! I'm joined by friend of the show, Bridgett Greenberg!    Episode Images See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From the shiny and splendiferous scale worms of the deep, to scuba diving lizards, these animals all have one thing in common: they are 100% glam. I'm joined by Danl Goodman to rock out!    Footnotes: Elvis worm!  https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/these-elvis-worms-shimmer-and-sparkleand-fight-tough-180974989/ Elvis worms fighting, oh no!  https://www.youtube.com/w...

Today on the show, animals in medicine! This time we're not talking about mice, but the way amazing animal adaptations have inspired or directly contributed to medicine. From gila monster venom to the absurdity of giraffes, animals have a lot to teach us about medical science. I'm joined by real life gastroenterologist, and host of the medical podcast House of Pod, Kaveh Hoda! See omnystudio.com/l...

Today's show has some mature themes, like frank discussions of sex and bodily fluids, so if you have kids, maybe give it a listen before having them listen with you. Freaky animal fads! Animals can have culture, but sometimes, that culture is  uncultured. From dolphin pee to a macaque on your back, these animals are definitely going to ruin your fancy dinner party. Discover this and more as w...

Today on the show I'm joined by Pallavi Gunalan to talk about some of the coolest animals you can find in U.S. National Parks! Our national parks are home to some of the most stunning species on the planet, and are incredibly important reserves that protect the biological jewels of America. From adorable little cat-like critters that look like they came straight out of a fantasy, to the GOAT of ho...

Today on the show, big, adorable, playful babies who get into mischief! Baby elk, baby elephants, and the biggest baby on earth (insert your preferred joke person here). We're having mega-fun with these megafauna babies! I'm joined by proprietress of the website How To Eat LA, and host of the Smart Mouth podcast Katherine Spiers!  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's a listener questions episode! I answer your questions, from whether it's good to be a mutant, why dogs do little kickies after potties, to the difference between colonial organisms and multicellular organisms. What's the deal with zooids!?!  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on the show, HOT FUZZ! We're taking about fluffy animals who manage hairdoos without *hair* persay, that's right, these are furries without the fur, critters that look really pettable (but you probably shouldn't). How do you get fuzzy without being mammalian? Joining me today is friend of the show, friend to all animals and host of Just the Zoo of Us, Ellen Weatherford!  Footnotes...

Today on the show, more listener questions! Why are crow and raven beaks covered in feathers? What the heck is up with carrion bees? Dog sneeze democracy, tales of curly hair, and a ramble about animal neurodivergence!  If you have a question you can write to me at creaturefeaturepod@gmail.com  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today I answer your questions, about everything from the weirdest self-inflicted ear mite study, to starfish parasite piñatas! If you have a question you'd like to ask, you can email me at creaturefeaturepod@gmail.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Happy New Year! Please enjoy this episode of my other podcast, Secretly Incredibly Fascinating, with Alex Schmidt. This time, we learn all about turkeys! Why are they called turkeys? Who does the best turkey gobble? All the questions you never thought to ask about turkeys answered.  Check out more of the SIF podcast here!  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Happy Creaturekringletimes! Today we're getting cozy and snuggly with animal tips on how to stay warm. From bee cuddles, to round fluffy birds, we're gettin' toasty with some cuties. Plus, what a frozen sabertooth cat-cicle can tell us about these ancient kitties! I'm joined by Kelly Weinersmith to warm ourselves by the fire of evolutionary biology facts!  Footnotes:  Piping Hot Bees and...