Life, Death, and Taxonomy

“…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 […]

“Today we’re talking about an aquatic olive garden. But more on that later…” The sun, surf, and gentle sound of waves crashing against the sandy shores may bring to mind a welcome respite from daily life. But as with human surfers, the beach is life for some tidal animals. There’s a whole world of creatures […]

“…and today we’re going to talk about the elephant in the room. More on that for the entire episode…” Striding across the African Savannah in a constant search for food, the African Elephant is the largest land animal in the world. But in spite of its size, the elephant is a master of subtlety. When […]

“…And today we’re talking about an animal that has gotten some bad press recently. But hopefully some cool facts will turn it around. More on that later.” A dry barren wasteland seems like the kind of place most creatures would avoid. But the dessert offers rare opportunities to those who have the tools to capitalize […]

“And today we’re talking about an adorable arachnid with as much style as they have charisma. But more on that later.” While John Travolta dances to cope with the stresses of life and Kevin Bacon dances so that the Bomont seniors can go to prom, the peacock spider is a much more dire dancer. When […]

“Today we’re talking about an animal that least but certainly not last. But more on that later.” There are two basic paths of sustenance in the animal kingdom. You can gather and graze or you can eat the grazers. Predators are usually large, powerful, and able to take down prey that are built to resist […]

“And today we’re talking about an arms race that moves about three feet per minute, but more on that later…” We all love starfish, cute, slow-moving, harmless little creatures whose desiccated husks make for great souvenirs from your trip to Key Largo. But not all starfish can be as whimsical as Patrick Star, some are […]

“…and today we’re talking about a spider that’s truly magnificent. But more on that in a few minutes.” Australia is no stranger to animals that do things differently. The denizens of the large island often have to carve their own path. It’s not surprising that the continent’s animals are often as intrepid and undaunted by […]

“And today we’re talking about a nautilus that isn’t actually a nautilus at all, but it is a Greek mythological hero. More on some of that later.” You may have heard of Alexander the Great’s famous diving bell, but he was far from the first earthling to explore the depths with trapped air. Putzing around […]

“And today we’re talking about a seal that can play the saxophone! But not really! But not much more on that later.” Lake Baikal stretches across southern Siberia and it contains enough water to exceed all of the Great Lakes combined. It’s so large and deep, it’s said to be a leading candidate for the […]

“And today we’re talking about an electric water type Pokémon. But more on that later.” If there’s anything we learned as kids, it’s stop drop and roll, don’t do drugs, and never mix electricity with water. But a certain stunning slippery serpentine creature didn’t get the memo. If you go swimming with the electric eel, […]

“And today we’re talking about a carnivore in name only. But more on that later.” A seed falls from overhead into the soft soil beneath. It’s buried by a steady rain that lasts all afternoon. It’s growth will mark the beginning of a new tree in the rain forest. But where did that seed come […]

“And today we’re talking about a cuddly looking lazy old bear that’s not a bear at all. But more on that later…” Hoigh app in the eucalyptus trays of Ustreya, the koala beeah suffahs from a caise of mistaken oidentity. It’s not really even a beeah, it’s a mahsupial loike the kaingaroo. And it has […]

“And today we’re talking about a bird with perfect projection for a passeriform. But more on that later…” In the bird world, it takes a lot to attract a mate. Some go for brilliant colorful costumes, other’s choreograph a complex dance, and a select few even dabble in architecture. But why do any of that […]

“And today we’re talking about fish head fish heads rolly polly fish heads. But more on that later…” If you’re cruising around in temperate waters on a sunny day, don’t be surprised if you see a huge flat disk floating on the surface nearby. The Mola mola is a massive fish that sometimes needs a […]

“…and today we’re talking about an amazing armored animal! But more on that later.” Speed and strength are popular in the animal kingdom. If danger comes my way, I’ll outrun it or fight it off. But some creatures go another route: head to tail armor. It’s a road less traveled among mammals, but some have […]

“And today we’re talking about a periodic pest. But more of them later.” All across the eastern U.S., a tenacious bug makes a long-awaited debut. Teeming just below the ground beneath your feet, millions of cicadas will wait years to emerge into the wild blue yonder. But why do they wait so long? And how […]

“…and today we’re returning to an old friend, but we’re going to hear the other side of the story.” Today we’re returning to familiar territory. We’ve covered a brilliant and formidable predator that seems to be unstoppable because of its powerful punch. But there’s at least one item on its menu that’s not going into […]

“…and today we’re talking about a fish of legend for which meat is back on the menu.” If you ever find yourself swimming in the freshwater lakes and streams in Europe, you may want to keep an eye on dark waters below. The Wels catfish may not have the teeth or temperament of a shark […]

“… and today we’re talking about an animal that’s great and white. No, not that great white animal! More on that later.” Food is limited and the flock is many. For most animals, seeking to feed yourself first and then resting to conserve energy, is the best way to survive. But without the aid of […]