What is That?

It's April shower season and this week we are soaking it all in by taking the plunge into freshwater habitats. Keeping it cool, calm and quiet, we are searching for a couple of very shy critters. We're country hopping today as we begin our journey in South Africa, gently scouring the riparian banks for one of Africa's most endangered animals: the Riverine Rabbit. Then we bounce over...

Pack some snacks and your most comfy travel attire as we prepare to follow a couple of animals that live life in constant motion. First, keep your fingers and toes in tight and have a watchful eye for the fast-paced life and times of the Humboldt Squid. Then kick back and enjoy the majesty as we soar from one end of the globe to the other, drifting along with the Arctic Tern. Today we're goin...

There's an island off of the eastern shores of Africa called Madagascar. Maybe you've heard of it, maybe you picture towering Baobab trees or maybe you picture a CGI ring-tailed lemur named Julian. Either way, our goal is to introduce you to some life on this island you've never heard of before. Prepare for the unexpected in the bizarre patchwork animal that is the Lowland Streaked...

The color yellow is sprinkled all throughout the natural world. It can be found in every group of animal, in plants and fungi and let us not forget the sunshine that rains down upon us all from space. Yellow has different reasons for being in all of these places, some you may not expect. Let us brighten your day with the Golden-lion Tamarin and the Egyptian Vulture, each yellow in their own right,...

- We've done a lot of animal research and we've come across some very bizarre animal names. Most of the time the animal's scientific name can be broken down to the scientist that discovered it and greek, latin, or other root words describing the animal. But sometimes... we don't know what the heck was going through scientists minds when they were naming these animals. This epis...

Welcome to the Month of Love: Cribs Edition. Grab a loved one and tune in, this time we're celebrating a couple of animals who go above and beyond to set the scene for that special someone. First we're diving into the ocean to be dazzled by the intricate set up the Puffer fish meticulously curates to woo his lucky mate, then we're journeying to South Africa to tunnel through the lab...

We've made it to 50 episodes, meaning we've introduced you to nearly 100 unique animals tucked in every habitat on this very special planet we call Earth! Today, we are heading out for a field trip in the birthplace of the podcast, Shollenberger Park in Petaluma, CA: a 165 acre wetlands area filled with birds, water and a flocking point for animal nerds of all ages. Join us as we sit and...

What a mouthful! Ring in the new year with us as we dissect and attempt to pronounce ametabolous metamophosis, our third installment of the metamorphic series. With only two groups of animals claiming this style of life we'll cover it all starting with the Archaeognatha bristleworms followed by the Zygentoma silverfish and firebrats. If that all sounded like a load of gibberish, don't wo...

Brr, is anybody else feeling chilly? Well hang in there, it's our last episode of the year! Layer up, get a fire going or huddle around your heater, however you need to get cozy as we learn about a couple of animals who are experts at enduring the cold climate in the eternal winter wonderland that is the world's Boreal Forests. We'll start off diving in to icy Canadian waters to swi...

We've digested Thanksgiving and it's a quick turn around this year for the Winter holidays. Bust out those holiday bins and get creative with us as we meet up with some unique animal builders. Whether its weaving and winding in the forest with the Bower Bird or creating meticulous spirals with your claws like the Australian Desert Scorpion, you're bound to get inspired to do somethi...

Journey with us on this Location, Location, Location excursion to the unassuming little country with a shockingly big wildlife game: Montenegro. Tucked in tight along the Adriactic coast, surrounded by other Baltic countries, we find ourselves in a lush landscape, keeping our eyes peeled as we oh-so carefully seek out the sleek and venonmous Nose Horned Viper and putting our waders on, quietly wat...

Attention: Put away the exercise weights and bring your appetite to the table, it's time to feast until you feel like you're going to pop!  It's that time of year again, while the animals going into hibernation are in hyperphagia, eating nearly non-stop, we are going to highlight a couple of unexpected animals that really embody the spirit of the season if only by looking like a rea...

We're back with Part Two of the spooky, Witches brew themed Halloween episode! Join us around the cauldron as we sing and sway and pluck ingredients from the potion to fill you with. Danielle brings us to the highlands to meet the Scottish Cat and then watch where you step in the murky waters as Katie reveals the Venomous Toadfish. It's a bubbling frothing good time you won't want t...

Prepare to expand your definition of what a cave is when we sink into the dark, moist abscesses of the earth. We keep it in the states this episode as first Danielle carefully creeps us around the lush bounty of the Ozarks to find the cool, moist, Grotto Salamander, then we switch gears dramatically as Katie walks us deep into the desert only to find solace in the hot tub temperature waters that m...

Get ready for some Katie and Danielle lore as we bring to life a couple of animals inspired by our favorite book series. Katie reveals the horrifying creature from the depths of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry from the Harry Potter series, the legendary Basilisk and Danielle leads us bravely into the world of the Lord of the Rings to meet the majestic Shadowfax, Lord of all horses, brou...

Animal Teachers - We're getting meta today learning about how some animals are learning. Bust out the pom-poms, letterman jackets and, most importantly, your boundless curiosity, we're going back to school. Starting the school year off with a nod to some impressive animal teachers we'll swim through the generational influencing, culture-creating world of two populations of Bottlenos...

We've got good news and bad news and I'll be honest with you: it's the same news. We've. Got. Worms. Again. Prepare to be delighted and disgusted, maybe at the same time, as we delve into the depths of the ocean for the Bearded Fireworm, then traverse into some moist marshlands to be infected by the Snail Eyestalk Worm.

This week we go back, way back, wending our way to some of our first animal discoveries to see how they're doing now. We've headed back to year one of the podcast and we have some exciting updates! Pack your bags and prepare for all weather as we start up in the arctic, learning new behaviors emerging in the Bowhead Whale. Hike up the mountains to revisit the Himalayan Brown Bear. We&apo...

Have we got a treat for you! On this very special "Location" episode we are telling our first-hand experiences with a variety of animals from our very own trip to the incredible island-country of Iceland. By joining us on our journey first to the raw, mostly undeveloped East side and then as we make our way back to the more often traveled West side of the island, you will hear stories fr...

Happy Independence Day! As you look to the skies with joy and excitement to celebrate with explosions of light, we will be exploring some places much more down to earth and ocean with just as much vibrancy. Learn about the multiple functions and omnipotent beauty of nature's light-producing capabilities through discovery of two animals that have incredibly evolved to be lit from within. The C...

 Join us as we venture to one of the most unique and critically endangered ecosystems on Earth, the Cloud Forests. These forests exist under such specialized conditions that it's no surprise the animals that live there are incredibly uniquely adapted to survive in them. We'll breathe the misty mountain fog and creep through the foliage dense, biodiverse landscape to uncover the nearly in...

Bust out those wet suits and find a really big suit case for all of your diving gear, we're back in the kelp forests and we've gone a-travelling. We've discovered that the world is riddled with kelp forests in all states whether increasing, declining or holding a stasis and this week we're highlighting some kelp forests you may have never heard of. Brush up on your Japanese as...

The rains have ceased, the flowers are blooming... and we're all sneezing every time we step outside. It's pollinator season! This week, as is our fashion, we've dug up a couple of animals that are key pollinators in their area, and if you're expecting a buzzing insect or a nectar-obsessed bird, you're in for a surprise. Join us as we learn about how the Drakensberg Crag L...

 Ever dreamed of having a talking parrot to come home to or a fuzzy chimp to integrate into the family dynamics? We're here to tell you why you might want to rethink those pets. This week we delve into the dark world of illegal wildlife trafficking. We'll be narrowing our focus in order to go a little deeper into some of the most at risk species and spout some surprising statistics about...

 Are you glad there's been an end to the months of wet winter storms? These animals are too! This week we are joined by a couple of animals that hardly seem to need water at all and thrive in some pretty extreme lifestyles. Soar the salty skies as we try to keep up with the Frigate Bird, then hunker in the arid desert as we painstakingly try to get a glimpse of the elusive Sand Cat. These two...