“…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 […]

“…and today we’re talking about a spider that sat down beside her and tilted the bench under its immense weight, spilling curds and whey everywhere.” Tarantulas are big. The Goliath Birdeater Tarantula is even bigger. But being big doesn’t mean you don’t have enemies and predators to deal with. So how do you handle them? […]

“And today we’re talking about a big pig with interesting headgear, but more on that later.” The jungles of Indonesia have provided several episodes of interesting animal info so far. The terrain seems to provide a smorgasbord of offbeat animals. But none may be as strange as a particular forest pig with an odd dental […]

“And today we’re talking about a tiny little long-lived sea booger. But more on that later. The long lived stuff. Not the booger stuff.” Description Like many sea creatures, the jellyfish is found all over the world’s oceans. They prefer temperate to tropical regions.  They are believed to have originated in the pacific but may […]

“And today we’re talking about a tiny helicopter with some interesting upward momentum.” Tiny insects are key menu items for a lot of creatures in the kingdom animalia. To be small and tasty is a recipe for doom if you don’t have some interesting survival tactics. Entire orders of insects start in vulnerable metamorphic stages […]

“…and today we are talking about an animal for the 100th time and we’re announcing the winner of the listener’s favorite part of the show vote!” The official listener’s favorite part of the show is…. Measure Up! That’s right! You came out to the polls and let your voices be heard. With Twitter and Facebook […]

And today we’re talking about a wide eyed and expressive cat! But more on that later! They may look like your average domestic feline on the surface. But a closer look will reveal some odd features. Thick fur, short stubby ears, and rotund bodies, give away that this particular Himalayan cat isn’t your typical tabby. […]

“And today we’re talking about a whale with a rostrum for adventure! But more on that later!” Way high up in the frigid arctic waters swims what many would consider to be a mythical creature: a unicorn. No, not a white horse with a horn sticking out of its head, but a whale with a […]

“And today we’re talking about a turtle that does what it wants because it’s punk rock.” Turtles enjoy the aquatic lifestyle, eating algae, river plants, and fish. But, unlike those fish that are privileged with water-breathing gills, turtles must make trips to the surface to breathe. But one Australian turtle species with a punk rock […]

“And today we are talking about beefiest boys in the bovine brotherhood. But bore on that later.” Clutching his rifle in his hand, veteran British big game hunter Owain Lewis made his way through the dense brush of Zimbabwe, carefully tracking an injured cape buffalo that had been shot three days earlier by an American […]

“And today were talking about a terror tube that makes the sarlacc that swallowed Bobba Fett seem like a kiss on the cheek. But more on that later.” The ocean floor is a treasure trove of decaying plant and animal matter that’s ripe for the picking for fish and invertebrates that are looking for tasty […]

“…and today we’re talking about a creepy crawly with a nasty sting that might be living in your backyard.” K – Animalia  P – Arthropoda  C – Insecta O – Hymenoptera (wasps, bees, yellow jackets, hornets)  F – Pompilidae (parasitic wasps) SubF – Pepsinae G – Pepsis S – Gross Spider Parasites While an adult […]

“And today we are telling a Thai tale of a towering tail. But more on that later.” Grass is important to dads with perfectly manicured lawns, but it goes unnoticed by the rest of us. But what if you were a lot smaller, and you made you home in thick tall grass. You might find […]

“And today we’re talking about a fish that looks like a victim of the scream extractor machine in Monsters Inc.” You might think you know anglerfish, but think again. He strides across the ocean floor luring his prey, his body a crude caricature of a much more well-adapted animal. He’s the hero Galapagos deserves, but […]

“And today we are talking about an animal that David Attenborough once called ‘the most wonderful looking fox’ and also ‘bizzare with a curious body shape.’ I guess a fox can be two things but more on that later…” The Ethiopian highlands are often called the roof of Africa, but The Tibetan Plateau is called […]

“And to day we’re talking about a guilty little monkey. But more on that later!” The rules of engagement vary widely in the animal kingdom, especially when it comes to romance. But whether a species has multiple mates, or just one, at least there are rules. The Gelada Monkey may seem like a tasty Italian […]

“Today we are talking about a tiny mammal with a big appetite. But more on that later.” Intro Being tiny is difficult for a lot of reasons. It can make you easy prey for a variety of larger predators. And it can limit your own food sources to plants and even smaller animals. But being […]

“…and today, we’re talking about a frog whose fashion actually has a fantastic function, but more on that later.” Intro music: Jorge Mendez Outro music: Morning Light Music

…and today, we’re talking about a strong, independent woman who is literally a homemaker.”

“…and today, we’re talking about a big, plush tree rodent with a bold fashion sense, but more on that later.”

“…and today, we’re talking about the desert ships that opened up the trans-Saharan trade routes. But more on that later.“

“…and today we’re talking about a burrowing bee whose beef is between brothers, but more on that later…”

“…and today we are talking about a ugly little baker that makes the kind of cookies only a predatory fish would love. But more on that later.” During the Cold War, the U.S. Navy’s fleet of nuclear submarines seemed invincible. A highly-mobile underwater tank with the capability of destroying entire cities, this death star of […]

And today we’re talking about an oceanic equine with strong paternal instincts and a unique dad bod, but more on that later.

“…and today we’re talking about a canine that whistles while it works. But more on that later…” When you’re a predator that has to compete with leopards and tigers, you’re in for an uphill battle. If you’re smaller, slower, and not as stealthy as other carnivores in the mountain forests of Asia, you better have […]

“And today we’re talking about a bird, not Eastern Michigan University, which I guess has the eagle as its mascot so that’s also a bird. But we’re discussing a different bird. So if some silly SEO sent you here, stay awhile. You might learn something.” Australians are no strangers to deadly animals, everything from the […]

“And today we’re talking about a rat that’s metaphorically faster than a speeding bullet. But more on that later.” In nature, you’re a predator, prey, or both. When you’re small and delicious, you’re probably pretty low on the food chain. But there’s a rodent that lives in Mojave Desert that’s so adapted to dealing with […]

“And today we’re talking about a creature with a clear eyes and a full heart. But more on that later.” When it comes to relationships, one of the best qualities is transparency. When you find that special someone, you can really open up and let that special someone see your heart—as well as your liver […]

“And today we’re talking about a bird that claps for himself. But more on that later.” Dance is the language of love. Or at least, that’s the motto of a variety of birds in rain forests around the world. Some animals fight for their mates, but why do that when you can settle things with […]

“Today we’re talking about a crummy parent and a nasty little child. But more on that later.” Like the social programs that Ayn Rand despises so much, parasites exist to profit off of someone else with no benefit to the host. The cuckoo bird likes making kids, but hates raising them. They’re a lot of […]

“Today we are talking about a river horse whose looks are laughable and unphotographable. Yet they’re my favorite work of art.” The Amazon Rainforest is home to a diverse population of plants and animals. But if you were hiking along the water in the brazil’s Amazon river basin, you might see something you’ve never seen […]

“And today we’re talking about a worm that’s more radiant than a locomotive. But more on that later.” Description The railroad “worm” is actually a beetle that goes through multiple metamorphic stages like a butterfly. They start off as eggs that are laid in groups on the ground and encircled by the momma. They lay […]

“And today we’re talking about a big black buzzard the binges on bear beef but more on that later.” When the arid American West claims a life, it doesn’t go to waste. The clean up crew soars high above the ground looking for new ways to cleanse the earth. This biological catharsis not only fills […]

“And today we are talking about one of the biggest animal celebrities. I’m a little star struck already.” Striding across the blazing Serengeti, the towering, wiry frame of the giraffe moves with surprising grace as it searches-for food. As the tallest mammal in the world, the giraffe makes for an easy target for large African […]

“And today we’re talking about a big blubbery boy with wonderful whiskers with which they wade around in the water.” There may be no harsher environment in the world than arctic. The extreme cold makes it an inhospitable place for most plants and animals. But for a few unique species, it’s an ideal to place […]

“And today we are talking about a slippery sucker pup that has more than 15 ways to get out of danger.” Lots of animals pretend to be other animals. Hiding and visual deception have helped countless butterflies, snakes, and millipedes either eat or avoid being eaten by donning masks and acting their little hearts outs. […]

“And today we are talking about a bird that is a harbinger of doom and destruction. But more on that later.” Fire is a blessing and a curse. It’s constructive potential is rivaled only by its destructive capabilities. It was once thought that humans were the only creature on earth to harness this powerful energy […]

“And today we’re talking about the John Wick of weasels and like John Wick, you just don’t want to get in it’s way. But more on that later.” The plains of sub-Saharan Africa are a dangerous place for mid- to smallish-sized mammals. There are lots of predators that want to make a meal out of […]

“…and today we’re talking about what is called the most dangerous bird in the world. But more on the truth of that later.” We often think of birds as benign, graceful creatures, alighting on the forefingers of princesses and singing songs to one another as the sun crests the horizon. When in danger, these skittish […]

“And today we’re talking about a crustacean whose name sounds like an old-timey insult. ‘Hey, get back here you tongue-eating louse and I’ll give you what for!’” Have you ever loaded your family into a big RV and taken to the open road? One undersea crustacean does something similar with its family. Only instead of […]

“…and today we’re talking about an animal whose name is click bait and what they smell like will shock you! But more on that later.” When traipsing along the Mekong in Southeast Asia, you may smell the delicious scent of almonds wafting on the stagnant, humid air. While this may seem like a decadent oasis […]

“…And today we are talking about a slimy tube that has a vague resemblance to a nasty appendage that might shoot out of an alien at Sigourney Weaver. But more on that whenever you get a chance to look up a picture.” Life in the mud isn’t glamorous, but, like Arnold’s character in Predator, it […]

“…and today we’re talking about a huge reptile that has a Salt Life bumper sticker and really isn’t into the time honored reptilian tradition of basking in the sun.” Just like little kids at the fair, we love turtles. They’re armored, they’re scaly, and they take life slowly. However, the leatherback sea turtle takes turtleness […]

“…and today we’re talking about a pupper who’s not a pupper at all. But more on that in like a minute.” The top dog isn’t always an alpha male. In fact, it isn’t even always a dog. All kinds of animals survive by forming social bonds and working as a team, but sometimes survival requires […]

“…And today we’re talking about a smol sea booger with a nasty sting. But more on that later.” Australia is filled with lots of cute things, and also lots of deadly things. The irukandji jellyfish is that second part, but also a little bit of the first. At about the same size as a match […]

“…And today we are talking about a bird with an impressive wingspan and brutal hunting tactics. I would make a joke, but frankly, I’m scared of it.” A bird who’s at home in the skies needs a body built for aviation. That means a light frame, hollow bones, and a wingspan wide enough to generate […]

“And today we’re talking about a fish with a green fin, a bright personality, and a future with an upward trajectory, but more on that later.” Beneath the sun soaked rivers of Hawaii, there dwells a fascinating fish with tenacious tendencies. After being born, the Stimpson’s Goby is swept out to sea, far from its […]