The Common Descent Podcast

This episode, we’re taking the time to talk about a subject that comes up just about every episode: the classification and relationships of living organisms. Taxonomy, Phylogeny, and the Tree of Life! In the news: giant ground sloth diets, how whales got huge, the crunching jaws of T. rex, and the evolution of soldier bees! Check out our blog for bonus info and pictures: http://commondescentpodcast.wordpress.com/ Follow and Support us on: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/CommonDescentPC Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/commondescentpodcast/ iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-common-descent-podcast/id1207586509?mt=2 Stitcher: http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/common-descent/the-common-descent-podcast The Podcast music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org.

In this episode, we’re discussing the dramatic event that saw the rise of modern animal life and formed the foundation for all animal ecosystems – an event as fascinating as it is mysterious – the Cambrian Explosion! In the news: brand new armored dinosaurs, a long-lost dino-baby, surprises from the human family tree, and snake fossils from our favorite fossil site! Check out our blog for bonus info and pictures: http://commondescentpodcast.wordpress.com/ Follow and Support us on: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/CommonDescentPC Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/commondescentpodcast/PodBean: https://commondescentpodcast.podbean.com/ iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-common-descent-podcast/id1207586509?mt=2 Stitcher: http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/common-descent/the-common-descent-podcast The Podcast music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org.

This episode topic comes from a fan request! We’re discussing how lessons from our planet’s prehistoric record can guide our efforts to preserve modern ecosystems: this is the field of conservation paleontology. In the news: sword-tailed sea scorpions, finding ancient DNA without fossils, climate change during the end-Pleistocene extinction, and (maybe) the oldest humans in North America! Check out our blog for bonus info and pictures: http://commondescentpodcast.wordpress.com/ Follow and Support us on: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/CommonDescentPC Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/commondescentpodcast/PodBean: https://commondescentpodcast.podbean.com/ iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-common-descent-podcast/id1207586509?mt=2 Stitcher: http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/common-descent/the-common-descent-podcast The Podcast music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org.  

In this episode, we are joined by special guest Ethan Fulwood! He shares with us the fascinating diversity and evolutionary history of a familiar group of mammals called Primates. In the news: an ancient dinosaur-cousin, bats with diverse diets, and ancient predator injuries. Ethan’s on Twitter! @fulwoodomys Check out our blog for bonus info and pictures: http://commondescentpodcast.wordpress.com/ Follow and Support us on: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/CommonDescentPC Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/commondescentpodcast/PodBean: https://commondescentpodcast.podbean.com/ iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-common-descent-podcast/id1207586509?mt=2 Stitcher: http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/common-descent/the-common-descent-podcast The Podcast music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org.  

On this episode, we’re discussing one of nature’s most incredible inventions: flight – who has it, how do they do it, and most mysteriously, how did it evolve? In the news: Dinosaur footprints; tyrannosaur faces; life in a crater; and a beautiful ancient bird. Check out our blog for bonus info and pictures: http://commondescentpodcast.wordpress.com/ Follow and Support us on: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/CommonDescentPC Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/commondescentpodcast/PodBean: https://commondescentpodcast.podbean.com/ iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-common-descent-podcast/id1207586509?mt=2 Stitcher: http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/common-descent/the-common-descent-podcast The Podcast music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org.  

Some big dinosaur-related news dropped last week - so big we just had to talk about it! So here's a mini-episode (a small digression) about the new study by Baron et al., and the phenomenon that has paleontologists going crazy: Ornithoscelida. Read more about the study here: https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2017/03/dinosaur-family-tree-saurischia-ornithischia-childhood-shattered-what-is-real-anymore/520338/ Follow and Support us on: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/CommonDescentPC Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/commondescentpodcast/PodBean: https://commondescentpodcast.podbean.com/ iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-common-descent-podcast/id1207586509?mt=2 Stitcher: http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/common-descent/the-common-descent-podcast The Podcast music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org.  

In this episode, we discuss one of the most famously devastating events in Earth history – the mass extinction that ended the Age of Dinosaurs. In the news: the first fish on land, the earliest sharks, some really old croc eggs, and some really really old plants! Check out our blog for bonus info and pictures: http://commondescentpodcast.wordpress.com/ Follow and Support us on: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/CommonDescentPC Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/commondescentpodcast/PodBean: https://commondescentpodcast.podbean.com/ iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-common-descent-podcast/id1207586509?mt=2 Stitcher: http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/common-descent/the-common-descent-podcast The Podcast music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org.  

In this episode, we’re exploring the unique and sometimes bizarre directions evolution takes on islands. In the news: ancient tortoise DNA, a better picture of dinosaurs, oyster conservation, and a giant scary worm! Check out our blog for bonus info and pictures: http://commondescentpodcast.wordpress.com/ Follow and Support us on: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/CommonDescentPC Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/commondescentpodcast/PodBean: https://commondescentpodcast.podbean.com/ iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-common-descent-podcast/id1207586509?mt=2 The Podcast music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org.  

In the news: live-birth in archosaurs, ancient venom, horse evolution, and carnivorous plants! This time around the topic is David’s favorite group of life: snakes. We look at their impressive diversity, their mysterious origins, and their long fossil history. Check out our blog for bonus info and pictures: http://commondescentpodcast.wordpress.com/ Follow and Support us on: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/CommonDescentPC Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/commondescentpodcast/PodBean: https://commondescentpodcast.podbean.com/ iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-common-descent-podcast/id1207586509?mt=2 The Podcast music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org.  

In the news: live-birth in archosaurs, ancient venom, horse evolution, and carnivorous plants! This time around the topic is David’s favorite group of life: snakes. We look at their impressive diversity, their mysterious origins, and their long fossil history. Check out our blog for bonus info and pictures: https://commondescentpodcast.wordpress.com/  Also, Common Descent is now officially on iTunes! You can find us on any mobile app that accesses iTunes, or on the PodBean app! Follow us on: Twitter: https://twitter.com/CommonDescentPC Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/commondescentpodcast/ The Podcast music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org.

We’re back for Episode 2! This episode we’re talking about Will’s favorite group of animals: crocodilians, their fascinating modern diversity, and their even more astonishing fossil history. In the news: our bag-like ancestors, dinosaur proteins, giant otters, and Australian extinctions! Check out our blog for bonus info and pictures: https://commondescentpodcast.wordpress.com/  Follow and Support us on: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/CommonDescentPC Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/commondescentpodcast/PodBean: https://commondescentpodcast.podbean.com/ iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-common-descent-podcast/id1207586509?mt=2 The Podcast music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org.  

We’re back for Episode 2! In the news: our bag-like ancestors, dinosaur proteins, giant otters, and Australian extinctions! This episode we’re talking about Will’s favorite group of animals: crocodilians, their fascinating modern diversity, and their even more astonishing fossil history. Check out our blog for bonus info and pictures: https://commondescentpodcast.wordpress.com/  Follow us on: Twitter: https://twitter.com/CommonDescentPC Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/commondescentpodcast/ The Podcast music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org.

It’s the first episode of the Common Descent Podcast! In the news: pterosaurs, sunspots, trilobites, and ghost sharks! Episode One’s discussion topic is the field of paleontology, our own experiences, and the kinds of things we’ll end up talking about in future episodes. Check out the blog for bonus stuff:https://commondescentpodcast.wordpress.com/  Follow us on: Twitter: https://twitter.com/CommonDescentPC Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/commondescentpodcast/  The Podcast music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org/

It’s the first episode of the Common Descent Podcast! Episode One’s discussion topic is the field of paleontology, our own experiences, and the kinds of things we’ll end up talking about in future episodes. In the news: pterosaurs, sunspots, trilobites, and ghost sharks! Check out the blog for bonus stuff: https://commondescentpodcast.wordpress.com/  Follow us on:Twitter: https://twitter.com/CommonDescentPC Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/commondescentpodcast/  The Podcast music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org/