Species

Tuna are incredibly underestimated animals. We usually think of them as ingredients, instead of creatures. Today, we are going to learn how fantastic they really are.

Did red pandas inspire Mozilla Firefox? What is a pseudo-thumb? Are red pandas related to giant pandas? Which came first, the big ones or the little guys? Why are red pandas vanishing, and what do I have to do with it? Bibliography: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ooiGTgdAVK7VW5ixZJODjIh8POGOaUCkgOEyRUfao2A/edit?usp=sharing

Can an earthworm survive being cut in half? Do they re-grow both ends? Is it true that worms can reproduce with themselves? Was Charles Darwin obsessed with earthworms, and did he scientifically determine their favorite food? Do worms have brains? What about hearts? Why do they carry leaves back to their dens? Find out all the answers on this episode of Species. Bibliography: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hGhOUKfhp1q9F5M5y5X6pbL9ddqWlB1-bBogYw3aV1U/edit?usp=sharing

Why are flamingos pink? Why do they stand on one leg? Do flamingos have teeth? Do flamingos know how to dance? Find out the surprising answers to all these questions and more, hear two weird conservation stories, and learn all about the American flamingo on this episode of Species. Bibliography: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1A5aZn6YhKxoQfvSSsHRFpsmBMRKYf0I5gfZxT-88sIo/edit?usp=sharing

The Japanese nickname for the oarfish is "ryugu no tsukai," which translates to English as "messenger from the sea god's palace." In the traditional Japanese mythos, this animal is a warning: They are a sign that a tsunami is coming. In this episode, we explore the possibility that this seemingly absurd theory is true, and we talk all about what is perhaps the longest fish in the sea. Bibliography: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1iuv3w-7s1yhB6kzve_920EnQhyt5gC1avdLgHfkmvzY/edit?usp=sharing

John Oberg is one of the most prominent characters in the modern animal rights movement. He is an animal advocate hoping to make the world a kinder place by utilizing the power of social media.

Were honey badgers weaponized by the UK during the Iraq war? Who would win, the greatest fighter on earth, or a honey badger? What about a honey badger vs. a lion? Or a hyena? Or a cobra? How come honey badgers are so absurdly brave? Why are they such creative escape artists? Honey badgers are the toughest animals on the face of the planet, and today we talk all about them. Bibliography: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BoUEfR7tUcfFvlEeMabjbZ1F4meRuA7197t6Xv7-Hp4/edit?usp=sharing

This is the animal who inspired King Kong, and maybe some dragon stories. Find out about their magical healing abilities, their insane sense of smell, and their truly disturbing method of killing their prey. Discover the answer to the following questions: Why do so many cultures have dragons? Do Komodo dragons kill by sepsis or venom? Are baby Komodo dragons just reptilian squirrels? Bibliography: https://docs.google.com/document/d/10Z5Gnu_HJURoW5VYyTTcfcgmeXfNfXGq39BDgUoXl6s/edit?usp=sharing

Ashley Gary is a science communicator and a wildlife educator. This afternoon, she had a wide-ranging, hilarious conversation with Macken in which they discussed a variety of topics revolving around animals. While you listen, take a moment to follow Ashley on social media, and visit her website! Twitter: https://twitter.com/thewildlifehost Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewildlifehost/ Website: https://www.thewildlifehost.com/newsletter

This animal is a sensory genius. They are masters at detecting everything while staying undetected. On this episode, Macken goes deep into the incredible science of how this animal can hear everything, without ever being heard; how this animal can see everything, without being seen. They are debatably the best listeners in the animal kingdom, and their entire face is like a radar dish. Find out all about them on this episode of species.

Today we are going to talk about the ugliest animal on earth (at least, by popular vote). Join us, and discover why they look so awful on land and so normal at sea. Find out the fun facts we have about this animal, and learn about the nature of ugliness itself, on this episode of Species. Bibliography: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1b2-SLeWf2k1C_LgqAaing3DCKKTfYxQmCPA7bQg5nPs/edit?usp=sharing

This deer has fangs that would make Dracula feel self-conscious. At barely 40 pounds, they look like a cross between a saber-toothed tiger and a baby deer. What's going on here? Why is this tiny deer so weird? Are they carnivores? If not, what are those fangs for?

This animal forces us to ponder the nature of intelligence itself. They are running incredibly complex software on unbelievably small hardware: Their brain could fit on the head of a pin, and yet their sensory processing and strategizing abilities rival those of the smartest animals on earth. Join us, today, and glimpse the unsettling depths of the spider's mind.   Bibliography: https://docs.google.com/document/d/11KiGGAiD1wiW4BiMZblFHqskHfQKyLfyBJJZk-hWL3w/edit

This creature has the greatest deceptive abilities in the animal kingdom, unless you count humans. The fork-tailed drongo's ability to lie and manipulate other species into doing what they want is nothing short of stunning, and their intelligence is absolutely unbelievable. Today, we learn about why humans lie, why it is usually wrong, and why Darwin might disagree.

Jason Ward is a professional birder, the host of “Birds of North America,” and a writer for Audubon. He is one of the most talented science communicators on earth, and he is spreading his love of birding like wildfire.