“..and today we are talking about an American mammal that you might not already know about.” If you’re a denizen of North America, you probably think you know every furry critter in these parts. You’ve got your bears, cats, wolves, and even a muskrat or two. But there is a lesser known mammalian that may […]

“…and today we’re talking about a rainforest weasel. But more on that later.” It seems that, no matter where you live, you have to deal with mosquitoes. Whether you’re in the Alaskan mountains or the jungles of Panama, biting boys are everywhere. Long ago, the white nosed coati said “enough is enough” and found an […]

“…and today we’re talking about an aquatic acrobat. But more on that later.” When you’re tiny the God hands you a different set of rules than the laws of physics humans are used to. When you hear the name water springtail, you might think of a fish or maybe a deer, but it’s actually a […]

“…and today we’re talking about an animal hacker of animals. But more on that later.” They say the best defense is a good offense. But they rarely say the opposite. Crabs are little armored warriors scuttling around on the ocean floor, but even their rigid carapace isn’t immune to a little subterfuge. Enter the crab […]

“…and today we’re talking about a sucker who will latch onto anything and go with it. But more on that later.” If you see a shark, whale, or large fish gliding through the open ocean, you may see some extra passengers stuck to its flanks. The live sharksucker is a remora, a fish that freeloads […]

“…and today we’re talking about the Big Foot of the outback. But more on that later.” When you think of bigfoot, you’re probably imagining a large hairy ape, but the big foot of the Australian billabongs is not swamp ape. Instead, it’s a small graceful bird bouncing along the lily pads with water skis for […]

“…and today we’re talking about a percussive Pisces. But more on that later.”  If you live in the suburbs of Tampa Bay, Florida. You may have heard an eerie sound in the night. As you drift off to dreamland, you not only hear a strange low rumbling, you can feel it in your chest. As […]

“…and today we’re talking about the smooth jazz of tree critters. But more on that later.” Deep in the jungles of the Amazon, an adorable ball of fluff clings to a tree branch, lapping up delicious ants. The pygmy silky anteater clearly has sloths as a role model, and it shows in their… laid back […]

“…and today we’re talking about the tiger torpedo. But more on that later.” Living life as a living torpedo has its upsides. Feeling the current on your scales as you dart toward a school of tasty fish mackerel must be second to none. However, it comes with its challenges. The striped marlin is a sword-tipped […]

“…and today we are talking about the banshee of Bhutan, the Specter of Sikkim. But more on that later.” It’s cloudy with a chance of leopards here in the jungle, so you’d better have an umbrella and keep your eyes on the skies. The clouded leopard is at home in the trees, and with good […]

“…and today we’re talking monkey business. But more on that later.” Imagine climbing your way to the top of your social order. You’ve made alliances with the right factions and formed a powerful coalition. Now it’s up to you to lead your troop to defend your territory and resources. It’s not the story of an […]

“…and today we’re talking about a baleful beast that lives in a silken lair. But more on that later.” When it comes to venom, every drop counts. No one knows this better than the funnel web spider, one of the world’s deadliest eight-legged freaks. This is definitely one arachnid you don’t want to annoy, since […]

“…and today we’re talking about a tiny Lincoln in a Tiny cabin. But more on that later.” Humans have long desired to sit by a warm hearth, with a roof over their head, protected from the elements. Shelter is not a yearn unique to humans. All kinds of animals burrow and build to keep the […]

“…and today we’re talking about an animal that is takin care of business. But more on that later.” In the Himalayas, you might be surprised to see a goat moose bear cow gazelle scuttling around the rocks. The takin is an odd-looking beast whose elusive nature and gleaming fur possibly inspired a well-known ancient Greek […]

“…and today we’re talking about a fig’s friend for real. But more on that later.” Foxes have holes, birds have nests, and wasps have figs? Figs have been a staple of the human diet for thousands of years, but we share that culinary attraction with an unlikely friend: a wasp. The appropriately named fig wasp […]

“…and today we’re talking about the grumpiest cephalopod in the sea. More on that later.” Brains and digestive systems are linked just like all systems in the body are linked. But with the strange tube-like body shape of the giant squid, these two systems need to be a bit closer than they’d like. When you’re […]

“…and today we’re talking about a predator that gives Mouse Dutch Schafer a run for his money. More on that later.” In the heart of the woodlands, across open fields, and even in bustling urban environments, a folkloric presence reigns supreme. The red fox’s fiery coat and wily spirit have earned it a place in […]

“…and today we’re talking about a tiny little steed. But more on that later.” Out here in the wild wild west of… let me check my notes… Yucatan Mexico. That’s not very West. Well, out here in the wild wild… East, you won’t get too far without your trusty saddle as well as your trusty […]

“Today we are talking about a vampire that glitters in the sunlight, as if you could outswim it… But more on that later.” In the shadowy depths of the mighty Amazon River, a tiny monster veiled in murky water searches for its next sanguine feast. The Candiru fish is a creature that has both intrigued […]

“…and today we’re talking about a spider in the last place you’d think to look for one. But more on that later.” In the coldest regions of the Arctic ocean, the depths harbor strange and alien life. Normally, living things take breathing for granted. Lungs, gills, trachea, it’s all about moving that sweet sweet oxygen […]

“…and today we’re talking about a shark that isn’t as smooth as it sounds, but it is hot. But more on that later.” In this housing market, sometimes you find yourself living in some unlikely places. But some silk sharks live in a place that is slightly more challenging than a three-story walk up with […]

Merry Christmas, Taxonomy Titans! Carlos and I are currently enjoying Christmas cheer with our friends and family. If you find yourself driving, baking, or doing a task requiring some interesting animal information, here’s a throwback to our Christmasiest episode ever—about reindeer! If you’d like to give us a Christmas present this year, consider joining our […]

“…And today we are talking about an animal that is perpetually in 3rd grade. But less on that later.” The plains of Africa are home to a lot of pretty strange-looking animals. I mean, have you really thought about how weird a giraffe is? But one chimeric beast would definitely leave you scratching your head […]

“…and today we’re talking about a fashion icon that is more interested in function over form. But more on that later.” Few looks in nature are as iconic as a plains zebra’s stripes. But these savannah equines rarely think about fashion, so these stripes must have a function beyond their form. You may think you […]

“…and today we’re talking about the Charlie Chaplin of chickens. But more on that later.” In the wide open plains of Saskatchewan, a bulky pheasant puts on a very interesting display. The Greater Sage Grouse male is equipped with some unique tools to let the ladies know he’s got the gains on the plains. The […]