“…and today we’re talking about everyone’s favorite animal! But more on that later…” You know ‘em, you hate ‘em, you have ‘em – they’re cockroaches. Yes, it’s time for the interesting animal podcast to talk about everyone’s favorite scittering critter. Odds are good that you’ve encountered one of these pleasant house guests within the last […]

Life, Death, and Taxonomy

Episode 205 – False Deaths Head Cockroach: Survivability Over Cuteness

“…and today we’re talking about the Christmas decoration of the sea. More on that later.”  The ocean can be a dangerous place. There’s always a bigger fish waiting for an unsuspecting creature to become its next meal. One brightly colored eel avoids these threatening open maws by rarely leaving their homes in the crevasse of […]

Episode 204 – Ribbon Eel: The Future is Female

“…and today we’re talking about a bug that sounds like a pokemon, but looks like a dark souls enemy.” The insect world is a horrifyingly brutal one. For most, life is hard, stressful, and short. This is due, in part, to the work of players like the Assassin Bug. Many bugs that rely on their […]

Episode 203 – Wheel Bug: A Cog in the Machine

“…and today we’re talking about a lizard that is great at getting out of sticky situations. But more on that later.” In the outback you need an exit strategy for whenever you get into trouble, especially if you’re a lizard of modest stature. The Golden-tailed gecko is a striking subject to look at, but it’s […]

Episode 202 – Golden-Tailed Gecko: The Sticky Sprayer

“Today we’re talking about bug spray… in a manner of speaking. But more on that later.” When you’re a small beetle in a big world, you can easily become someone’s lunch if you’re not careful. So having a secret weapon is vital to survival. When danger rears its ugly head, the bombardier beetle rears its […]

Episode 201: Bombardier Beetle: F. Scott Spritzgerald

“…and today, on our 200th episode, we’re talking about an adorable video game character.” For a true generalist, nothing is off the menu. Sometimes survival is all about versatility, and if you have an adventurous palate, there are more resources at your disposal. For one Japanese canine, finding enough food to last through the winter […]

Episode 200 – Tanuki: The Racoon Dog

“…And today we’re talking about a frog that rolls with the punches. But more on that later.” High in the table-top mountains of Venezuela, a tiny pebble toad inches its way across the moist sandstone outcroppings. Little does he know that danger lurks just around the corner. A toad-eating tarantula is on the hunt and […]

Episode 199 – Pebble Toad: Rock and Roll Toad

“…and today we’re talking about a little porpoise with a big problem. But more on that later.” If you’re in the Gulf of California and you see a small figure break through the glistening surface of the water, you may be witnessing a rare site. Like a glimpse of ball lightning, you may stare, unbelieving […]

Episode 198 – Vaquita: A Little Porpoise With a Big Problem

“…and today we are literally talking about a creature that lives by a pattern of life and death and has an interesting taxonomy. But more on that later.”  Every fall, the arid wilderness of Australia is peppered with the fallen bodies of tiny marsupials. What could create such a scene? Predators, disease, global warming? The […]

Episode 197 – Brown Antechinus: Mating Marathon

“…and today we’re talking about a reptile who’s lady is the sea. But more on that later.” We all know and share a healthy fear of snakes. They live under rocks and slither on their bellies to get around. But there are actually dozens of snake species that don’t live on land at all. Instead, […]

Episode 196 -Yellow-Bellied Sea Snake: Made for the Sea

“…and today we’re talking about a lost boy that lives in caves and doesn’t want to grow up. But more on that later.” Living in the pitch blackness of the caves of southern Europe is a tiny eyeless Chinese dragon that can regrow its arms and sense prey using electricity. Intrigued? Well that’s not even […]

Episode 195 – Olm: Long and Long-Lasting

“…and today we’re talking about the largest shelled reptile that lives on land maybe! But more on that later…” A strange reptile that lives on a strange type of island will surely deliver in the weird department. Islanders are known for showing some interesting adaptations that mainlanders may find funny. But when you’re surrounded by […]

Episode 194 – Aldabra Giant Tortoise: Elephants of the Atoll

“…and today we’re talking about slimy yet satisfying frogish fish, but more on that later.” While other fish are relegated to the vast oceans, lakes, and rivers that cover 70% of the planet, some decided that it wasn’t enough room. Bent on total global domination, the Atlantic Mudskipper wants to be where the people are. […]

Episode 193 – Atlantic Mudskipper: A Fish Out of Water

“…and today we’re talking about Moto Moto and why he doesn’t like you. But more on that later.” A beast lies in a river bed. He is confident when the waters run against his mouth. And he has no fear of turbulent waters. You can’t take him by his eyes or pull his nose with […]

Episode 192 – Hippopotamus: Big, Round, and Deadly

“..and today we’re talking about the most direct path imaginable. But more on that later…” When you’re a little bird surrounded by larger predators, you need to have a strong support network to fend off the baddies. Just like Flik in a Bug’s Life, the least terns have realized that there is true strength in […]

Episode 191 – Least Tern: Twitter Mob

Learn about all things animalia in this family friendly podcast. Each week Joe and Carlos dive deep into nature to find animals that have at least one amazing talent they use to survive. Gather up some animal knowledge and crazy nature facts to drop on your friends at parties with each new episode of Life, Death, and Taxonomy.

hubhopper

Life, Death, and Taxonomy

hubhopper