Species

Camel

11 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Why do camels have humps, and is there actually water in them? How do camels survive in the desert with that hairy coat? What's special about camel b...

Flying Squid

04 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Yes, this is a real thing. No, we don't mean "gliding," or "jumping," we mean flying. Come learn about a biological rocket and the history of jet prop...

Pandemics, Politics, Sex, and Sentience with Geoffrey Miller

28 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Geoffrey Miller is among the most prominent scientists on earth. As an evolutionary psychologist, he has published over one hundred academic articles ...

Toucan

27 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Why do toucans have big beaks? Surprisingly, not because of sexual selection! Come learn about the many uses of the toucan's beak, hear about the bir...

Parrotfish

20 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about the defensive benefits of mucus, the origins of disgust, the disturbing source of tropical beaches, and the benefits of changing sex, all ...

COVID-19 & Animal Activism with John Oberg

16 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Macken sits down for a livestream with social media expert John Oberg. John gives us a tutorial on activism in the era of socia...

Oryx

13 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The Arabian oryx is a legendary animal that rose from the dead and (possibly) started the myth of the unicorn. Come learn everything about them and t...

Fruit Fly

06 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This is one of the most important species in human history, and one of the most well-understood beings in the universe. Why do we use them in labs? A...

Canada Goose

30 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about the ruthless ways of the Canada goose, and the science behind their flight formation, on this episode of Species.   Bibliography

Komodo Dragon vs. American Alligator - Who Would Win?

28 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Macken and Tyus debate: Who would win, a Komodo dragon or an American alligator? Livestream Vote

Goblin Shark

23 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Come learn about the goblin shark, alien neomorphs, slingshot jaws, and electroreceptors on this episode of Species. Bibliography

Pangolin

16 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we discuss the pangolin, their incredible abilities, their bizarre anatomy, and the terrible threats to their existence. We also dis...

Shedao Pit Viper

09 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Shedao Island houses 20,000 snakes inside 0.28 square miles. Learn all about this island and its remarkable inhabitants on this episode of Species. ...

Tasmanian Devil vs. Honey Badger - Who Would Win?

06 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Macken and Tyus debate: Who would win, a honey badger or a Tasmanian devil?      Vote for which animal you think would win!    Watch Livest...

Ostrich

02 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Do ostriches really bury their head in the sand? The short answer is no, the long answer is complicated. Come listen and learn all about the biggest ...

Olm

24 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This salamander famously stood still for seven years, but there's much more (or, perhaps, less) worth noticing about them. Come learn about one of th...

Raccoon Dog

17 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Today's episode is about hibernation, Japanese culture, monogamy, video games, the fur trade, and more. Come learn about an incredibly unique animal ...

Bobbit Worm

09 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The bobbit worm is an enormous, terrifying, predatory animal that lives in the depths of our oceans. How do they get inside aquariums? Do they have a...

Monk Parakeet

03 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Why is 1/10th of Pingelap completely colorblind, and why is this parrot all over the place? Come learn about the parrot that builds apartment complex...

Pacu

26 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The fish with human teeth, the vegetarian piranha, the genital-eating fish, the pacu.   Bibliography   Donate

Orca

20 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

One of the most intelligent, complicated, mysterious and controversial animals on the planet. A Rorschach test and a mirror, wrapped into one...  ...

Basilisk

13 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This lizard can walk on water. Listen to find out the science of how they achieve this miraculous feat, and learn a bit more about miracles, all on th...

Hoatzin

06 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This animal has been called a stink bird, a cattle bird, an avian cow, a skunk bird, and a living dinosaur. Find out what they have in common with cow...

Coquí

29 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Today we talk about the pride of Puerto Rico and the bane of Hawaii, a tiny frog with an enormous sound, the coquí. Donate Bibliography

Koala

23 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

At first glance, the koala is one of the cutest animals on earth. But if you take a closer look, you find some surprises. Come find out about the pers...

Goliath Birdeater

16 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This is the largest spider on earth. Come learn about how spiders stick to things, find out how dangerous this animal is, and discover their strange ...

Pigeon

08 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This underrated animal has saved countless American soldiers, they were the email of their era, and they can perform as well as doctors, art teachers...

Salmon

02 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

How do salmon find their way back home? Why do they go back to the same river? How many salmon survive the journey? The Chinook salmon is the largest...

Armadillo

25 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Can armadillos roll themselves into a ball or not? Today, we talk about the nine-banded armadillo, an animal whose population stretches from South Am...

Human: Soul Eubanks, Artist & Activist

22 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Soul Eubanks is an artist and an activist in the animal rights movement. He is a leader in Atlanta's vegan community, an environmentalist, a musician,...

Fierce Snake

18 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This animal, the inland taipan (a.k.a. the "fierce snake") is the most venomous snake on earth. How much of their venom could kill you? How much could...

MacGregor's Bowerbird

10 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Is this bird an artist? They sing, they dance, they do imitations, and they build insane structures... But is it art? Come learn about the incredible...

Goldfish

04 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Come hear the legendary history of the goldfish, and get the answers to your most important goldfish-related questions: Do goldfish have a 3-second me...

Japanese Macaque

28 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Humans don't have a monopoly on culture, innovation, accents, great ideas, or even using other animals as forms of transport; the Japanese macaque has...

Human: Dr. David A. Steen, Reptile Expert & Science Communicator

22 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Listen and learn from reptile expert Dr. David Steen! He comes on the show to bust some myths about snakes and turtles, share science communication s...

Tapeworm

20 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

There might be a 25-meter long worm living inside your body. On today's episode, you can get to know them a little better.   Bibliography Donate Rea...

Loon

14 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Loons are more than just a pretty voice, and they have an entire American town completely obsessed with them. This bird can do two out of the followi...

Flying Frog

07 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Today we are talking about Wallace's flying frog. You'll learn about how and why they fly, how and why Franz Reichelt didn't, and discover the bizarre...

Okapi

29 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This episode is about a bizarre animal we used to call the "African unicorn." They've got an assortment of bizarre traits, each one more surprising th...

Humboldt Squid

23 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This episode starts with a squid attack, and goes downhill from there... This cannibalistic animal is big, vicious, and capable of biting through kevl...

Human: Aaron Reynolds, Creator of Effin' Birds

16 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Today's guest is Aaron Reynolds, humorist, writer, and creator of Effin' Birds. In this wide-ranging conversation, Macken and Aaron talked about hack...

Kea

16 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This rare parrot is inarguably one of the most intelligent on earth. Their ability to use tools is stunning, their social complexity is startling, an...

Manta Ray

09 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This gentle giant can pass intelligence tests that would stump your dog and your child, and if they had the opportunity they could crush your car with...

Sumatran Rhino

02 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The Sumatran rhino is a mix between a unicorn, a military tank, Beavis, Butthead, Blair Witch and a humpback whale. Listen to their insane vocalizati...

Monarch Butterfly

26 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This surprisingly poisonous animal is incredibly mysterious. They engage in migrations that take multiple generations, they gather together and use t...

Gull

19 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Are seagulls real? Could a gull kill a lamb? How have gulls adapted to human expansion? Today, we talk about the King of Gulls, the scourge of Chihuah...

Coelacanth

12 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This animal was extinct for 66 million years... Until they weren't. Come learn about an animal that came back from the dead, an animal the size of an ...

Bonus: 100

12 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Macken celebrates episode 100 by answering your questions! Thank you to all the donors and listeners for helping us get this far!

Walrus

05 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Walruses are incredible animals. Their skin is so thick, polar bears struggle to draw blood. Their suction ability is so powerful, they can strip pai...

Marine Iguana

29 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Millions of years ago, a group of iguanas were unbelievably fortunate; and now, we have marine iguanas. Hear that story, and learn all about the popul...

Kiwi

22 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we learn about a bird that basically evolved into a mammal. The sheer number of areas where they have converged with mammals is absu...

Barracuda

14 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This show opens up with a horrifying attack on a kayaker, and from there it only gets worse... On this podcast, you will hear about the nightmarish h...

Golden Jackal

08 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Macken celebrates America's independence by discussing obscene Russian experiments, a world without water, as well as the ramificati...

Human: Tyus Williams, Wildlife Biologist

05 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Macken talks to wildlife biologist Tyus D. Williams. During this long and wide-ranging conversation, they covered some of the followi...

Horseshoe Crab

01 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

What has 10 eyes, 12 legs, a spike for a tail, a tube-shaped heart, and blue blood worth $60,000 a gallon? A horseshoe crab! This animal is ancient, ...

Fairy Penguin

24 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Come listen to the weirdest conservation story of all time: The story of a primate named "Swampy Marsh," who decided to train a dog to defend blue pe...

Tuna

17 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Tuna are incredibly underestimated animals. We usually think of them as ingredients, instead of creatures. In reality, they are marvelous predators; ...

Earthworm

03 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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 obsesse...

Earthworm

03 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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 obsesse...

Flamingo

27 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Oarfish

20 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Human: John Oberg, Social Media Influencer & Animal Advocate

16 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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 pl...

Honey Badger

13 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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 badge...

Komodo Dragon

05 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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,...

Human: Ashley Gary, The Wildlife Host

28 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Ashley Gary is a science communicator and a wildlife educator. This afternoon, she had a wide-ranging, hilarious conversation with Macken in which th...

Barn Owl

28 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This animal is a sensory genius. They are masters at detecting everything while staying undetected. On this episode, Macken goes deep into the incred...

Blobfish

22 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Jumping Spider

07 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This animal forces us to ponder the nature of intelligence itself. They are running incredibly complex software on unbelievably small hardware: Their...

Drongo

31 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This creature has the greatest deceptive abilities in the animal kingdom, unless you count humans. The fork-tailed drongo's ability to lie and manipu...

Whale Shark

24 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Whale sharks are the biggest fish, in the biggest pond on earth. This animal can get to be nearly 50,000 pounds and over 40 feet long. That is the le...

Human: Kirsten "The Hellbender" Hecht, Salamander Expert

22 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Salamander expert Kirsten Hecht—also known as Kirsten "Hechtbender," for reasons that will become clear—gave Macken a call tonight to talk about s...

Wolf / Dog

17 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Learn all about an animal that is simultaneously man's best friend, and man's worst enemy. Discover how a massive, muscular carnivore was changed int...

Blue-Ringed Octopus

10 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This animal may look pretty, but they can do some pretty ugly things to your nervous system. Discover the science of how octopuses change color, find ...

Blue Jay

03 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Is color itself an illusion? Can blue jays speak English and imitate dogs? How can I get on Ellen? Do blue jays kill hawks? Do they use tools? Why do ...

Anglerfish

24 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Was the movie "Alien" plagiarized? How does an anglerfish make their lure glow? Why do fish fall for such a simple trick? What does it feel like to be...

Quokka

17 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This animal is nicknamed the "happiest animal on earth," but what do they have to be happy about? Not much, beyond hanging out with Roger Federer. Fin...

Bonus: The Biological Benefits of Monogamy

14 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Monogamy seems completely impractical from an evolutionary perspective. If the "goal" of the survival of the fittest is to pass on your genes, how can...

Human: Corbin Maxey, Animal Expert & TV Personality

12 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Corbin Maxey is a nationally recognized animal expert and TV personality who has been featured on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," "The Martha Stewar...

Asian Giant Hornet

10 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This hornet has a stinger as long as a thumbtack, and their venom dissolves flesh and kills dozens upon dozens of humans every year. As if that wasn't...

Harris's Hawk

03 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This highly intelligent bird employs unbelievably complex strategies to hunt in packs, and take down evasive prey. Their social structure is extremely...

Dusky Gopher Frog

27 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This tiny frog nearly cost timber farmers $30 million and then became the center of a Supreme Court case. Is the Supreme Court too powerful? Why does ...

Bonus: Are animals... people?

25 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

While it may seem weird to call a nonhuman animal a "person," Argentina has done just that - in their country, chimpanzees and orangutans enjoy the be...

Horse

20 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

How did we domesticate horses? Is there such thing as a wild horse? Who would win in a marathon, a horse or a human? How can I become a better invento...

Side-Blotched Lizard

13 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

"Rock-paper-scissors" is an old game, and these lizards have been playing it for way longer than us. Just a different version, with higher stakes. Thi...

Raven

06 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Ravens are so smart it's stupid. They use trickery, tools, communication, cooperation and betrayal to get ahead in the world. Come listen to some insa...

Electric Eel

31 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The most powerful and dangerous electric fish in the entire world. Yes, they're real. Yes, they could kill you. Yes, they are insanely big. How do th...

Vaquita

24 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The vaquita is a tiny, adorable, panda-like porpoise, and they need your help. Listen to this episode fast, because sadly, it could expire any day. Sp...

Tree Lobster

16 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

This isn't actually a lobster, and they don't live in trees anymore. This is the rarest insect on earth. The Lord Howe Island stick insect. Dryococelu...

Bonus: Right under our noses...

11 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Humans are the only animals on earth that have chins. Seriously. Look at your dog. Do they have a chin? Nope. Cat? No. Lions, tigers bears? Oh my! No,...

Shoebill

09 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

This animal is the baddest bird on the face of the planet: They decapitate crocodiles and deliberately defecate on their own legs. Why? Listen to find...

Epaulette Shark

02 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

WARNING: This shark can walk on land. Nobody is safe. If you are easily upset by the concept of sharks, specifically those that can walk on land, this...

Potto

25 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

What has two tongues, spikes on their vertebrae, a "toilet claw," a tooth comb, and no index finger? The Potto. Perodicticus potto. Come learn all abo...

Peacock Mantis Shrimp

19 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

They throw punches fast enough to vaporize water, and create deadly underwater implosions. Their eyes are the most advanced on earth: They can see mor...

European Starling

11 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

This bird causes 1.6 billion dollars in damage to the US economy every year, and it's Shakespeare's fault. Well, kind of. Listen and learn about the b...

Bonus: Why do domesticated animals have floppy ears?

10 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Dogs, sheep, goats, rabbits, cows, pigs, all of these animals (and more) have floppy ears in captivity. Many of them have blotchy spots, and shorter s...

Amami Hoshizora Pufferfish

05 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Torquigener albomaculosus. This amazing species makes incredible underwater art, out of sand! It was a mystery for a long time, nobody knew who was m...

Vampire Bat

29 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Are vampire bats nicer than people? Do they really suck blood? Which came first, the vampire or the bat? Will their saliva save you from a heart attac...

Pyramid Ant

21 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Dorymyrmex bicolor. This species of ant picks up rocks, and drops them on their enemies. Is it war? Define war. Is it tool use? Yes... And what does t...

Bearded Vulture

14 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

This vulture eats bones. Seriously. 85% bone diet. They also dye themselves red. Oh, and they maybe killed a Greek playwright by throwing a turtle at ...

Mudpuppy

07 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Neither mud nor puppy, this strange salamander is just a big baby. Like you. Seriously, you look like an infant. Listen to find out why! Also, find ou...