Japanese Spider Crab

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 length of a school bus, and double the weight! On this episode, Macken tells you all the fun facts about whale sharks, and gives you the best available answers to some of the following questions, like:  Why the heck are whale sharks so dang big? Has a whale shark ever killed a human? Could a human fit in a whale sharks mouth? Why do whale sharks have hundreds of sharp teeth? Do whale sharks have any natural predators? Why do whale sharks have spots? Do whale sharks speak to one another? Can whale sharks detect magnetic fields? Why do whale sharks have the largest inner ears in nature? Are whale sharks smart? Can they be tamed? Why are herbivores often bigger than carnivores?   These are all extremely important questions, at it is vital that you get your answers to them. Have fun while you do so by listening to the show, and get a bad joke about tigers along the way.   Bibliography: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rVjJbqfvviv3TQqNkO-g_gfS2kkd7evge1uATf-omyA/edit?usp=sharing

24 Mars 201917min

Salamander expert Kirsten Hecht—also known as Kirsten “Hechtbender,” for reasons that will become clear—gave Macken a call tonight to talk about salamanders and other topics. The conversation was light & fun, we heard a few stories, learned a bit of history, and found out a lot about animals. Macken had several questions for her tonight, including: Why are they called hellbenders? Can all salamanders regenerate limbs? How do salamanders regenerate limbs? Why do amphibians go through a tadpole stage? Why don’t mudpuppies and axolotls grow up? How do you balance being a mom with being a scientist? Macken and Kirsten ended up covering some tangential topics, from the history of dragons in China to the joys of Halloween. Everyone can find something to enjoy!

22 Mars 201928min

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 into a baguette-loving basset hound like mine, and find out everything you want to know about dogs and wolves. Learn the answers to all your wolf & dog questions, including: Why do wolves howl? Are wolves howling at the moon? Do wolves eat people? Why did we domesticate wolves, and how did we do it? How amazing is a dogs' sense of smell? Do wolves hunt in packs? Who runs the wolf pack, the alpha male or the alpha female? Does my dog love me the same way I love them? How many words can a dog recognize? What is the moral of the story "Little Red Riding Hood"? Can wolves and dogs interbreed? What is the difference between a breed and a species?   This episode starts with a discussion about how humans struggle with gray-areas, and touches on quantum physics, before diving into a conversation about why gray wolves—domestic and otherwise—are one such gray area. We find out the answers to all the questions above (insofar as the questions are answerable) and we learn all the fun facts about wolves and dogs that could possibly fit in a single episode of Species.   Some of the facts you hear today will be completely unbelievable, but we have the sources right here! Curious and skeptical minds, click the link to the bibliography for more information and factual verification.   And if you want to find out why your dog has floppy ears, click here.   Bibliography: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uhmF9fSIG__DgG0AQ72vPhym7nBJEP-WiUIHFDuIvHA/edit?usp=sharing   Donate: https://www.speciespodcast.com/donate

17 Mars 201932min

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 out why "octopi" is grammatically incorrect, and learn about the scandalous mating techniques of this strange and dangerous animal all on this episode of Species. Bibliography: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YhqDS42XkO-KniTav6H3hpbeRK-q0lcNdwwCEaRTHGc/edit?usp=sharing

10 Mars 201920min

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 they mimic hawks? Are they bullies? What is so mysterious about them? This episode will more or less answer all those questions, and together we will learn all about blue jays on this episode of Species. Bibliography: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WJBq56qTc0b1FPjJasToUn1ehuYfQrxZmU8t5pMVOuw/edit?usp=sharing

3 Mars 201925min

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 a male anglerfish? The anglerfish might be the creepiest animal in the ocean. Find out what we know about them through the lens of the humpback anglerfish, on this episode of Species.   Bibliography: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lLpuGJI2tzvC6qXO38Ln77TA_ALlLbPEuLpnxXiEPRM/edit?usp=sharing

24 Feb 201924min

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. Find out the meaning of "Rottnest" and learn about the child-sacrificing, lightning-fearing, gorgonzola-choking quokka on this episode of Species. Bibliography: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gI4fknlR16jnIiVTwIQB7BrUW1I_oo5lK_QtBm2WN6M/edit?usp=sharing

17 Feb 201919min

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 limiting yourself to just ONE mate make any sense at all? Wouldn't playing the field be the best way to succeed? In most cases, yep. But in some select species, monogamy is the best strategy. Today we are going to talk about why monogamy evolves, and the biological benefits of monogamy under specific circumstances. Happy Valentine's Day! Bibliography: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yNPIT2FVh9dklZiAzcUnRhUOtWm4P_BwSvprEz6oFIw/edit?usp=sharing

14 Feb 201915min