Life, Death, and Taxonomy

...and today we're talking about deep sea old macdonald. But more on that later.

Deep in the jungle, where the foliage is thick and the dinner guests are welcome, lurks a tiny terror with a talent for turning the local shrubbery into its own personal buffet: Anelosimus eximius. These eight-legged architects don't believe in working alone, and their idea of a neighborhood watch involves a whole lot more silk than yours does. These little web developers have a corporate culture that would make a LinkedIn Rise and Grinder weep. But nature has shown time and time again that it's better to work together than alone like Anelosimus eximius here in Life, Death, and Taxonomy.

Going after prey that's larger than you can be dangerous… now, when that prey also has thousands of friends nearby, it's truly a fools gambit… But what if you could yoink a single soldier away from her platoon at blistering speeds? Then you'd have a much easier time in Life Death and Taxonomy.

“…and today we’re talking about an ant that is-ant… but more on that later.” Somewhere between a plush toy and the insect version of a honey badger lies the velvet ant. This borderline cute cluster of pom pom balls glued together hides a surprisingly complicated security system behind its pizazz. Bright colors, weird noises, suspicious […]

“…and today we’re talking about a deep diving elephant. But more on that later.” The deeper you go in the ocean, the more alien it becomes… crushing pressure and oppressive darkness… It’s no place for a rotund mammal that spends several months of the year on land… but there’s food down there, and fewer things […]

“…and today we’re talking about a modern insulator… but more on that inso-later.” Description of the Foam Nest Tree Frog Measure Up Welcome to the beloved Measure Up segment. The official listener’s favorite part of the show! The part of the show when we present the animal’s size and dimension in relatable terms through a […]

“And today we’re talking about the fastest animal alive. But more on that later.” Speed is a key stat in the animal kingdom… the peregrine falcon, the cheetah, and the sailfish all have their speed superlatives… but one bug doesn’t need to be the fastest flyer, sprinter, or swimmer… he just needs to be fastest […]

“…and today we’re talking about the stolen valor of the insect world. But more on that later.” Many plants rely on animals known as pollinators in order to reproduce and everyone likes pollinators—in part because plants are pretty great but also due to the fact that bees and butterflies have some pretty great PR. However, […]

“And today we’re talking about a sphinx with a fascinating riddle. But more on that later.” What happens to the very hungry caterpillar in the last pages of the book? “He stayed inside for more than two weeks,” it says… but did he really stay? Did he remain? Everyone learns about metamorphosis in school, but […]

“…and today we’re talking about a sea rug that expresses deep sorrow and wretchedness, but more on that later.” The 70s and your average coral reef have one thing in common: shag carpets are a bad idea. In either case, you need to watch where you step, because you never know what lurks underneath. The […]

“…today we’re talking about a toothy torpedo. But more on that later.” The leopard seal is a terrifying arctic predator. With a mouth full of teeth and a long jaw built for coming, it looks as much like a dinosaur as it does a sea mammal. Despite its efficiency as a fighter, it’s also something […]

“…and today we’re talking about a bird that knows your schedule. But not really.” The combination of a velociraptor and an HR manager somehow produced a pretty elegant bird with a mean left hook. The secretary bird struts across the African savanna with confidence that is definitely well-earned. Long-legged, laser-focused, and lighting-fast, this feathered fighter […]

“…and today we’re talking about a creature that can walk forward and why that’s interesting. But more on that later.” Two cohorts meet on a beach, marching forward to meet one another head on… both flying the same blue colors. There’s no reason to fight, in fact, they are much stronger together… the soldier crabs […]

“…and today we’re talking about a blistering bug in the blistering heat of summer. More on that later.” Some creatures kick in your front door. Others pick the lock, raid the fridge, and somehow convince you to thank them for stopping by. The European blister beetle belongs squarely in that second category. It’s a glossy […]

“…and today we’re talking about a tiny brain with big thoughts. But more on that later.” The regal jumping spider has those signature big round eyes that make this arthropod kind of cute… but if you watch them long enough, you might see that there’s thoughts behind those black pearls. Jumping spiders have tiny brains, […]

“… and today we’re talking about a demolition ant. But more on that later.” Out in the desert lives a tiny tan troublemaker that treats civil engineering like psychological warfare. These little insects spend their days bustling about deserts and grasslands looking for what seems like harmless debris. But beneath that innocent exterior is a […]

“…and today we’re talking about a bug that sounds like a power tool… but more on that later.” Early on a Saturday morning is no time to start hearing machinery going in the neighborhood… but what if you hear that same sound in Australia’s open heath habitats and woodlands? Did someone put gravel in their […]

“…and today we’re talking about a sophisticated chemist. But more on that later.” In moonlit meadows and forest edges, there lurks a patient puppeteer. While most predators settle for catching dinner, a sort of “earn it and burn it” approach, the East Asian orb-weaver seems oddly interested in what its victims do after they’re caught, […]

“…and today we’re talking about a bumbling beetle, but more on that later.” A bee is a brilliant bug… essential to the natural order. Plants propagate with the help of these fuzzy friends… not just wild flowers, but all the plants we need to survive in a healthy ecosystem. But what happens when a beetle […]

“…and today we’re talking about a fuzzy little creep. But more on that later.” Out in the rocky woodland alleys of East Africa lurks a rodent that ain’t nothin but a heartache. The African crested rat waddles around in a spikey stripey overcoat like a tiny hedge skunk with a toxic secret. Unlike its murine […]