Sheltopusik

FromSpecies

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Sheltopusik

FromSpecies

ratings:

Length:

17 minutes

Released:

Aug 26, 2018

Format:

Podcast episode

Description

Why don't snakes have legs? What is the difference between a snake and a legless lizard? Is Indiana Jones a fraud? Find out on this strange, slithering Species special that is not about snakes.

Released:

Aug 26, 2018

Format:

Podcast episode

Titles in the series (100)

Pick an animal.

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Flying Snake: How do snakes slither? How do they climb trees? Heck, how do they "fly"?! Become an expert on the paradise flying snake, and learn all about the physics of snake movement (on the ground, up trees, and through the air!) on this episode of Species.... by Species
22 min listen
Kakapo: The only flightless parrot, one of the only nocturnal parrots, the heaviest parrot we know and perhaps the longest-living bird on earth... the kakapo! Come learn all about this wonderful animal, and get all your questions answered: What is a lek? Why... by Species
24 min listen
Beaver: Did silk hats save beavers from extinction? Which is longer, the Hoover Dam, or the biggest beaver dam ever? Are humans naturally monogamous? Learn all about the North American beaver on this episode of Species. Bibliography: by Species
33 min listen
Coconut Crab: Can coconut crabs swim? Is my cat safe from coconut crabs? What happened to Amelia Earhart? Macken answers all and more on this episode of Species. He also spoils the ending of "King Kong," so watch out for that. Bibliography: by Species
15 min listen
Opossum: Why do opossums get hit by cars? How did the opossum, a marsupial, end up in America? Did an opossum really meet the King and Queen of Spain? Macken answers all and more on this episode of Species. Bibliography: by Species
18 min listen
Dung Beetle: Why do dung beetles build dung balls? Do dung beetles dance? How do polarized sunglasses work? Why did entomologists dress up dung beetles in cardboard hats and tiny mittens? Learn all about the sacred scarab on this episode of Species. Bibliography: by Species
24 min listen
Sunfish: Why do sunfish sunbathe? Will a sunfish squash my child? Can I use a dead sunfish to pay my taxes? Is that a baby whale? Come learn about the egg-laying champion on this episode of Species. Bibliography: Addendum: Some Japanese biologists... by Species
19 min listen
Bonus: Why do domesticated animals have floppy ears?: 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 snouts too! Why are these traits common to domesticated mammals? How can it possibly be a coincidence,... by Species
9 min listen
Budgerigar: Which animal is the pound for pound language champion? What is so special about bird brains? Can a budgie lead me to food? Macken answers all and more on this episode of Species. Bibliography: by Species
19 min listen
Greenland Shark: Can a Greenland shark live for 500 years? Do Greenland sharks hunt for moose? Why did a Danish physicist need shark eyes? Macken answers all and more on this episode of Species. Bibliography: by Species
18 min listen
Giant Panda: How come giant pandas don't eat meat like other bears? Why are they black and white? Do pandas have 6 fingers? Macken answers all and more on this episode of Species. Bibliography: by Species
21 min listen
Great Blue Heron: Who would win, a great blue heron or a golden eagle? Have chimpanzees invented spears? Are great blue herons mute? Learn the answers to all these questions and more! Learn everything about this fantastic bird on this episode of Species.... by Species
27 min listen
Cowbird: Why do we call them "cowbirds," and why are they nicknamed "mafia birds"? Does the mafia still exist? Are cowbirds running an extortion racket in my backyard? Macken answers all on this episode of Species. Bibliography: by Species
16 min listen
Japanese Giant Salamander: Who would win, a samurai, or a giant salamander? Is it true that they breathe through their skin? Can the Japanese giant salamander survive getting cut in half? Do they make good dads? Come learn everything about this massive creature on this episode... by Species
22 min listen
Amazon Molly: The Amazon molly is an entirely female species of fish. So how do they reproduce? Why haven't they gone extinct, like biologists once predicted? Is the Greek legend of the Amazons real? Macken answers all on this episode of Species. Bibliography: by Species
19 min listen
Mary River Turtle: Can these turtles breathe through their butts? Do they shop at Hot Topic? How did people sell these turtles as pets before they were even discovered as a species? Why do these turtles wear mohawks? Is the New York Times fake news? Come find out about... by Species
17 min listen
Tasmanian Devil: Why are they called devils? Do they have the strongest bite on earth? Can they eat people? Will the Tasmanian devil save humanity? Find out on this episode of Species. Bibliography: by Species
22 min listen
Bonus: Parachuting beavers, smart sparrows, and Pikachu.: In this episode Macken tells a true story about beavers parachuting into Idaho, then he tells another about house sparrows opening doors. To wrap things up, he reveals the origin of Pikachu's name. It's a short, busy, entertaining show that packs in a... by Species
12 min listen
Poison Dart Frog: How many people can 1 gram of poison from a golden poison frog kill? Are they really used in darts, or is that just a myth? Is a poison dart frog a safer pet than my dog? Find out on this episode of Species. Bibliography: by Species
17 min listen
American Pika: Why do we find some animals so adorable? What is the science behind cuteness? Do pikas have accents? If the American pika dies at room temperature, how the heck are they adapting to global warming? Come learn all about the animal who is somehow... by Species
18 min listen
Peacock Mantis Shrimp: They throw punches fast enough to vaporize water, and create deadly underwater implosions. Their eyes are the most advanced on earth: They can see more colors than we can imagine, and their eyes may be powerful enough to see cancer. This creature is... by Species
24 min listen
Jumping Spider: This animal forces us to ponder the nature of intelligence itself. They are running incredibly complex software on unbelievably small hardware: Their brain could fit on the head of a pin, and yet their sensory processing and strategizing abilities... by Species
27 min listen
Sheltopusik: Why don't snakes have legs? What is the difference between a snake and a legless lizard? Is Indiana Jones a fraud? Find out on this strange, slithering Species special that is not about snakes. by Species
17 min listen
Bonus: Did St. Patrick banish the snakes from Ireland?: Snakes live almost everywhere, so why aren't there any snakes in Ireland? Legend has it that St. Patrick got rid of them! Celebrate this St. Patrick's day with knowledge. Did this primate banish the snakes from Ireland? Find out on this bonus episode... by Species
8 min listen
Archerfish: Today we are going to talk about an animal who defies the stereotypes: A smart fish! Are jocks smarter than nerds? Does my goldfish recognize me? Why do archerfish spit at scientists? Today we are going to talk about the amazing sevenspot archerfish.... by Species
17 min listen
Amami Hoshizora Pufferfish: Torquigener albomaculosus. This amazing species makes incredible underwater art, out of sand! It was a mystery for a long time, nobody knew who was making these weird pop-up underwater crop-circle things, and then we finally discovered that a... by Species
17 min listen
Vampire Bat: 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 attack? Learn an absurd amount of facts about vampire bats so you have a conversation piece on Halloween.... by Species
21 min listen
Vaquita: 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. Species does not cover extinct animals, and this animal is on the brink. Find out all about the $20,000... by Species
18 min listen
Chinese Mantis: This praying mantis hunts hummingbirds. Seriously. Find out why female mantises eat male mantises, discover the world of praying mantis kung fu, and ruin your day by learning all about the horrifying lifestyle of the Chinese mantis on this episode of... by Species
17 min listen
Mudpuppy: 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 out all about paedomorphism and neoteny. Enjoy learning about the fascinating life and life cycle of... by Species
14 min listen

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Sheltopusik

Sheltopusik

Description

Titles in the series (100)

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