Tag: conservation

41: Blue Tongue Skinks (Tiliqua Scincoides Intermedia)

41: Blue Tongue Skinks (Tiliqua Scincoides Intermedia)

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So we went to the San Jose Reptile Show and Cassie realized we had NEVER done an episode on Blue Tongue Skinks? How? How did we get 41 episodes into this podcast and never touch on one of our FAVORITE reptiles? This episode we remedy that and give you a quick peak into the world of the chillest, chonkiest of lizards. Though they may seem snake-like to the average onlooker, Blue Tongue Skinks are definitely lizards. Take that taxonomy!

Sources:

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40: Hagfish

40: Hagfish

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Episode 40! Can you believe it? We sure can’t! This episode we’re discussing a….fish???? Maybe, maybe not. You’ll have to listen to find out. We picked this critter thanks to a suggestion from our friends at the Fish Nerds Podcast. And boy are we so glad that they suggested it! This weird and wacky critter is right in the wheelhouse of things we like to talk about. We battle with our old nemesis taxonomy as we try to figure out if hagfish (with their lack of vertebral columns) are actually fish at all.

We also feature a promo from our friends at the STEM Fatale Podcast, so be sure to check them out if you love science and especially ladies in science!

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39: Guinea Pigs (Cavies)

39: Guinea Pigs (Cavies)

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Episode 39 is live! Sorry for the short delay in getting this episode out, but we promise it’s worth it!! This episode we’re talking about adorable little rodents known as Guinea Pigs. Their name is a complete and total misnomer, since they’re not from Guinea and they’re definitely not related to pigs at all. But they ARE absolutely adorable little superheroes, in many ways. Some of our facts are gross, some a little sad, but all of them are wacky, weird, and wonderful!

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38: Horseshoe Crabs

38: Horseshoe Crabs

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It’s Episode 38! It’s here! We made a mistake in recording and mistakenly thought we were at Episode 39 already…but this episode is actually Episode 38. Now that we’ve got THAT figured out, it’s time to talk about horseshoe crabs! You may find it fascinating to know that these strange and pre-historic critters are not actually crabs at all. To find out what they’re more closely related to, and even more interesting facts tune in to this episode!

Sources:

  • http://www.edc.uri.edu/restoration/html/gallery/invert/shoe.htm
  • https://www.stlzoo.org/visit/thingstoseeanddo/stingraysatcaribbeancove/horseshoecrabfacts
  • https://www.britannica.com/animal/horseshoe-crab
  • https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Invertebrates/Horseshoe-Crab
  • https://myfwc.com/research/saltwater/crustaceans/horseshoe-crabs/facts/
  • https://bigthink.com/surprising-science/horseshoe-crab-blue-blood
  • https://marinebio.org/species/horseshoe-crabs/limulus-polyphemus/
  • https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red_Knot/lifehistory
  • https://www.fws.gov/news/blog/index.cfm/2016/11/30/Modeling-a-Future-for-Horseshoe-Crabs-and-Red-Knots

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37: Meerkats

37: Meerkats

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In this episode of CritterCast, we’re dishing the scoop on the cutest and most murderous (?!?!) of small mammals…the meerkat! Though these furry friends are not part of the feline family, they’re as cute as kittens. Of course we discuss the ever-popular Animal Planet TV Show “Meerkat Manor” as well as all the facts (fun or otherwise) that make meerkats so freaking cool. Excuse our technical difficulties as we figure out how to conduct phone interviews in order to be able to record when we’re not in the same place as someone else. We think it went pretty well!

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36: Arapaimas

36: Arapaimas

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Welcome back to CritterCast for Episode 36. If you’ve never heard of an Arapaima chances are you don’t watch Animal Planet or Discovery Channel because this mysterious fish is the only fish to ever elude host Jeremy Wade on River Monsters. Cassie was inspired to teach us all about this massively large and massively impressive fish because she thinks that giant fish are ultra cool, and after listening to Episode 36 we think you might agree! Give it a chance and let us know what you find most fascinating about Arapaimas!

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35: Turkey Vultures

35: Turkey Vultures

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We’re back for episode 35 and it’s time to take it back to the skies! What critter spends most of their life putting in minimum effort? Turkey Vultures, that’s who. In this episode we discuss why Turkey Vultures are the laziest, most relatable birds. Did you know they have the most disgusting but surprisingly effective defense mechanism? You will after you listen to this 1 hour long fact-stravaganza!

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34: Ball Pythons

34: Ball Pythons

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It’s Episode 34 and this time we’re slithering back to snakes, one of our favorite types of critter to talk about. We’re freshly back from the NorCal Reptile Expo and we’ve been bit the Ball Python bug! These gorgeous and docile snakes are arguably the most popular pet snake in the U.S. and we can definitely see why. In this episode we discuss just why they’re so great and also give a little recap of our time at the expo. Tune in!

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33: Tobacco Hornworms

33: Tobacco Hornworms

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What’s green, squishy, and capable of taking down predators with toxic halitosis? Tobacco Hornworms, that’s who! These fascinating caterpillars are commonly used as model organisms and delicious snacks for captive reptiles. But why are their booties so active and what do they pupate into? Find out in Episode 33 of CritterCast with Cassie and Koreena featuring our brand new theme song!

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32: Manatees

32: Manatees

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Did you know that Manatees, unlike other marine mammals, don’t have blowholes? Or did you know that manatees aren’t freshwater OR saltwater animals? Listen to episode 32, all about the seacows, and you will be able to spread all the manatee knowledge. This week we chat about Koreena’s childhood manatee, Cassie’s continued inability to pronounce latin words, and Koreena’s strange obsession with Veggie Tales.

Sources:

  • https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/sea-cows-used-to-walk-on-land-in-africa-and-jamaica-2742073/
  • https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/phenomena/2013/01/16/sea-cow/
  • https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/14-fun-facts-about-manatees-180950308/
  • https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/group/manatees/https://
  • www.livescience.com/27405-manatees.html
  • http://mentalfloss.com/article/61457/12-things-you-might-not-have-known-about-manatees

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