Life, Death, and Taxonomy

“…and today we’re talking about how when a red belly rises it means blood has been spilled this night. But more on that later.”

Description of the Red-Bellied Piranha

The red-bellied piranha is a small to medium-sized fish, well-known for its striking appearance and infamous reputation. Here’s a more detailed description:

• Color: Their most distinctive feature is their red belly, which is more pronounced in males and during the breeding season. The rest of their body is usually gray to silvery, with some speckling.
• Shape: They have a rounded, laterally compressed body, giving them a somewhat disc-like appearance when viewed from the side.
• Fins: Their fins are generally clear or slightly reddish, with a prominent adipose fin between the dorsal fin and the tail.
• Teeth: They have sharp, triangular teeth designed for tearing flesh, which contributes to their fearsome reputation.
• Eyes: Red-bellied piranhas have large, slightly bulging eyes that give them excellent vision, vital for detecting prey and predators.

Measure Up

Welcome to the beloved Measure Up segment. A part of the show! The part of the show when we present the animal’s size and dimension in relatable terms through a quiz that’s fun for the whole family. It’s also the part of the show that’s introduced by you when you send in audio of yourself saying, singing, or chittering the words Measure Up into ldtaxonomy at gmail dot com. We don’t have a new Measure Up intro! 

Length

6-10 inches (15-25 cm)

1. 5 go into Michael Jordan’s vertical leap
2. 3 go into the Stratocaster Michael Jackson played on the album “HIStory”
3. 1,575 go into Michael Johnson’s record setting event in 1999.

Weight

3.9 kg (8 lb 10 oz)

1. 39,000 peas
2. 9,800 green beans
3. 18 zucchini

Fast Facts About the Red-Bellied Piranha

Diet: Despite their fearsome reputation, red-bellied piranhas are primarily scavengers. They eat a variety of food, including fish, insects, crustaceans, and plant matter.

Social Behavior: Red-bellied piranhas are schooling fish and often travel in groups. This behavior helps them protect against predators and increases their efficiency in finding food.

Habitat: They are native to the freshwater rivers and lakes of South America, including the Amazon Basin.

Communication: Red-bellied piranhas communicate using a variety of sounds, including barks, grunts, and clicks. These sounds can indicate aggression, stress, or other social interactions.

Reproduction: During breeding, males develop a more intense red coloration. They build nests in the substrate where females lay their eggs. Both parents guard the eggs until they hatch.

Lifespan: In the wild, red-bellied piranhas can live for about 10 years, while in captivity, they can live even longer with proper care.

“…and today we’re talking about a pumpkin spiced tic tac toad. But more on that later.”

If attacking you would be automatically deadly to your enemies, you might lead a charmed life–free from worry. Such an easy going atmosphere might make you grow complacent. Things that were once important to survival become optional. And why bother when you’re a tiny, clumsy, and brightly colored frog like the pumpkin toadlet. But when you’ve found something that works, you might as well take it easy for the rest of your Life, Death, and Taxonomy. 

“…and today we’re talking about another disgusting deep sea creature. But more on that later.”

Deep in the dark recesses of the ocean, where the sun’s rays are only a memory, lurks a creature with an interesting talent. It’s a fish with a flash, a beast with a beacon, a predator with a peculiar penchant for pearlescence. While most of its neighbors blend seamlessly into the ink-black backdrop, this one lights up the scene—though not in a way you’d expect. It’s a little dangerous, a little dazzling, but unmistakably unique in Life, Death, and Taxonomy.

“…and today we’re talking about a little ocean hopping spy. But more on that later.”

A dolphin dipping in deep abyss must allow the sun to have its kiss

When scouting schools of succulent fish a trick ensures they will not miss.

What vantage a high place can be! What new things can you see?

A spy can spit at the fates of the sea on Life, Death and Taxonomy

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“…and today we’re talking about something you might have felt bad about stepping on before.”

Did you know there is a vast jungle just outside your door? Though, vastness is relative to size of course. A garden is a big place for a mollusk that’s less than two inches long. The garden snail is a familiar friend that lives in an alien world within the shrubs and flowers. A land snail is no fish out of water. With a unique way to find and preserve moisture, they’re well equipped for Life, Death, and Taxonomy.

“…and today we’re talking about a bug with a very funny name. But more on that now.”

In the dead of night, amidst the hum of crickets and the flutter of wings, there’s one creature that buzzes around like a stealthy, flying ninja with a twist. It glides from flower to flower like a hummingbird on caffeine, its wings an iridescent blur. But the Yam Hawkmoth isn’t just another garden-variety moth—no, this one has a unique defense mechanism tucked away in an…ahem…unconventional spot. So, if you think all moths are just dusty butterflies, think again. There’s more to this little guy than meets the eye here in Life, Death, and Taxonomy.

“…and today we’re talking about a certain cervus. But more on that later.”

When you’re born into a prey animal species, it’s important to get up and running as soon as possible. But elk calves need a little time to unwind before they start bounding through the meadows. What can they do to avoid predators before they can keep up with the herd? Hide. But going incognito means being undetectable by sight, sound, and smell. Being imperceptible is a great way to start in Life, Death, and Taxonomy. 

“…and today we’re talking about a puffy stabber. But more on that later.”

The pufferfish has the incredible ability to inflate itself up like a balloon as a defense mechanism. But the interesting thing about this creature is that that’s not the only thing interesting about it. If you’re a fish, the easiest thing to catch are the slow moving citizens of the sea, but they usually have armor. The pufferfish knows the only way around that challenge is through in Life, Death, and Taxonomy. 

“…and today we’re talking about a forest pig that can clear the hacienda after every meal. But more on that later.”

When you’re a small pork family in the forest, staying together is the key to a happy life. But it’s easy to get separated among the thick foliage and tall trees. How can you see each other with all the shrubs and bushes in the way? How can you hear each other with the wind rustling through the leaves? No, it’s best to smell your way back to hearth and home. The javelina just just that, and they’ve developed a stinky fingerprint to tell each other apart in Life, Death, and Taxonomy.