Life, Death, and Taxonomy

“And today we are talking about an animal that David Attenborough once called ‘the most wonderful looking fox’ and also ‘bizzare with a curious body shape.’ I guess a fox can be two things but more on that later…”

The Ethiopian highlands are often called the roof of Africa, but The Tibetan Plateau is called the roof of the world. The land here is tens of thousands of feet above sea level and it’s surrounded by some of the tallest mountains on the planet. Living and surviving in a place that regularly drops to -40 degrees Fahrenheit can be a challenge to the animals that live here. One unique mammal has found a way to team up with unsuspecting allies. Sometimes, a reluctant and one-sided partnership, is the best way a cunning fox can secure a meal in Life, Death, and Taxonomy.

“And to day we’re talking about a guilty little monkey. But more on that later!”

The rules of engagement vary widely in the animal kingdom, especially when it comes to romance. But whether a species has multiple mates, or just one, at least there are rules. The Gelada Monkey may seem like a tasty Italian treat, but in reality, it hides a dark secret. Going against their own instincts, two star-crossed lovers will actively deceive their fellow monkey in order to rendezvous in secret. But infidelity never goes unpunished here in Life, Death, and Taxonomy.

“Today we are talking about a tiny mammal with a big appetite. But more on that later.”

Intro

Being tiny is difficult for a lot of reasons. It can make you easy prey for a variety of larger predators. And it can limit your own food sources to plants and even smaller animals. But being small is especially difficult for warm blooded creatures. Because of biology and physics, a small mammalian body works overtime to keep warm even in the hottest climates. For the world’s smallest mammal, it takes a lot of coal to keep their engines going. But a voracious appetite and the skills to maintain it are just what this tiny beast needs in Life, Death, and Taxonomy.

“…and today, we’re talking about a frog whose fashion actually has a fantastic function, but more on that later.”

Intro music: Jorge Mendez

Outro music: Morning Light Music

…and today, we’re talking about a strong, independent woman who is literally a homemaker.”

“…and today, we’re talking about a big, plush tree rodent with a bold fashion sense, but more on that later.”

“…and today, we’re talking about the desert ships that opened up the trans-Saharan trade routes. But more on that later.“

“…and today we’re talking about a burrowing bee whose beef is between brothers, but more on that later…”

“…and today we are talking about a ugly little baker that makes the kind of cookies only a predatory fish would love. But more on that later.”

During the Cold War, the U.S. Navy’s fleet of nuclear submarines seemed invincible. A highly-mobile underwater tank with the capability of destroying entire cities, this death star of the deep had one fatal weakness. A small squadron of rebel sharks posed the greatest threat to U.S. security. But how did a tiny fish do so much damage? This fresh batch of treats flips the tables and takes a bite out of war crime here in Life Death and Taxonomy.

And today we’re talking about an oceanic equine with strong paternal instincts and a unique dad bod, but more on that later.