Podcast: Life, Death, and Taxonomy

“…and today we’re talking about an invading hoard that isn’t even supposed to be here. But more on that later.”

If you didn’t already, you should know that there are millions of ants living under your feet. With an estimated 20 quadrillion of these little guys on the planet, you’re never very far away from a teeming colony of coordinated insects. This is mostly thanks to the Argentine Ant, which has found a way to span the globe using peace, harmony, and aggressive imperialist and scorched earth policies. But sometimes it’s not enough to survive, you need to win here in Life, Death, and Taxonomy.

“…and today we are talking about a tiny slimy father. But more on that later.”

Doting fatherhood is often a rarity in the animal kingdom. For most species, the lack of the maternal physical connection between fathers and offspring means that dads are relegated to nest protectors or they simply move on. But the red-backed poison dart frog is different. When his children are in need of resources, a brilliant color is not the only thing that can be found on his back. But carrying the future on your shoulders is sometimes the true test of manhood, in Life, Death, and Taxonomy.