Podcast: Life, Death, and Taxonomy

“…and today we’re talking about an assertive insertive fish in the sea. But more on that later.”

The ocean is full of situations where animals work together toward a common goal. Whether it’s finding food, fighting off predators, or setting up a place to live, it’s important to pick your underwater teammate carefully. However, while its sea cucumber partner is—less than willing to participate, the persuasive pearlfish worms its way into the heart of its new best friend whenever danger rears its ugly pinhead. But sometimes, being a prairie doggin’ pearlfish is the way to survive here in Life, Death, and Taxonomy.

“…and today we’re talking about a boss that puts the team on his back. But more on that later.”

In everyday life, it’s often necessary to wear many different hats. You’re a student, an employee, a parent, and more. In nature, it’s no different. While it’s rare for animals to wear actual hats, the sponge crab takes on the roles of bus, master of disguise, and true, bonafide hat wearer. Of course, that’s just undersea fashion in Life, Death, and Taxonomy.

“…and today we’re talking about an arboreal ignoramus. But more on that later.”

Way out in the land down under, a famous little gray puff gremlin spends its days as a literal tree-hugger. Like its equally famous black and white counterpart in China, the Panda, the Koala is a threatened cutie that eats terribly, sleeps a lot, and gives its kids a good ol’ fashioned fecal smoothie in order to not die from the poison it eats every day. But as we often tell our kids, sometimes you gotta find a way to eat your leafy greens here in Life, Death, and Taxonomy..

“…and today we’re talking about a tiny barrel in the sea. But more on that later.”

Humans, like many animals, go through a familiar generational cycle. Your parents made you and their parents made them. But when you look closer, so close you can see the tiny things floating in the sea, things start to get much more complicated. What if your parents were sort of your siblings, and your grandma was your car? That’s what would happen if you were doliolida drifting through Life, Death, and Taxonomy.

“…and today we’re talking about an ice cold krill killer. But more on that later.”

The trend of swimming in cold water for health benefits is doggy paddling its way into the public zeitgeist. But what if you absolutely had to live in freezing waters in order to survive? The crocodile icefish lives up to its name by living down in the depths of the Antarctic Southern Ocean. But how does a cold blooded fish not turn into a popsicle at such extreme temperatures? Well, it’s all in their blood and sometimes you just need a lot of it to survive here in Life, Death, and Taxonomy.

“And today we’re talking about a reptile that’s coming in our state trying to take our rabbits! But more on that later…”

A “fish out of water” is someone who feels out of place because their surroundings are not suitable for their designed purpose. The Burmese python is out of place in Florida, but, unfortunately, it’s perfectly comfortable. Sometimes, an animal thrives in an environment that groans under the weight of its presence. But flourishing where you don’t belong is a great way to upset the balance of Life, Death, and Taxonomy. 

“…and today we’re talking about the most popular villain of nursery rhymes. But more on that later.”

Pack leader. Top dog. Dominant male. Head honcho. Alpha male. It’s a common misconception that wolves fight for dominance within their packs to see who becomes and stays the alpha wolf. But that doesn’t mean packs don’t have a leader, it’s just a lot simpler and less violent than you might think. Plus, it helps to get a secret boost from a microscopic friend to get the gumption you need to become top dog here in Life, Death, and Taxonomy.

“…and today we are talking about an animal whose mind commands the body to roll and it obeys. But more on that later.”

Members of the animal kingdom know that survival is the ability to swim in strange water–and sometimes that water is sand. Sand is coarse and rough and gets everywhere, but many animals, like the cartwheel spider, call it home. But what are they supposed to do when the fickle shifting of sand cuts off their best escape route? They can fight or they can flee but sometimes leaving is more like falling with style in Life, Death, and Taxonomy. 

“…and today we’re talking about spicy calamari, but not really. More on that later.”

When you’re a teeny tiny cerulean cephalopod in a big bad cephalopod’s world, you need to have some tricks up all eight of your sleeves. The blue-ringed octopus’s diminutive form hides a deadly secret to deter predators that may want to snack on some calamari. But that’s what happens when you have a good head on all eight of your shoulders here in Life, Death, and Taxonomy.

“…and today we’re talking about something with a name that sounds like it could be a fish, bird, or flower. But more on that later…”

Butterflies are truly one of God’s gifts of nature. A creature that sports brilliant colors, flutters around gracefully, and dines only on the nectar provided by beautiful flowers. But there’s one butterfly that has more provocative tastes in cuisine. The Purple Emperor isn’t as devoted to its sweet tooth as its kin. With utter irony, the stink of death attracts a sheet of the insect’s indigo wings to descend. But the juxtaposition of beauty and decay is common in Life, Death, and Taxonomy.