Podcast: Life, Death, and Taxonomy

“…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.