Better Than Human

This week’s episode is all about the Moose. But why is the plural not Meese?  Really, someone, please explain it to us. The moose (what we call it in North America) or elk (what they call it everywhere else) are the largest member of the deer family, and a bull’s antlers can be up to seven feet long. 

But first: 

Better Than Human stands with the Asian Community, condemning any violence against Asians and Asian Americans. Racism and bigotry have no place in this world. #StopAsianHate

Then guess who’s sadly back in town? It’s Murder Hornets…. Yes, they never went away, but it’s spring, the Queens waking up, getting ready to leave the mother hive and start their own nest and we must stop their spread in North America. If you live on the west coast and see one, please report it at https://agr.wa.gov/hornets

Moose are cold-adapted mammals with thickened skin, and heat-retaining coats. Moose can be found mostly in Canada, the Northern States in the US, and Russia. Since the 1990s, moose populations have been declining in much of temperate North America, but they remain stable in Arctic and subarctic regions, this is most likely due to the results of climate change. Moose are generally slow and mild tempered, but can become aggressive, and move quickly if angered or startled. Like any wild animal, just leave them be. 

Listen now to learn about the Moose, not Meese, the giant mammals of Northern World. 

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Venom is a toxic (sometimes deadly) substance produced by some animals, and this week Amber and Jen parley on some of the world’s most venomous creatures. Now, if you look at the stats, venomous creatures kill less humans a year than non-venomous creatures, but who wants to learn about a mosquito when you can learn about an animal with enough venom to kill 100 grown men? 

To start Anti-vaxxers (anti-vaccine people) must be some of the dumbest people on the planet. Their failure to use basic logic is akin to punching yourself in the face and then wondering why your face hurts. Jen and Amber can’t even, so let’s talk about venomous creatures! 

Amber starts the episode with the Black Mamba, a not-actually-black snake, that have heads’ the shape of coffins, because if you’re bitten by one, you’re likely to end up in a coffin.

Jennifer discusses the Inland Taipan, the venom of which is by far the most toxic of any snake 

Both sisters talk Box Jellyfish. Amber talks Irukandji jellyfish, a tiny, but deadly, jellyfish. Jen talks the Sea Wasp, a jellyfish with tentacles up to 3 m (10 ft) long covered in darts with extremely powerful venom. The ocean is terrifying. 

Then keeping with the Australia theme, we do the Sydney funnel-web spider, whose poison can kill you, and guess what, they like to bite over and over. Sometime, they even hide in your shoes!

Listen know to learn about some of the world’s most venomous creatures. 

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The ivory-billed woodpecker (Campephilus principalis) is a most likely extinct woodpecker native to the forests of the Southeastern United States and Cuba. We say most likely because sporadic reports of sightings of the ivory-billed woodpecker have continued into the 21st century. Some call this bird the Holy Grail of all bird. Why? Probably because finding either nowadays is a myth. 

First some good news, Happy Belated International Women’s day! Jennifer and Amber tell everyone their favorite female scientist. Hint: Amber’s went into space and Jennifer’s got no credit for helping for discovering the meaning of life. 

Habitat destruction and hunting have ravaged populations of the ivory-billed woodpecker so that the species is listed as critically endangered by some groups, and as "definitely or probably extinct" by others. The last universally accepted sighting of an American ivory-billed woodpecker occurred in Louisiana in 1944, and the last universally accepted sighting of a Cuban ivory-billed woodpecker occurred in 1987. 

No attempts to study the ivory-billed woodpecker were done until the population had been severely reduced by deforestation and hunting. Humans probably could have saved this species in the 1930s, but the Singer Sewing Company and Chicago Mill and Lumber Company  destroyed its last known habitats in America.

Listen now to learn about the bird that humans could have saved if we weren’t the worst. 

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This week Amber and Jennifer travel to Southern Australia to learn about the Leafy Seadragon (Phycodurus eques), also known as Glauert's seadragon or just Leafies. We didn’t literally travel there, you know cause there’s a pandemic going on, and Australia is really far away from us…  The Leafy Seadragon is a  marine fish much like the more well known Seahorse, and it derives it’s name from the mythical dragon.  

First, Potato head is a potato, and a plastic potato does not need to have a gender. So people, stop freaking out. Also, cancel culture has been used by both conservatives and liberals, so stop pretending that only one side is doing it.

The leafy seadragon has appendages that give it the appearance of seaweed, providing the creature with the perfect camouflage. When swimming or just floating through the ocean, they appearing to move through the water like a piece of floating seaweed. Leafy seadragons are bad swimmers and need their camouflage to avoid predation. Like seahorses, the male leafy seadragon cares for the eggs. Leafy seadragons have lots of threats, both natural and man-made, and will not reproduce in captivity. 

Listen now to learn why Leafy Seadragons are better than human, and why they need to be conserved and protected. 

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Sundews (Drosera) are a family of carnivorous plants of which Charles Darwin once said, “I care more about (Drosera) than the origin of all the species in the world." Amber does not think we should trust this small plant for good reason. Drosera lures in its prey using a sweet sticky substance to capture and digest insects, and though just a plant, their movements are precise and deadly.

Sundews have been known to live up to 50 years and grow on all continents except Antarctica. Sundews generally grow in moist habitats with acidic soils and high sunlight levels. Many species grow in association with peat moss, which absorbs most of the nutrients in the soil.

Listen now to learn more about this fascinating plate that Darwin loved and that would eat you if it could only grow large enough. 

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Pangolins, sometimes called scaly anteaters, (though they’re not closely related to anteaters), are the only mammals with their own body armor. There is a good chance you’ve never heard of this animal even though it is, sadly, the most trafficked animal in the world.

First, Jennifer and Amber talk about cloning endangered animals. Is it a good idea? Cloning can be used to introduce new genes into a population, which is great, but will it lead to lax conservation or the introduction of animals that went extinct years ago, like the woolly mammoth?

This week’s topic, pangolins, comes from the Malay word pengguling, meaning "one who rolls up", because they literally roll up into a heavily armored ball when threatened. Their armor is so strong they’ve been known to survive being hit by cars.

Pangolins are threatened by poaching (for their meat and scales), which are used in Chinese traditional medicine, and because of heavy deforestation of their natural habitats. As of January 2020, all eight species of pangolin have a conservation status listed as threatened, and some critically endangered. 

New research has shown that maybe we got COVID-19 from pangolins, who got it from something that got it from bats. But if that is the case, (which we don’t know for sure), it would still be human’s fault for trafficking these adorable Pokémon like creatures. 

Listen now to learn about pangolins and why they’re Better Than Human

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Glass Frogs are lime green amphibians with see-through skin.  Not kidding, you can literally see their internal organs, including the heart, liver, and gastrointestinal tract, without cutting them open. 

But why have glass frogs evolved to have see through skin? It wasn't a form of known form of camouflage, and at first, did not seem to offer any advantages. However, recent research may have discovered the reason why these frogs have evolved to have such a unique feature. New research may also suggest that glass frogs might actually make good parents, too. 

Listen now to learn about this fascinating family of frogs. 

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The bog turtle is a critically endangered species of semiaquatic turtle, and it is the smallest turtle of North America. The species is endemic to isolated areas in the eastern United States.

But first, Amber didn't think a bog turtle was an animal because she didn't understand the definition of what an animal is.  So again, Jennifer must explain that animals are all living organisms with nervous systems. Chemists, am I right?

For todays episode, we’re channeling TMNT.  Amber is Raphael and Jennifer is Michelangelo, so let's cowabunga. The Bog Turtle is similar in appearance to the painted or spotted turtles, however its closest living relative is the wood turtle. Bog turtles live in colonies that often consist of fewer than 20 individuals, and their habitat must be wetlands that consist of both wet and dry regions. Since these types of areas are hard to find in the US these days, Bog Turtles are limited to a small number or areas leading to their critically endangered status. 

Bog Turtles are protected under the United States Federal Endangered Species Act, but the rebounding of bog turtle colonies depends entirely on private intervention.  Conservationists are often hindered by poachers, who can destroy a whole colony by taking just one mature female. (Poachers are fucking assholes, and we hate them). So, don’t fucking buy a Bog Turtle, and if you see someone poaching, report them. 

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Beaked Whales are an elusive species that we know very little about. In fact, they are so mysterious that scientists might have just discovered a new species of Beak Whales in 2019.

First, let's talk about how humans are the worst. SNL said it best with their cold open starring Kate Mckinnon seeing if anything still 'works' in America. Long story short, America is broken, we can’t have nice thing anymore, and maybe vote instead of committing treason. 

Beaked whales are cetaceans that are are largely unknown marine mammal. This is due to their deep-sea habitats, small populations, and general shyness. Beaked whales are moderate in size, especially when compared to Blue Whales, and are most known for their deep-sea diving. They regularly dive deeper than 500 m (1,600 ft) and use echolocation to search for food. They have been recorded diving 2992 m (9816 ft) in depth, a record for mammals. The deepest humans have ever dived is 332 m (1082 feet).  Due to their elusively behavior, we're not even sure how many different species there are out there and there is still much to be discovered about this glorious species.

Listen to learn more about this mysterious mammal that is important for not only marine ecosystems, but for the climate of the entire planet. 

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Put on your weird hat and get ready to learn about the Island Fox; the smallest fox in the world that played an important role in the spiritual lives of native Channel Islanders.

The island fox (Urocyon littoralis) is native to six of the eight Channel Islands of California and, as a result of insular dwarfism, are the smallest species of foxes. There are six subspecies of Island Foxes, each unique to the island it lives on. Island foxes are generally docile, show little fear of humans, and are easily tamed. 

From humans nearly wiping out bald eagles to introducing invasive species and diseases to the islands,  island foxes nearly went extinct on all six islands in the 1990s. However,  conservation efforts have been successful and populations have rebounded. Considering Island Foxes are a keystone species, it is important we protect this adorable species. 

Listen now to learn how through dedicated conservation, we managed to save the Island Foxes. 

For more information on us, visit our website at betterthanhumanpodcast.com

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We look forward to hearing from you, and we look forward to you joining our cult of weirdness!

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