Ellen struts with the greater sage grouse & Christian pops off about the pistol shrimp. We discuss what happens at a lek, whether or not the sage grouse poses a threat to the United States military, what pistol shrimps can teach you about your pressure cooker, and the Shrimp of Theseus.

Links:

Vox: "This goofy bird vs. the fossil fuel industry"

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Join Ellen and special guest, President and CEO of the Texas State Aquarium Jesse Gilbert, for a review of the living tanks of the sea: loggerhead turtles! We discuss the challenges faced by sea turtles in a changing world, the aquarium's work rescuing and rehabilitating loggerhead turtles and other marine life, and the magic of connecting with another species.

Learn more about the Texas State Aquarium at their website and follow along with their work on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter!

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Cover photo: NOAA

Christian throws down with the Japanese rhinoceros beetle & Ellen goes on a journey through evolutionary history with the Indian muntjac. We discuss the toxic masculinity of beetles and why the Indian muntjac's bark is just as bad as their bite.

Links:

The muntjac video shown to Christian

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Ellen & special guest, primatologist and biological anthropologist Dr. Michelle Rodrigues, review the ballerinas of the Central and South American rain forests: spider monkeys. We discuss what life in the treetops looks like through a spider monkey’s big beautiful eyes, the latest innovations in butt-scratching technology, and the power of friendship.

Follow Michelle on Twitter and Instagram, and learn more about her work at her website!

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Cover photo: jkraft5 via Getty images

Ellen luxuriates in the vicuña & Christian takes a bite out of crime with the cookie cutter shark. We discuss adaptations to life in the Andes, vicuña wool as political bribery, suctorial lips, and how to play an Uno Reverse card on some of the ocean's top predators.

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Cover photos: Tadas Jucys via Getty images & Paulo Oliveira via The Guardian

Join Ellen & paleontology researcher and fellow Floridian Alec Baines for a review of the saltwater guardians, American crocodiles. We discuss the archosaur family tree, flower-picking and other crocodilian leisure activities, what to do if you find yourself in the chompin’ zone, and falling in love at a punk croc concert.

Follow Alec on Instagram and Twitter!

Learn more about their science communication work:
http://www.creaturefeatureservices.com/podcasts

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Cover photo: zmeel via Getty images

Christian attends the caecilian cotillion & Ellen gets friendly with the rubber boa. We discuss life as a humble amphibian wiggling around in the mud and explain how even limbless creatures can still throw hands.

The Caecilian Cotillions Song: https://youtu.be/xxsUQtfQ5Ew

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Cover photos: Chris Harrison via kingsnake.com (caecilian) & andrewnydam via Wikimedia commons (rubber boa)
http://gallery.kingsnake.com/photo.php?id=343343
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Charina_bottae1.jpg

 Join Ellen & science journalist Bethany Brookshire for a review of the lumpy little tide pods disrupting ecosystems all over the globe: cane toads. We discuss toxic shoulder pads, retro nature documentary excellence, poison butts and teacher toads, ugly animals, and the complicated relationships humans have with the wildlife around us.

Further viewing:

• Cane Toads: An Unnatural History (1988)
• Cane toad mating call (up close in 4K)

Learn more about Bethany's work at her website and follow her on Twitter!

Check out her new book, Pests: How Humans Create Animal Villains and her podcast, Science for the People!

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Ellen dives into the magical world of narwhals & Christian warms up to Japanese macaques. We discuss inside-out teeth, hot tub parties, and how misunderstandings and scams shaped unicorn mythology.

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Cover photos: dottedhippo via Getty images (narwhal) & sorincolac via Getty images (snow monkeys)

This episode originally aired on December 25, 2020. This version of the episode includes minor updates and audio edits.

 Join Ellen & special guest, ecologist and science communicator Olivia deBourcier, for a festively themed review of reindeer! We talked about what makes them so well suited to the chilly climates they thrive in, from the tips of their impressive antlers all the way down to their clicky hooves, plus what it’s like to work with them and the threats they’re facing in their natural habitats.

Links:

• Follow Olivia on Instagram or Twitter!
• Check out Beyond Blathers and follow them on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok!
• Check out the the Pangolin Holiday Spectacular mentioned in the episode!
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Cover photo: lightpix via Getty images