Katie's taking a brief break (she'll be back soon!!), so here's a favorite episode! Don't worry, these critters haven't been mutilated, but rather through evolution, they've ditch certain appendages. Legs? Don't need 'em. Wings? Forget about it. Tails? Lose 'em. Sometimes efficiency requires sacrifice, and body parts have go to go! Guest: Joelle Monique Footnotes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1v9AWcvOv1K2ailxCWHMD-LMOWn2DtGcAPD5udVNdNiE/edit?usp=sharing See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

LIPS! The lovely luscious lips of living and extinct animals. Who has the best pout? Plus, a talking beluga! Discover this and more as we answer the age-old question: if you have a real long tongue, where do you keep it? Guest: Anna Hossnieh Footnotes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hKwcP67esS0xOVIWmWJI9SXHbOByADpRbRMghZMCZHY/edit?usp=sharing See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Primates have been found to be three times faster than humans at healing, so what's up with that? Plus, there's a mouse out there who can regrow ears and survive 60% of its skin being ripped off—turns out, it's a feature, not a bug! I'm joined by (medical) Dr. Kaveh Hoda to discuss why we're the best (at being the worst) at wound healing! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Please enjoy one of my favorite episodes, especially with the new season of that fungus zombie show! In this interview with infectious diseases expert Professor David Boulware, we discuss the real impact ophiocordyceps has on ants, and whether we humans should be concerned. Guest: Professor David Boulware See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nightmare noodles! Terror tubes! We talk about some of the strangest, creepiest, most ghoulish caterpillars and worms in the world! From the dreaded bone collector with a morbid fashion sense, to worms with a mouth full of copper. Discover this and more as we answer the age-old question: who is a squid's midwife? Joining me is friend of the show and comedy writer for American Dad, Soren Bowie! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I'm joined by children's writer Brooke Hartman, author of the book Cute Animals That Could Kill You Dead, to discuss the deadliest, most adorable animals out there! The ferocious feline deadlier than a lion and smaller than a house cat, toxic armpits, and more! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today I answer your emails! News about mice genetically modified with a candidate for the "human speech gene!" Then we discover why baby penguins are so cute, and more! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An octopus riding a shark! I'm joined by comedian and writer Ella Yurman as we discuss the evolutionary biology concept of "phoresis," the symbiotic act of one organism riding another. Yeehaw! Footnotes See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens in the mysterious, not-so-dusty behind-the-scenes of natural history museums? Today we're talking about how museum collections extend far beyond what's visible to the public, and how they are a repository of massive amounts of knowledge for amazing (and weird) research. I'm joined today by the assistant director of the Museum of Zoology at Cambridge University and author of the new book Nature's Memory: Behind the scenes of the world's natural history museums, Jack Ashby. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All the pee-news that's fit to print! We're talking whale pee, soft-shelled turtles peeing (out of a place you wouldn't expect) and the animal whose pee smells like movie popcorn? I'm joined by Alex Schmidt of Secretly Incredibly Fascinating! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I answer your questions, from potoos (aka, GHOST BIRDS), to bees who like perfume! If you have an evolutionary biology question you'd like answered, write to me at creaturefeaturepod@gmail.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Owl the news that's fit to print! We've got bird news stories today, including an orange snowy owl, owl tinder, and a real life "Wild Robot" situation! I'm joined by friend of the show, Bridgett Greenberg! Episode Images See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From the shiny and splendiferous scale worms of the deep, to scuba diving lizards, these animals all have one thing in common: they are 100% glam. I'm joined by Danl Goodman to rock out! Footnotes: Elvis worm! https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/these-elvis-worms-shimmer-and-sparkleand-fight-tough-180974989/ Elvis worms fighting, oh no! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgQvuYljX8g Scale worm jaws, extra oh no! https://anatomytoyou.files.wordpress.com/2016/02/openmouthteeth_2144136i.jpg?w=640 Living beetle jewelry https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/meet-makech-bedazzled-beetles-worn-living-jewelry-180955081/ Shiny diving lizards, oh my! https://www.eurekalert.org/multimedia/pub/web/196097_web.jpg Shiny diving lizards caught on video! https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-03/bu-lc032019.php#:~:text=Lindsey%20Swierk%2C%20assistant%20research%20professor,time%20to%20escape%20from%20predators See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on the show, animals in medicine! This time we're not talking about mice, but the way amazing animal adaptations have inspired or directly contributed to medicine. From gila monster venom to the absurdity of giraffes, animals have a lot to teach us about medical science. I'm joined by real life gastroenterologist, and host of the medical podcast House of Pod, Kaveh Hoda! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on the show I'm joined by Pallavi Gunalan to talk about some of the coolest animals you can find in U.S. National Parks! Our national parks are home to some of the most stunning species on the planet, and are incredibly important reserves that protect the biological jewels of America. From adorable little cat-like critters that look like they came straight out of a fantasy, to the GOAT of horns, to a spiky little guy with biological weaponry, these are just three examples of the amazing animals found in National Parks. Discover this and more as we answer the age-old question: When is a cat not a cat and a toad not a toad? Episode Images See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.