Zoologist Reviews Evol Archetype From Yu-Gi-Oh! Out-of-Place Zoologist 2026-09-19 | Zoologist Reviews Evol Archetype From Yu-Gi-Oh!
What Exactly is: Aplysia | The Sea Hare Out-of-Place Zoologist 2026-05-29 | Aplysia is one of the most interesting sea slugs. They are called sea hare because they look like a hare sitting on the bottom of the sea. Their rhinophores give them the rabbit ear look. Although they might look helpless, Aplysia can release a toxic ink cloud and a slimy substance called opaline to deter predator. They are also often used as a model animal by neurobiologists, even leading Dr. Eric Kandel to his nobel prize in the year 2000.*Footage*Swimming: youtube.com/watch?v=uyf_jjPxZIA*Timestamps*0:00 Opening Thought1:23 Taxonomy and General Information4:56 Morphology7:36 Ecology*References*MolluscaBase eds. (2026). MolluscaBase. Aplysiidae Lamarck, 1809. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=172MolluscaBase eds. (2026). MolluscaBase. Aplysia Linnaeus, 1767. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=137654Golestani, H., Crocetta, F., Padula, V., et al. (2019). The little Aplysia coming of age: from one species to a complex of species complexes in Aplysia parvula (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Heterobranchia). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 187(2): 279-330. doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlz028Kicklighter, C. E., Shabani, S., Johnson, P. M., & Derby, C. D. (2005). Sea Hares Use Novel Antipredatory Chemical Defenses. Current Biology, 15(6): p549-554. doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2005.01.057Sheybani, A., Nusnbaum, M., Caprio, J., & Derby, C. D. (2009). Responses of the sea catfish Ariopsis felis to chemical defenses from the sea hare Aplysia californica. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 368(2): 153-160. doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2008.09.024Hawkins, R. D., Clark, G. A., & Kandel, E. R. (2006). Operant conditioning of gill withdrawal in Aplysia. The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience, 26(9), 2443–2448. doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3294-05.2006Angeloni, L. & Bradbury, J. (1999). Body size influences mating strategies in a simultaneously hermaphroditic sea slug, Aplysia vaccaria. Ethology Ecology & Evolution, 11(2): 187-195. doi.org/10.1080/08927014.1999.9522836Cummins, S. F., Nichols, A. E., Schein, C. H., & Nagle, G. T. (2006). Newly identified water-borne protein pheromones interact with attractin to stimulate mate attraction in Aplysia. Peptides, 27(3): 597-606. doi.org/10.1016/j.peptides.2005.08.026Ludwig, A. N. & Walsh, P. J. (2008). Multiple Mating, Sperm Storage, and Mating Preference in Aplysia californica. The Biological Bulletin, 215(3). doi.org/10.2307/25470710Lee, C-H., Kaang, B-K., & Lee, Y-D. (2014). Spawning Behavior and Egg Development of Aplysia kurodai Inhabiting the Coastal Waters of Jeju Island, Korea. Development & Reproduction, 18(1): 25-31. doi.org/10.12717/DR.2014.18.1.025Heyland, A. & Moroz, L. (2006). Signaling mechanisms underlying metamorphic transitions in animals. Integrative and Comparative Biology, 46(6): 743-59. doi.org/10.1093/icb/icl023*Thumbnail Image*Aplysia californica - Genny Anderson*Outro* Bubbles Drifting in the Morning Breeze - Artificial.Music & Akosmoyoutube.com/watch?v=wS4hkYXuasEJoin the channel's membership:youtube.com/channel/UC6eT6uO4hgkRZPXOSMJw-dQ/join
What Exactly is: Cock-of-the-rock | The Rock Dweller Out-of-Place Zoologist 2026-05-22 | When talking about cock-of-the-rocks, their name is not even the weirdest part of them. They have this weird-looking side profile that makes it look like they don’t have a beak, not even any particular facial structure besides the eye. Understandably, cock-of-the-rocks have been taking over the internet this last week because of how they look. Not only that, one of them did become and still is the national bird of Peru. *Timestamps*0:00 Opening Thought0:54 Taxonomy and General Information4:10 Morphology7:28 Ecology*References*Richter, W. and G. M. Kirwan (2020). Guianan Cock-of-the-rock (Rupicola rupicola), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (T. S. Schulenberg, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. doi.org/10.2173/bow.gcoroc1.01Snow, D. (2020). Andean Cock-of-the-rock (Rupicola peruvianus), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. doi.org/10.2173/bow.andcot1.01Rodríguez-Ferraro, A. & Azpiroz, A. B. (2005). Notes on the natural history of the Andean Cock-of-the-rock (Rupicola peruviana) in western Venezuela. Ornitología Neotropical, 16(1): 105-108. https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi%3Farticle%3D1522%26context%3Dornitologia_neotropicalTrail, P. W. & Adams, E. S. (1989). Active mate choice at cock-of-the-rock leks: tactics of sampling and comparison. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 25, 283–292. doi.org/10.1007/BF00300055Trail P. W. (1985). Courtship disruption modifies mate choice in a lek-breeding bird. Science (New York, N.Y.), 227(4688), 778–780. doi.org/10.1126/science.227.4688.778Zuleta, L., Ocampo, D., Fierro-Calderón, K., Sánchez-Martínez, M. A., Greeney, H., David, S., & Londoño, G. A. (2025). Breeding biology of the Andean cock-of-the-rock (Rupicola peruvianus). Journal of Natural History, 59(9–12), 543–556. doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2454487BirdLife International. (2025). Rupicola rupicola. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2025: e.T22700971A280999592. dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-2.RLTS.T22700971A280999592.en.BirdLife International. (2018). Rupicola peruvianus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T22700974A130267257. dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22700974A130267257.en. Duce, S. & Brannian, J. (1990). Social behavior of the Guianan cock-of-the-rock (Rupicola rupicola) in captivity. Zoo Biology, 9(3): 223-232. doi.org/10.1002/zoo.1430090305*Outro* Bubbles Drifting in the Morning Breeze - Artificial.Music & Akosmoyoutube.com/watch?v=wS4hkYXuasEJoin the channel's membership:youtube.com/channel/UC6eT6uO4hgkRZPXOSMJw-dQ/join
What Exactly is: Frog Crab | Truer Than They Look Out-of-Place Zoologist 2026-05-15 | People are used to carcinization, where animals become crab-like. However, frog crabs exhibit the opposite. They are true crabs which evolved non-crab-like form. They are similar to the mole crabs in many aspects, but they aren’t even closely related. *Timestamps*0:00 Opening Thought0:52 Taxonomy and General Information4:46 Morphology7:15 Ecology9:08 Which Came First?*References*Tsang, L. M., Chan, T. Y., Ahyong, S. T., & Chu, K. H. (2011). Hermit to king, or hermit to all: multiple transitions to crab-like forms from hermit crab ancestors. Systematic biology, 60(5), 616–629. doi.org/10.1093/sysbio/syr063Karasawa, H., Schweitzer, C. E., Feldmann, R. M., & Luque, J. (2014). Phylogeny and Classification of Raninoida (Decapoda: Brachyura). Journal of Crustacean Biology, 34(2): 216-272. doi.org/10.1163/1937240X-00002216Ng, P.K., & Guinot, D. (2020). Description of a new genus for Cyrtorhina balabacensis Serène, 1971,with notes on the Cyrtorhininae (Decapoda, Brachyura, Raninidae). Crustacean Research, 49: 237-262. doi.org/10.18353/crustacea.49.0_237DecaNet eds. (2026). DecaNet. Raninoidea De Haan, 1839. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=106705Lam-Gordillo, O. & Ardisson, P-L. (2019). The global distribution and richness of frog crabs (Raninoidea). Crustaceana, 92(1): 1-31. doi.org/10.1163/15685403-00003832Schmidt, M., Hazerli, D., & Richter, S. (2020). Kinematics and morphology: A comparison of 3D-patterns in the fifth pereiopod of swimming and non-swimming crab species (Malacostraca, Decapoda, Brachyura). Journal of morphology, 281(12), 1547–1566. doi.org/10.1002/jmor.21268Krajangdara, T., & Watanabe, S. (2005). Growth and reproduction of the red frog crab, Ranina ranina (Linnaeus, 1758), in the Andaman Sea off Thailand. Fish Sci, 71: 20–28. doi.org/10.1111/j.1444-2906.2005.00926.xBaylon, J. C., & Tito, O. D. (2012). Reproductive Biology of the Red Frog Crab, Ranina ranina (Linnaeus, 1758) (Crustacea: Decapoda: Raninidae) from Southwestern Mindanao, Philippines. Asian Fisheries Science, 25(2). doi.org/10.33997%2Fj.afs.2012.25.2.001Luque, J., Feldmann, R. M., Schweitzer, C. E., Jaramillo, C., & Cameron, C. B. (2012). The Oldest Frog Crabs (Decapoda: Brachyura: Raninoida) from the Aptian of Northern South America. J. of Crustacean Biology, 32(3): 405-420. doi.org/10.1163/193724012X626539Klompmaker, A. A., Starzyk, N., Fraaije, R. H. B., & Schweigert, G. (2020). Systematics and convergent evolution of multiple reef-associated Jurassic and Cretaceous crabs (Decapoda, Brachyura). Palaeontologia Electronica, 23(2): a32. doi.org/10.26879/1045*Thumbnail Image*李博恒*Outro* Bubbles Drifting in the Morning Breeze - Artificial.Music & Akosmoyoutube.com/watch?v=wS4hkYXuasEJoin the channel's membership:youtube.com/channel/UC6eT6uO4hgkRZPXOSMJw-dQ/join
What Exactly Is: False Gharial | The Sunda Gharial Out-of-Place Zoologist 2026-05-08 | False gharial is one of the most unique-looking crocodilian that currently exist because they have a relatively long and slender snout. Although that specific trait is similar to that of gharials, their position in the crocodilian phylogeny has been debated for decades. To this day, consensus has yet to be reached. Why so? Let’s talk about it.*Timestamps*0:00 Opening Thought1:01 Taxonomy and General Information5:27 Morphology8:41 Ecology*References*Cuff, A. R., & Rayfield, E. J. (2013). Feeding Mechanics in Spinosaurid Theropods and Extant Crocodilians. PLoS ONE 8(5): e65295. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0065295Rio, J. P., & Mannion, P. D. (2021). Phylogenetic analysis of a new morphological dataset elucidates the evolutionary history of Crocodylia and resolves the long-standing gharial problem. PeerJ, 9, e12094. doi.org/10.7717/peerj.12094Willis, R. E., McAliley, L. R., Neeley, E. D., & Densmore, L. D., 3rd (2007). Evidence for placing the false gharial (Tomistoma schlegelii) into the family Gavialidae: inferences from nuclear gene sequences. Molecular phylogenetics and evolution, 43(3), 787–794. doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2007.02.005Oaks J. R. (2011). A time-calibrated species tree of Crocodylia reveals a recent radiation of the true crocodiles. Evolution; international journal of organic evolution, 65(11), 3285–3297. doi.org/10.1111/j.1558-5646.2011.01373.xPiras, P., Colangelo, P., Adams, D. C., Buscalioni, A., Cubo, J., Kotsakis, T., Meloro, C., & Raia, P. (2010). The Gavialis-Tomistoma debate: the contribution of skull ontogenetic allometry and growth trajectories to the study of crocodylian relationships. Evolution & development, 12(6), 568–579. doi.org/10.1111/j.1525-142X.2010.00442.xShaney, K., Shwedick, B., Simpson, B.K., Pine, A., Sideleau, B. & Stevenson, C. (2023). Tomistoma schlegelii. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2023: e.T21981A214287051. dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2023-1.RLTS.T21981A214287051.en. Charette R. (1995). CITES Identification Guide: Crocodilians. Environment Canada; Ottawa, ON, Canada. publications.gc.ca/site/eng/464832/publication.htmlBezuijen, M. R., Webb, G. J. W., Hartoyo, P., & Samedi. (2001). Peat swamp forest and the false gharial Tomistoma schlegelii (Crocodilia, Reptilia) in the Merang River, eastern Sumatra, Indonesia. Oryx, 35(4), 301–307. doi:10.1046/j.1365-3008.2001.00195.x Sharney, K, Shwedick, B., Simpson, B. and Stevenson, C. (2019). Tomistoma Tomistoma schlegelii. in Crocodiles. Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan. Fourth Edition, ed. by S.C. Manolis and C. Stevenson. iucncsg.org/365_docs/attachments/protarea/29250d3a4c25ac44646a45ccf2aeebdc.pdfStaniewicz, A., Foggett, S., McCabe, G., & Holderied, M. (2021). Courtship and underwater communication in the Sunda gharial (Tomistoma schlegelii). Bioacoustics. Advance online publication. doi.org/10.1080/09524622.2021.1967782Litton, M., Fullerton, W. and Mendyk, R. (2018). Successful Reproduction of the Sunda Gharial (Tomistoma schlegelii) at Audubon Zoo. Crocodile Specialist Group Newsletter 37(4): 21-23. iucncsg.org/365_docs/attachments/protarea/3ab6597756810d7ab30707a91943b1f3.pdfMathew, A., Ganesan, M., Majid, R. A. & Beastall, C. (2011). Breeding of False Gharial (Tomistoma schlegelii) at Zoo Negara, Malaysia. https://www.zoonegara.my/RPFalseGharial.pdf.Latip, M. Q. A., Tengku Azizan, T. R. P., Ahmad, H., Abu Hassim, H., Noor, M. H. M., & Mikail, M. (2021). Blood Profiling of Captive and Semi-Wild False Gharial in Peninsular Malaysia. Animals : an open access journal from MDPI, 11(6), 1481. doi.org/10.3390/ani11061481*Outro* Bubbles Drifting in the Morning Breeze - Artificial.Music & Akosmoyoutube.com/watch?v=wS4hkYXuasEJoin the channel's membership:youtube.com/channel/UC6eT6uO4hgkRZPXOSMJw-dQ/join
What Exactly Is: Raccoon Dog | The Fabled Tanuki Out-of-Place Zoologist 2026-05-01 | Raccoon dog is one of the rare cases where the name tanuki might be more popular than their international common name. People have been confusing tanuki with raccoon because people had been localizing tanuki simply as raccoon, even though those two are completely different animals, not even closely related. In Japan, raccoon dogs are famous because they are often depicted in myth, folklore, and even popular media. Is there any truth behind those myth and folklore? Let’s talk about it.*Timestamps*0:00 Opening Thought0:57 Taxonomy and General Information4:48 Morphology9:26 Ecology*References*Hassanin, A., Veron, G., Ropiquet, A., Jansen van Vuuren, B., Lécu, A., Goodman, S. M., Haider, J., & Nguyen, T. T. (2021). Evolutionary history of Carnivora (Mammalia, Laurasiatheria) inferred from mitochondrial genomes. PloS one, 16(2), e0240770. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0240770Han, J. I., Yang, H., Jeung, E. B., & Na, K. J. (2012). Altered expression of melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R) in a yellow-coloured wild raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides). Veterinary dermatology, 23(3), 187–e37. doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3164.2012.01036.xKim, S-I., Oshida, T., Lee, H., Min, M-S., & Kimura, J. (2015). Evolutionary and biogeographical implications of variation in skull morphology of raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides, Mammalia: Carnivora). Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 11(4): 856–872. doi.org/10.1111/bij.12629Hong, Y., Lee, H., Kim, K.S. et al. (2020). Phylogenetic relationships between different raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides) populations based on four nuclear and Y genes. Genes Genom 42, 1075–1085. doi.org/10.1007/s13258-020-00972-2Mae, Y., Nagara, K., Miyazaki, M., Katsura, Y., Enomoto, Y., & Koga, A. (2020). Complex intragene deletion leads to oculocutaneous albinism in tanuki (Japanese raccoon dog). Genome, 63(10), 517–523. doi.org/10.1139/gen-2020-0049Wooldridge, B., Svenning, JC. & Pagh, S. (2024). Habitat selection and movement patterns of the Raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides) in Denmark using GPS telemetry data. Eur J Wildl Res 70, 64. doi.org/10.1007/s10344-024-01803-5Tuomikoski, E., Selonen, V., Merimaa, K., & Laaksonen, T. (2024). Diet of the raccoon dog, an invasive mesopredator, during the breeding season of declining waterbird populations. Global Ecology and Conservation, 51: e02917. doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e02917Kitao, N., Fukui, D., Hashimoto, M. et al. (2009). Overwintering strategy of wild free-ranging and enclosure-housed Japanese raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides albus). Int J Biometeorol, 53, 159–165. doi.org/10.1007/s00484-008-0199-7Wójcicki, A., Kowal, J., Kuchta-Gładysz, M. et al. (2025). The largest litter size in raccoon dog Nyctereutes procyonoides recorded outside its native range. Eur J Wildl Res 71, 134. doi.org/10.1007/s10344-025-02017-z*Thumbnail Images*Raccoon Dog: John WittonRaccoon: Rhododendrites*Outro* Bubbles Drifting in the Morning Breeze - Artificial.Music & Akosmoyoutube.com/watch?v=wS4hkYXuasEJoin the channel's membership:youtube.com/channel/UC6eT6uO4hgkRZPXOSMJw-dQ/join
The Bizarre State of YouTube Educational Content Ecosystem Out-of-Place Zoologist 2026-04-25 | YouTube provides a place for education that are relatively easy to access. While it is indeed beneficial, as with basically any other things, there will also be some negative impacts from it. As the ecosystem developed, people started getting affected by those even more. For the sake of a better educational ecosystem, more and more people need to be aware of it, so let’s talk about it.*Timestamps*0:00 Preface2:19 Expert and Expertise5:33 Credibility and Scepticism7:25 Would experts want to be on YouTube?15:39 Is expertise even required?18:08 The Merit of Each Side24:03 Saturation and Redundancy26:59 Intent VS Impact28:50 Target Audience34:46 When Education is No Longer the Goal36:38 The World Revolves Around You39:20 Mitigation and Treatment40:01 Hate is a Strong Word41:46 Communication (and the lack of it)44:51 What Does YouTube need?Join the channel's membership:youtube.com/channel/UC6eT6uO4hgkRZPXOSMJw-dQ/join
What Exactly Is: Vulture Bee | The Obligate Necrophage Out-of-Place Zoologist 2026-04-17 | Bees are known to collect nectars and pollens, but vulture bees forage carrions instead. Just like other bees, they bring it back to their nest, storing and degrading it to be consumed by the bees in the nest. People say they produce meat-honey, which raise a lot of questions, including about its taste. Besides the meat-honey mystery, there are other misunderstandings and uncertainties surrounding them, so let’s talk about it.*Timestamps*0:00 Opening Thought1:15 Taxonomy and General Information4:39 Morphology7:27 Ecology*References*Roubik D. W. (1982). Obligate necrophagy in a social bee. Science (New York, N.Y.), 217(4564), 1059–1060. doi.org/10.1126/science.217.4564.1059Camargo, J. M. F. & Roubik, D. W. (1991). Systematics and bionomics of the apoid obligate necrophages: the Trigona hypogea group (Hymenoptera: Apidae; Meliponinae). Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 44 (1): 13–39. doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8312.1991.tb00604.xNoll, F. B., Zucchi, R., Jorge, J. A., & Mateus, S. (1996). Food Collection and Maturation in the Necrophagous Stingless Bee, Trigona hypogea (Hymenoptera: Meliponinae). Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society, 69(4), 287–293. http://www.jstor.org/stable/25085725Figueroa, L. L., Maccaro, J. J., Krichilsky, E., Yanega, D., & McFrederick, Q. S. (2021). Why Did the Bee Eat the Chicken? Symbiont Gain, Loss, and Retention in the Vulture Bee Microbiome. mBio, 12(6), e0231721. doi.org/10.1128/mBio.02317-21*Thumbnail Image*Quinn McFrederick*Outro* Bubbles Drifting in the Morning Breeze - Artificial.Music & Akosmoyoutube.com/watch?v=wS4hkYXuasEJoin the channel's membership:youtube.com/channel/UC6eT6uO4hgkRZPXOSMJw-dQ/join
What Exactly is: Hoopoe | Solomons Messenger Out-of-Place Zoologist 2026-04-03 | Hoopoes are considered sacred or at least symbolic in some cultures, even though they might look plain compared to other sacred birds. They might be common, but there are tons of uncertainties, especially regarding their taxonomy. There are some interesting things to discuss about hoopoe, so let’s talk about it.*Timestamps*0:00 Opening Thought1:00 Taxonomy & General Information5:21 Morphology7:09 Ecology10:31 Cultural Relevance*References*Prum, R., Berv, J., Dornburg, A. et al. (2015). A comprehensive phylogeny of birds (Aves) using targeted next-generation DNA sequencing. Nature, 526, 569–573. doi.org/10.1038/nature15697Gill F, D Donsker & P Rasmussen (Eds). 2025. IOC World Bird List (v15.1). worldbirdnames.org/new/classification/orders-of-birds-draftBarbaro, L., Couzi, L., Bretagnolle, V., Nezan, J., Vetillard, F. (2007). Multi-scale habitat selection and foraging ecology of the eurasian hoopoe (Upupa epops) in pine plantations. In: Brockerhoff, E.G., Jactel, H., Parrotta, J.A., Quine, C.P., Sayer, J., Hawksworth, D.L. (eds) Plantation Forests and Biodiversity: Oxymoron or Opportunity? . Topics in Biodiversity and Conservation, vol 9. Springer, Dordrecht. doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-2807-5_8Martín-Vivaldi, M., Palomino, J. J., & Soler, M. (2000). Attraction of Hoopoe Upupa epops Females and Males by Means of Song Playback in the Field: Influence of Strophe Length. Journal of Avian Biology, 31(3), 351–359. http://www.jstor.org/stable/3677417Martín-Vivaldi, M., Martínez, J.G., Palomino, J.J. and Soler, M. (2002), Extrapair paternity in the Hoopoe Upupa epops: an exploration of the influence of interactions between breeding pairs, non-pair males and strophe length. Ibis, 144: 236-247. doi.org/10.1046/j.1474-919X.2002.00044.xBarón, M. D., Martín-Vivaldi, M., Martínez-Renau, E., & Soler, J. J. (2024). Extra Nestlings That Are Condemned to Die Increase Reproductive Success in Hoopoes. The American Naturalist, 203(4). doi.org/10.1086/728883*Thumbnail Image*Lukas Sekelsky from iNaturalist*Outro* Bubbles Drifting in the Morning Breeze - Artificial.Music & Akosmoyoutube.com/watch?v=wS4hkYXuasEJoin the channel's membership:youtube.com/channel/UC6eT6uO4hgkRZPXOSMJw-dQ/join
What Exactly is: Tree Otter | Koalas Hidden Relative Out-of-Place Zoologist 2026-03-31 | Australian animals are quite interesting, but some of them are even more so than the others.*Outro* Bubbles Drifting in the Morning Breeze - Artificial.Music & Akosmoyoutube.com/watch?v=wS4hkYXuasEJoin the channel's membership:youtube.com/channel/UC6eT6uO4hgkRZPXOSMJw-dQ/join
What Exactly is: Gladiator Frog | The Armed Duelist Out-of-Place Zoologist 2026-03-27 | While frogs are often viewed as docile creatures, some frogs can be aggressive. Gladiator frogs got its name because they are known to fight each other, slashing and stabbing the opponent to claim a territory for their own. Although not many know about them, there are over 90 species of gladiator frogs, and they can be quite diverse; both in morphology and behaviour. *Timestamps*0:00 Opening Thought0:56 Taxonomy & General Information3:21 Morphology5:33 Ecology*References*Fouquet, A., Marinho, P., Réjaud, A., Carvalho, T. R., Caminer, M. A., Jansen, M., et al. (2021). Systematics and biogeography of the Boana albopunctata species group (Anura, Hylidae), with the description of two new species from Amazonia. Systematics and Biodiversity, 19(4), 375–399. doi.org/10.1080/14772000.2021.1873869Tupy, G. S., Cardoso, G. S., Vilanova-Júnior, J. L., et al. (2021). Trophic ecology of Boana albomarginata and Boana pombali (Anura: Hylidae) during the dry season in the Serra de Itabaiana National Park, Northeast Brazil. North-Western Journal of Zoology, 17(2): 220-226. https://biozoojournals.ro/nwjz/content/v17n2/nwjz_e211510_Tupy.pdfSabino Martins, A., de Castro Araújo, K., Zochio Fischer, H., Solé, M., Silva Ruas, D., de Mira-Mendes, C. V., & Ribeiro Dias, I. (2026). Dinner Time in the Atlantic Forest: Trophic Niche Partitioning of Two Sympatric Boana Species in the Southern Bahia State, Brazil. Acta Herpetologica. doi.org/10.36253/a_h-18506Höbel, G. (2008). Plasticity and geographic variation in the reproductive ecology of gladiator frogs, particularly Hypsiboas rosenbergi. Stapfia 88, zugleich Kataloge der oberösterreichischen Landesmuseen Neue Serie 80: 329-334. https://www.zobodat.at/pdf/STAPFIA_0088_0329-0334.pdfde Assis, V. R., Navas, C. A., Mendonça, M. T., & Gomes, F. R. (2012). Vocal and territorial behavior in the Smith frog (Hypsiboas faber): relationships with plasma levels of corticosterone and testosterone. Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Part A, Molecular & integrative physiology, 163(3-4), 265–271. doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpa.2012.08.002Candaten, A., Possenti, A.G., Mainardi, Á.A. et al. (2020). Fighting scars: heavier gladiator frogs bear more injuries than lighter frogs. acta ethol 23, 39–44. doi.org/10.1007/s10211-019-00333-7Dias, T. M., Prado, C. P. A., & Bastos, R. P. (2021). Reproductive ecology and territorial behavior of Boana goiana (Anura: Hylidae), a gladiator frog from the Brazilian Cerrado. Zoologia, 38: 1–12. doi.org/10.3897/zoologia.38.e53004Kluge, A. G. (1981). The Life History, Social Organization, and Parental Behavior of Hyla rosenbergi Boulenger, a Nest-Building Gladiator Frog. Miscellaneous Publications of the Museum of Zoology University of Michigan, 160: 1–170. http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/handle/2027.42/56404/MP160.pdf?sequence=1*Outro* Bubbles Drifting in the Morning Breeze - Artificial.Music & Akosmoyoutube.com/watch?v=wS4hkYXuasEJoin the channel's membership:youtube.com/channel/UC6eT6uO4hgkRZPXOSMJw-dQ/join
What Exactly Is: Sunfish | The Docile Ocean Giant Out-of-Place Zoologist 2026-03-20 | In this day and age, sunfishes a.k.a molas are quite popular. You could see a lot of merch depicting them, and their existence could attract tourists, especially divers. However, what many people didn’t know is, Mola is not the only genus of sunfish. Not only that though, some people still misunderstand quite a few things about their biology, so let’s talk about it.*Timestamps*0:00 Opening Thought0:30 Taxonomy and General Information3:41 Morphology8:58 Ecology13:49 Popularity*References*Nyegaard, M., Sawai, E., Gemmell, N., Gillum, J., Loneragan, N. R., Yamanoue, Y., & Stewart, A. L. (2017). Hiding in broad daylight: molecular and morphological data reveal a new ocean sunfish species (Tetraodontiformes: Molidae) that has eluded recognition. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 182(3), 631-658. doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlx040Chang, C.T., Chih, C.H., Chang, Y.C., Chiang, W.C., Tsai, F.Y., Hsu, H.H., et al. (2018). Seasonal variations of species, abundance and size composition of Molidae in Eastern Taiwan. J. Taiwan Fish. Res. 26: 27–42. Freedman, J.A. & Noakes, D.L. (2002). Why are there no really big bony fishes? A point-of-view on maximum body size in teleosts and elasmobranchs. Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries, 12, 403–416. doi.org/10.1023/A:1025365210414Sousa, L., Xavier, R., Costa, V. et al. (2016). DNA barcoding identifies a cosmopolitan diet in the ocean sunfish. Sci Rep, 6, 28762. doi.org/10.1038/srep28762Nyegaard, M., Loneragan, N., & Santos, M. B. (2017). Squid predation by slender sunfish Ranzania laevis (Molidae). Journal of fish biology, 90(6), 2480–2487. doi.org/10.1111/jfb.13315Nyegaard, M., Andrzejaczek, S., Jenner, C.S. et al. (2019). Tiger shark predation on large ocean sunfishes (Family Molidae) – two Australian observations. Environ Biol Fish, 102, 1559–1567. doi.org/10.1007/s10641-019-00926-y*Outro* Bubbles Drifting in the Morning Breeze - Artificial.Music & Akosmoyoutube.com/watch?v=wS4hkYXuasEJoin the channel's membership:youtube.com/channel/UC6eT6uO4hgkRZPXOSMJw-dQ/join
What Exactly Is: Velella | By-the-wind Sailor Out-of-Place Zoologist 2026-03-13 | Oceanic neustons form an interesting ecosystem, and Velella is one of them. They are commonly known as by-the-wind sailor, or simply the sea raft. Each “individual” that you’ll most likely find is a colony of polyps, and they are known to mass strand in several regions. Although we’ve known them for centuries, there are still mysteries surrounding them, especially their life cycle, so let’s talk about it.*Timestamps*0:00 Opening Thought0:30 Taxonomy & General Information2:53 Morphology6:40 Ecology*References*Schuchert, P. (2010). The European athecate hydroids and their medusae (Hydrozoa, Cnidaria): Capitata Part 2. Revue suisse de zoologie, 117(3):337-555. doi.org/10.5962/bhl.part.117793Tassara, E., Mikšík, I., Pompach, P., Mariottini, G. L., Xiao, L., Giovine, M., & Pozzolini, M. (2024). Proteomic Analysis and Biochemical Characterization of the Nematocyst Extract of the Hydrozoan Velella velella. Marine drugs, 22(10), 468. doi.org/10.3390/md22100468Killi, N., Bonello, G., Mariottini, G. L., Pardini, P., Pozzolini, M., & Cengiz, S. (2020). Nematocyst types and venom effects of Aurelia aurita and Velella velella from the Mediterranean Sea. Toxicon : official journal of the International Society on Toxinology, 175, 57–63. doi.org/10.1016/j.toxicon.2019.12.155Larson, R. J. (1980). The Medusa of Velella velella (Linnaeus, 1758) (Hydrozoa, Chondrophorae). Journal of Plankton Research, 2(3): 183-186. doi.org/10.1093/plankt/2.3.183Helm, R. R. (2021). Natural history of neustonic animals in the Sargasso Sea: reproduction, predation, and behavior of Glaucus atlanticus, Velella velella, and Janthina spp.. Mar. Biodivers. 51(99). doi.org/10.1007/s12526-021-01233-5Duarte, I. M., Leandro, S. M., Ferreira, M. et al. (2019). Early development of Velella velella medusae in laboratory. Front. Mar. Sci. Conference Abstract: IMMR'18 | International Meeting on Marine Research 2018. doi: 10.3389/conf.FMARS.2018.06.00080*Thumbnail Image*Adam Walter*Outro* Bubbles Drifting in the Morning Breeze - Artificial.Music & Akosmoyoutube.com/watch?v=wS4hkYXuasEJoin the channel's membership:youtube.com/channel/UC6eT6uO4hgkRZPXOSMJw-dQ/join
Zoologist Guesses the Animal Inspiration of Mavericks from Megaman X6 Out-of-Place Zoologist 2026-03-10 | The Mavericks from Megaman X are mostly based on animals. Some are obvious, while some can be obscure, so let's try guessing them*Timestamps*0:00 Opening Thoughts and Rules1:46 Commander Yammarck4:03 Shield Sheldon8:41 Blizzard Wolfang10:20 Rainy Turtloid13:40 Blaze Heatnix18:35 Metal Shark Player21:51 Ground Scaravich25:07 Infinity Mijinion31:53 Closing ThoughtsJoin the channel's membership:youtube.com/channel/UC6eT6uO4hgkRZPXOSMJw-dQ/join
What Exactly Is: Janthina | The Rafting Snails Out-of-Place Zoologist 2026-03-06 | Janthina might not look that interesting, but their lifestyle definitely is. Janthina make their own raft by stacking mucus bubbles. Carried by the winds and waves, they float around the sea. They are called violet snails because they are violet, but it’s not simply for looks. Their violet dye has an anaesthetic effect that can anaesthetize their prey while they eat it. *Timestamps*0:00 Opening Thought0:47 Taxonomy and General Information3:19 Morphology8:44 Lifestyle and Behaviour12:35 Evolution*References*MolluscaBase eds. (2026). MolluscaBase. Janthina janthina (Linnaeus, 1758). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=140155Beu, A. G. (2017). Evolution of Janthina and Recluzia (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Epitoniidae). Records of the Australian Museum, 69(3): 119-222. doi.org/10.3853/j.2201-4349.69.2017.1666Churchill, C. K., Ó Foighil, D., Strong, E. E., & Gittenberger, A. (2011). Females floated first in bubble-rafting snails. Current Biology, 21(19), R802–R803. doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2011.08.011Calabrò, C., Rindone, A., Bertuccio, C. et al. (2019). Hermaphroditism in a violet snail, Janthina pallida (Gastropoda, Caenogastropoda): a contribution. Biologia, 74: 509–513. doi.org/10.2478/s11756-018-00177-9*Thumbnail Image*normfarmerimages*Outro* Bubbles Drifting in the Morning Breeze - Artificial.Music & Akosmoyoutube.com/watch?v=wS4hkYXuasEJoin the channel's membership:youtube.com/channel/UC6eT6uO4hgkRZPXOSMJw-dQ/join
What Exactly Is: Fried Egg Jellyfish | The Drifting Breakfast Out-of-Place Zoologist 2026-02-27 | Fried egg jellyfish is quite famous for their look. They would fit nicely on a breakfast plate after all. However, what many people don’t know is, when talking about fried egg jellyfish, different person could mean a different animal. Even though both look like a fried egg, they have a significantly different life history, so let’s talk about them.*Timestamps*0:00 Opening Thought0:43 Taxonomy and General Information2:29 Phacellophora camtschatica6:21 Cotylorhiza tuberculata*References*Straehler-pohl, I., Widmer, C.L., & Morandini, A.C. (2011). Characterizations of juvenile stages of some semaeostome Scyphozoa (Cnidaria), with recognition of a new family (Phacellophoridae). Zootaxa, 2741(1): 1–37. doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.2741.1.1 Moura, C. J., Ropa, N., Magalhães, B. I., & Gonçalves, J. M. (2022). Insight into the cryptic diversity and phylogeography of the peculiar fried egg jellyfish Phacellophora (Cnidaria, Scyphozoa, Ulmaridae). PeerJ, 10, e13125. doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13125Motta, G., Voltolini, M., Mancini, L., Dreossi, D., Brun, F., Tirelli, V., Castelletto, L. P., Rogelja, M., Terlizzi, A., & Avian, M. (2025). New advances in jellyfish anatomy: the benefits of endocasts and X-ray microtomography in the investigation of the gastrovascular system of Cotylorhiza tuberculata (Scyphozoa; Rhizostomeae; Cepheidae). PloS one, 20(11), e0336682. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0336682Enrique-Navarro, A., Huertas, E., Flander-Putrle, V., Bartual, A., Navarro, G., Ruiz, J., Malej, A., & Prieto, L. (2022). Living Inside a Jellyfish: The Symbiosis Case Study of Host-Specialized Dinoflagellates, “Zooxanthellae”, and the Scyphozoan Cotylorhiza tuberculata. Front. Mar. Sci., 9:817312. doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.817312Prieto, L., Astorga, D., Navarro, G., & Ruiz, J. (2010). Environmental control of phase transition and polyp survival of a massive-outbreaker jellyfish. PloS one, 5(11), e13793. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0013793Enrique-Navarro, A., Huertas, I. E., León Cobo, M. J., & Prieto, L. (2021). Impact of ocean warming and ocean acidification on asexual reproduction and statolith formation of the symbiotic jellyfish Cotylorhiza tuberculata. PloS one, 16(8), e0254983. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0254983Leone, A., Lecci, R. M., Durante, M., & Piraino, S. (2013). Extract from the zooxanthellate jellyfish Cotylorhiza tuberculata modulates gap junction intercellular communication in human cell cultures. Marine drugs, 11(5), 1728–1762. doi.org/10.3390/md11051728*Thumbnail*Phacellophora camtschatica: pnwdancerCotylorhiza tuberculata: Liutauras Dirse*Outro* Bubbles Drifting in the Morning Breeze - Artificial.Music & Akosmoyoutube.com/watch?v=wS4hkYXuasEJoin the channel's membership:youtube.com/channel/UC6eT6uO4hgkRZPXOSMJw-dQ/join
What Exactly Is: Spiny Turtle | The Sunburst Turtle Out-of-Place Zoologist 2026-02-20 | Spiny turtle is one of the most unique-looking turtles that currently exist. People think their juvenile looks cool because of the jagged shell; hence they are sought as pets. Unfortunately, that drives people to collect them from their natural habitat to be sold in pet trade, thus significantly reducing their population size.*Timestamps*0:00 Opening Thought1:05 Taxonomy and General Information3:29 Morphology5:56 Ecology*References*Baizurah, S.N. & Das, I. (2020). Heosemys spinosa (Spiny Hill Turtle). Diet. Herpetological Review, 51(4): 831-832. researchgate.net/publication/350486966_Heosemys_spinosa_Spiny_Hill_Turtle_DietBaizurah, S.N. & Das, I. (2021). Sexual Dimorphism in Heosemys spinosa (Testudines: Geoemydidae) from Sarawak, Borneo. Herpetology Notes, 14: 1231-1235. biotaxa.org/hn/article/view/67247Cota, M., Guntoro, J., Horne, B.D., Kusrini, M.D., Krishnasamy, K. & Shepherd, C. (2021). Heosemys spinosa. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: e.T9942A3152508. dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T9942A3152508.en. Goetz, M. (2007). Husbandry and Breeding of the Spiny Turtle Heosemys spinosa (GRAY, 1931) at the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust. Radiata, 16(2). researchgate.net/publication/305462838_Husbandry_and_Breeding_of_the_Spiny_Turtle_Heosemys_spinosa_GRAY_1931_at_the_Durrell_Wildlife_Conservation_TrustAndersen, S. K., Staerk, J., Kalhor, E., Natusch, D. J. D., da Silva, R., Pfau, B., & Conde, D. A. (2020). Economics, life history and international trade data for seven turtle species in Indonesian and Malaysian farms. Data in brief, 34, 106708. doi.org/10.1016/j.dib.2020.106708*Thumbnail Image*Binturong27*Outro* Bubbles Drifting in the Morning Breeze - Artificial.Music & Akosmoyoutube.com/watch?v=wS4hkYXuasEJoin the channel's membership:youtube.com/channel/UC6eT6uO4hgkRZPXOSMJw-dQ/join
What Exactly Is: Rodrigues Solitaire | Dodos Aggressive Relative Out-of-Place Zoologist 2026-02-13 | Rodrigues solitaire is often outshined by dodo. Many people might have heard of its name because it’s mentioned in an article talking about dodo, but Rodrigues solitaire does have traits that makes them unique. Dodos are known to be docile, meanwhile Rodrigues solitaires use their knob-like bony growth as a weapon to attack each other during their territorial dispute. Unfortunately, just like the dodos, they went extinct centuries ago. Let’s talk about them so they are not forgotten*Timestamps*0:00 Opening Thought0:46 Taxonomy and General Information3:34 History and Extinction5:38 Morphology7:20 Lifestyle and Behaviour*References*Heupink, T. H., van Grouw, H., & Lambert, D. M. (2014). The mysterious Spotted Green Pigeon and its relation to the Dodo and its kindred. BMC evolutionary biology, 14, 136. doi.org/10.1186/1471-2148-14-136Soares, A. E., Novak, B. J., Haile, J., Heupink, T. H., Fjeldså, J., Gilbert, M. T., Poinar, H., Church, G. M., & Shapiro, B. (2016). Complete mitochondrial genomes of living and extinct pigeons revise the timing of the columbiform radiation. BMC evolutionary biology, 16(1), 230. doi.org/10.1186/s12862-016-0800-3Newton, A. & Newton, E. (1869). VIII. On the osteology of the solitaire or Didine Bird of the Island of Rodriguez, Pezophaps solitaria ( Gmel.). Philosophical Transactions, 159: 327-362. doi.org/10.1098/rstl.1869.0011Rijsdijk, K. F., Croll, J. C., Hume, J. P., Janoo, A., Aguilée, R., De Groeve, J., Kentie, R., Schilthuizen, M., Warren, B. H., & Claessens, L. P. A. M. (2024). Sea level rise and the evolution of aggression on islands. iScience, 27(11), 111236. doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2024.111236Byrkjedal, I., Grønstøl, G., & Lislevand, T. (2016). Possible resource-defence polygyny in the extinct Rodrigues Solitaire Pezophaps solitaria (Columbidae: Raphini). Ibis, 158(1): 199-201. doi.org/10.1111/ibi.12329Rodríguez-Pontes, M. A. (2016). Digital reconstruction of Rodrigues Solitaire (Pezophaps solitaria) (Aves: Columbidae) physical appearance based on early descriptive observation and other evidence. Historical Biology, 28(3), 398–414. doi.org/10.1080/08912963.2014.954569*Outro* Bubbles Drifting in the Morning Breeze - Artificial.Music & Akosmoyoutube.com/watch?v=wS4hkYXuasEJoin the channel's membership:youtube.com/channel/UC6eT6uO4hgkRZPXOSMJw-dQ/join
What Exactly Is: Remora | The Suckerfish Out-of-Place Zoologist 2026-02-06 | Nowadays, remoras are typically known to hitchhike on sharks and whales. However, centuries, or even millennia ago, they were known to hold ships in place, causing massive delay, hence their name. The interaction between remoras and their hosts are mostly written as mutualistic, or at least commensalism. What most people didn’t realize is, that claims are usually hypothetical, not supported by empirical data. *Timestamps*0:00 Opening Thought1:13 Taxonomy and General Information3:14 Morphology6:03 Lifestyle and Behaviour9:22 Interaction11:20 Evolution*References*Paolo, P. (2021). Checklist of Fishes of the Family Echeneidae. International Journal of Zoological Investigations, 7(2): 566-573. doi.org/10.33745/ijzi.2021.v07i02.036Britz, R., & Johnson, G. D. (2012). Ontogeny and homology of the skeletal elements that form the sucking disc of remoras (Teleostei, Echeneoidei, Echeneidae). Journal of morphology, 273(12), 1353–1366. doi.org/10.1002/jmor.20063Kenaley, C. P., Stote, A., Ludt, W. B., & Chakrabarty, P. (2019). Comparative Functional and Phylogenomic Analyses of Host Association in the Remoras (Echeneidae), a Family of Hitchhiking Fishes. Integrative organismal biology (Oxford, England), 1(1), obz007. doi.org/10.1093/iob/obz007Flammang, B. E., & Kenaley, C. P. (2017). Remora cranial vein morphology and its functional implications for attachment. Scientific reports, 7(1), 5914. doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-06429-zWang, Y., Yang, X., Chen, Y., Wainwright, D. K., Kenaley, C. P., Gong, Z., Liu, Z., Liu, H., Guan, J., Wang, T., Weaver, J. C., Wood, R. J., & Wen, L. (2017). A biorobotic adhesive disc for underwater hitchhiking inspired by the remora suckerfish. Science robotics, 2(10), eaan8072. doi.org/10.1126/scirobotics.aan8072Gayford J. H. (2024). The multidimensional spectrum of eco-evolutionary relationships between sharks and remoras. Journal of fish biology, 105(1), 4–9. doi.org/10.1111/jfb.15759Weihs, D., Fish, F. E., & Nicastro, A. J. (2007). MECHANICS OF REMORA REMOVAL BY DOLPHIN SPINNING. Marine Mammal Science, 23(3): 707-714. doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-7692.2007.00131.xFriedman, M., Johanson, Z., Harrington, R. C., Near, T. J., & Graham, M. R. (2013). An early fossil remora (Echeneoidea) reveals the evolutionary assembly of the adhesion disc. Proceedings. Biological sciences, 280(1766), 20131200. doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2013.1200*Outro* Bubbles Drifting in the Morning Breeze - Artificial.Music & Akosmoyoutube.com/watch?v=wS4hkYXuasE*Thumbnail Image*Kevin BryantJoin the channel's membership:youtube.com/channel/UC6eT6uO4hgkRZPXOSMJw-dQ/join
How This Yu-Gi-Oh! Archetype Encapsulates The Life of a Natural Scientist Out-of-Place Zoologist 2026-01-30 | GMX is truly one of the Yu-Gi-Oh! archetype of all time*Timestamps*0:00 Preface0:41 First Thought1:15 The Multitude of Failure3:51 A Lonely Road6:57 Mediocrity is the Norm9:08 Opportunity Cost11:44 Lifeline12:42 Potential Men & Women14:24 Knowing Doesn’t Mean UnderstandingJoin the channel's membership:youtube.com/channel/UC6eT6uO4hgkRZPXOSMJw-dQ/join
What Exactly Is: German Cockroach | The Kaiser of Procreation Out-of-Place Zoologist 2026-01-23 | German cockroach is named that way because they were scientifically discovered in German. Even so, they are not even native to German. They evolved from Asian cockroach around 2000 years ago in South Asia, but rapidly spread throughout the world by anthropogenic transport since less than two centuries ago. German cockroach is considered to be the most prevalent pest in the world, and that means they can be crowned as the most successful cockroach in the world right now.*Timestamps*0:00 Opening Thought1:04 Taxonomy, Distribution, and Origin5:01 Morphology7:06 Ecology*References*Maekawa, K., & Nalepa, C. A. (2011). Biogeography and Phylogeny of Wood-feeding Cockroaches in the Genus Cryptocercus. Insects, 2(3), 354–368. doi.org/10.3390/insects2030354Evangelista, D. A., Nelson, D., Kotyková Varadínová, Z., Kotyk, M., Rousseaux, N., Shanahan, T., Grandcolas, P., & Legendre, F. (2024). Phylogenomic analyses of Blattodea combining traditional methods, incremental tree-building, and quality-aware support. Molecular phylogenetics and evolution, 200, 108177. doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2024.108177Tang, Q., Vargo, E. L., Ahmad, I., Jiang, H., Varadínová, Z. K., Dovih, P., Kim, D., Bourguignon, T., Booth, W., Schal, C., Mukha, D. V., Rheindt, F. E., & Evans, T. A. (2024). Solving the 250-year-old mystery of the origin and global spread of the German cockroach, Blattella germanica. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 121(22), e2401185121. doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2401185121Cai, J.-Z., Yao, W.-W., Wang, Z.-Q., & Che, Y.-L. (2025). On the species status of Blattella germanica and Blattella asahinai (Blattodea, Blattellidae), and other morphologically similar species. ZooKeys (1250, 155–188). doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1250.145981 Latorre, A., Domínguez-Santos, R., García-Ferris, C., & Gil, R. (2022). Of Cockroaches and Symbionts: Recent Advances in the Characterization of the Relationship between Blattella germanica and Its Dual Symbiotic System. Life, 12(2), 290. doi.org/10.3390/life12020290 Lin, L., Wen, J., Li, S., & Liu, F. (2022). Life-History Traits from Embryonic Development to Reproduction in the American Cockroach. Insects, 13(6), 551. doi.org/10.3390/insects13060551 *Thumbnail Image*Bogdan V. Kryzhatyuk*Outro* Bubbles Drifting in the Morning Breeze - Artificial.Music & Akosmoyoutube.com/watch?v=wS4hkYXuasE*BGM*The Roach Emperor by Studio EIM (Limbus Company OST - Canto IX Boss 8 Battle Theme) Join the channel's membership:youtube.com/channel/UC6eT6uO4hgkRZPXOSMJw-dQ/join
What Exactly Is: Beaked Whale | The Elusive Deep Diving Mammals Out-of-Place Zoologist 2026-01-16 | People have been talking about the differences between whales and dolphins, yet they don’t put beaked whale into the equation. Beaked whales have the typical characteristics of both “whale” and “dolphin”. They aren’t simply a hybrid though. They are unique among cetacean and even hold a record for themselves. *Timestamps*0:00 Opening Thought0:43 Taxonomy and General Information4:12 Morphology7:12 Ecology*References*Mead J. G. (2007). Stomach anatomy and use in defining systemic relationships of the Cetacean family Ziphiidae (beaked whales). Anatomical record (Hoboken, N.J. : 2007), 290(6), 581–595. doi.org/10.1002/ar.20536Quick, N. J., Cioffi, W. R., Shearer, J. M., Fahlman, A., & Read, A. J. (2020). Extreme diving in mammals: first estimates of behavioural aerobic dive limits in Cuvier's beaked whales. The Journal of experimental biology, 223(Pt 18), jeb222109. doi.org/10.1242/jeb.222109Best, P. B., Smale, M. J., Glass, J., Herian, K., & Von Der Heyden, S. (2014). Identification of stomach contents from a Shepherd’s beaked whale Tasmacetus shepherdi stranded on Tristan da Cunha, South Atlantic. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 94(6), 1093–1097. doi:10.1017/S0025315412001658 Adams, J., Walker, W. A., Burton, E. J., & Harvey, J. T. (2015). STOMACH CONTENTS OF A CUVIER’S BEAKED WHALE (ZIPHIUS CAVIROSTRIS) STRANDED IN MONTEREY BAY, CALIFORNIA. Northwestern Naturalist, 96(1), 93–98. http://www.jstor.org/stable/26382435Tonay, A. M., Salman, A., Taşkaya, İ., et al. (2025). Stomach Contents of Stranded Goose-Beaked Whales in the Levantine Basin and Aegean Sea. Marine Mammal Science, 42(1): e70075. doi.org/10.1111/mms.70075Heyning, J.E. & Mead, J. G. (1996). Suction feeding in beaked whales: morphological and observational evidence. Contributions in science, 464, 1-12. doi.org/10.5962/p.226802Fedutin, I. D., Filatova, O. A., Mamaev, E. G., et al. (2014). Occurrence and social structure of Baird's beaked whales, Berardius bairdii, in the Commander Islands, Russia. Marine Mammal Science, 31(3): 853-865. doi.org/10.1111/mms.12204Visser, F., Oudejans, M. G., Keller, O. A., Madsen, P. T., & Johnson, M. (2022). Sowerby's beaked whale biosonar and movement strategy indicate deep-sea foraging niche differentiation in mesoplodont whales. The Journal of experimental biology, 225(9), jeb243728. doi.org/10.1242/jeb.243728*Outro* Bubbles Drifting in the Morning Breeze - Artificial.Music & Akosmoyoutube.com/watch?v=wS4hkYXuasE*Thumbnail Image*ifonuJoin the channel's membership:youtube.com/channel/UC6eT6uO4hgkRZPXOSMJw-dQ/join
What Exactly Is: Greater Glider | Australias Largest Glider Out-of-Place Zoologist 2026-01-09 | Lately, the news about a new Australian marsupial with ears bigger than their face has resurfaced again, which is like a quarterly occurrence by now. Some people are wondering whether the news is real or just AI. Well, the animal is real, but what’s written in the news itself is not exactly correct. Let’s talk about Greater Glider, one of Australia’s unique yet relatively unpopular animal.*Timestamps*0:00 Opening Thought1:09 Taxonomy and General Information3:39 Morphology6:35 Ecology*References*Harris, J. M. & Maloney, K. S. (2010). Petauroides volans (Diprotodontia: Pseudocheiridae). Mammalian Species, 42(866), 207-219. doi.org/10.1644/866.1McGregor, D. C., Padovan, A., Georges, A., Krockenberger, A., Yoon, H. J., & Youngentob, K. N. (2020). Genetic evidence supports three previously described species of greater glider, Petauroides volans, P. minor, and P. armillatus. Scientific reports, 10(1), 19284. doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-76364-zMulley, B., Gracanin, A., & Mikac, K. M. (2024). Population Viability of an Endangered Population of Greater Gliders (Petauroides volans) and Management Implications. Conservation, 4(4), 871-887. doi.org/10.3390/conservation4040052 Johnson, C. & Burbidge, A.A. (2025). Petauroides volans. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2025: e.T40579A217036853. dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-2.RLTS.T40579A217036853.en. *Outro* Bubbles Drifting in the Morning Breeze - Artificial.Music & Akosmoyoutube.com/watch?v=wS4hkYXuasE*Thumbnail Image*Josh BowellJoin the channel's membership:youtube.com/channel/UC6eT6uO4hgkRZPXOSMJw-dQ/join
Red Thread Spiders Were Created in Laboratory Out-of-Place Zoologist 2026-01-02 | CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing is getting popular as our understanding keeps improving. However, it had not been done to spiders yet. And so, in April 2025, an experiment was published in the hope of setting a protocol for CRISPR-Cas9 experiment in spiders. While doing so, eyeless spiders and red-silk-producing mutant spiders are artificially created. *Timestamps*0:00 Opening Thought0:40 Introduction3:31 The Experiment7:13 Aftermath*References*Santiago-Rivera, E. & Scheibel, T. (2025). Spider Eye Development Editing and Silk Fiber Engineering Using CRISPR-Cas (RETRACTED). Angewandte Chemie, 64(25): e202502068. doi.org/10.1002/anie.202502068Ye, R., Yang, X., & Rao, Y. (2022). Genetic Engineering Technologies for Improving Crop Yield and Quality. Agronomy, 12(4), 759. doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12040759 *Outro* Bubbles Drifting in the Morning Breeze - Artificial.Music & Akosmoyoutube.com/watch?v=wS4hkYXuasE*Thumbnail Image*Common House Spider: sankaxJoin the channel's membership:youtube.com/channel/UC6eT6uO4hgkRZPXOSMJw-dQ/join
Christmas Island | The Fall and Rise of the “Galapagos of the Indian Ocean” Out-of-Place Zoologist 2025-12-26 | Christmas Island was commonly known as the “Galapagos of the Indian Ocean” because of its biodiversity. Since then, the population of multiple species have been declining. Some species are extinct in the wild. Even worse, some species are considered completely extinct. Nowadays, Christmas Island is almost completely overshadowed by Socrota as the true “Galapagos of the Indian Ocean”. Even so, conservation efforts are still being done to preserve the biodiversity.*References*Hausmann, A., Toivonen, T., Fink, C., Heikinheimo, V., Tenkanen, H., Butchart, S. H. M., Brooks, T. M., & Di Minin, E. (2019). Assessing global popularity and threats to Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas using social media data. The Science of the total environment, 683, 617–623. doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.05.268Maple, D.J., Barr, R., & Smith, M. J. (2012). A new record of the Christmas Island Blind Snake, Ramphotyphlops exocoeti (Reptilia:Squamata: Typhlopidae). Records of the Western Australian Museum, 27: 156-160. http://dx.doi.org/10.18195/issn.0312-3162.27(2).2012.156-160Emery, J-P. Mitchell, N.J., Cogger, H., et al. (2021). The lost lizards of Christmas Island: A retrospective assessment of factors driving the collapse of a native reptile community. Conservation Science and Practice, 3(2): e358. doi.org/10.1111/csp2.358Andrew, P., Cogger, H., Driscoll, D., et al. (2018). Somewhat saved: a captive breeding programme for two endemic Christmas Island lizard species, now extinct in the wild. Oryx, 52(1), 171–174. doi.org/10.1017/S0030605316001071 *Thumbnail Image*Christmas Island Pipistrelle (Bottom Right): Lindy LumsdenChristmas Island Forest Skink (Middle): Biodiversity Heritage LibraryThe rest are public domain*Outro*Silent Night (Youtube Library)Join the channel's membership:youtube.com/channel/UC6eT6uO4hgkRZPXOSMJw-dQ/join
What Exactly Is: Sea Spider | The All-Legs Out-of-Place Zoologist 2025-12-19 | If you are afraid of spiders, then you’re not even safe under the sea. Except these ones are a lot “nicer” and technically not even spiders. Meet the sea spiders, aka pycnogonids, aka pantopods. They are known as the “all-legs” because their axial body is so reduced it became barely noticeable. Inside these legs lies biological wonders that you might not even think are possible. *Timestamps*0:00 Opening Thought0:46 Taxonomy and General Information3:37 Morphology9:08 Lifestyle and Behaviour13:19 Fossil Records*References*Bamber, R.N.; El Nagar, A.; Arango, C.P.; Sabroux, R. (Eds) (2025). Pycnobase: World Pycnogonida Database. marinespecies.org/pycnobase. doi:10.14284/360Ballesteros, J. A., Setton, E. V. W., Santibáñez-López, C. E., Arango, C. P., Brenneis, G., Brix, S., Corbett, K. F., Cano-Sánchez, E., Dandouch, M., Dilly, G. F., Eleaume, M. P., Gainett, G., Gallut, C., McAtee, S., McIntyre, L., Moran, A. L., Moran, R., López-González, P. J., Scholtz, G., Williamson, C., … Sharma, P. P. (2021). Phylogenomic Resolution of Sea Spider Diversification through Integration of Multiple Data Classes. Molecular biology and evolution, 38(2), 686–701. doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msaa228Wang, J. J., Huang, D. Y., Lin, R. C., & Zheng, X. Q. (2013). A new species of Austrodecus Hodgson, 1907 (Arthropoda, Pycnogonida, Austrodecidae) from the Southwest Indian Ridge. ZooKeys, (349), 73–79. doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.349.6170Brenneis, G., Frankowski, K., Maaß, L., & Scholtz, G. (2023). The sea spider Pycnogonum litorale overturns the paradigm of the absence of axial regeneration in molting animals. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 120(5), e2217272120. doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2217272120Dietz, L., Dömel, J. S., Leese, F., Lehmann, T., & Melzer, R. R. (2018). Feeding ecology in sea spiders (Arthropoda: Pycnogonida): what do we know?. Frontiers in zoology, 15, 7. doi.org/10.1186/s12983-018-0250-4Richards, P.R. & Fry, W.G. (1978). Digestion in pycnogonids: a study of some polar forms. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 63(1-2): 75-97. doi.org/10.1111/j.1096-3642.1978.tb02091.xWoods, H. A., Lane, S. J., Shishido, C., Tobalske, B. W., Arango, C. P., & Moran, A. L. (2017). Respiratory gut peristalsis by sea spiders. Current biology : CB, 27(13), R638–R639. doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2017.05.062Lehmann, T., Heß, M., & Melzer, R. R. (2014). Common littoral pycnogonids of the Mediterranean Sea. Zoosystematics and Evolution, 90(2): 163–224. doi.org/10.3897/zse.90.7520 Lucena, R. A. & Christoffersen, M. L. (2022). Pycnogonida (Arthropoda) from Museu de Ciências Naturais, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Zoosystematics and Evolution, 98(2): 305–312. doi.org/10.3897/zse.98.83671 Alexeeva, N. & Tamberg, Y. (2023). Ultrastructure of the female pedal gonad in Phoxichilidium femoratum (Chelicerata, Pycnogonida). Arthropod Structure & Development, 76, 101295. doi.org/10.1016/j.asd.2023.101295Moran, A. L., Lobert, G. T., & Toh, M. W. A. (2024). Spawning and larval development of Colossendeis megalonyx, a giant Antarctic sea spider. Ecology, 105(3), e4258. doi.org/10.1002/ecy.4258Sabroux, R., Garwood, R. J., Pisani, D., Donoghue, P. C. J., & Edgecombe, G. D. (2024). New insights into the Devonian sea spiders of the Hunsrück Slate (Arthropoda: Pycnogonida). PeerJ, 12, e17766. doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17766*Outro*The Soundlings - Silent Night (Youtube Library)*Thumbnail Image*Danny LeeJoin the channel's membership:youtube.com/channel/UC6eT6uO4hgkRZPXOSMJw-dQ/join
What Exactly Is: Alciopini | The Camera-Eyed Worm Out-of-Place Zoologist 2025-12-12 | We are used to camera eye because we have it. However, camera eye, aka spherical lens eye are so rare in the animal kingdom that only 4 out of the 35 generally known animal phyla have them. What’s quite surprising is, one of those phyla is Annelida, but not the whole phylum. Only one specific group of worms, Alciopini. Most people haven’t heard of them, so let’s talk about it.Check out these videos to see them moving aroundyoutube.com/watch?v=Hjt6VV0qhokyoutube.com/watch?v=dSk3IMpR0nc*Timestamps*0:00 Opening Thought1:03 Taxonomy and General Information3:00 Morphology4:37 Eye6:46 Lifestyle and Behaviour*References*Read, G.; Fauchald, K. (Ed.) (2025). World Polychaeta Database. Alciopini Ehlers, 1864. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=932Lewin, T. D., Liao, I. J., & Luo, Y. J. (2024). Annelid Comparative Genomics and the Evolution of Massive Lineage-Specific Genome Rearrangement in Bilaterians. Molecular biology and evolution, 41(9) , msae172. doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msae172San Martín, G., Álvarez-Campos, P., Kondo, Y. et al. (2020). New symbiotic association in marine annelids: ectoparasites of comb jellies. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 191(3): 672-694. doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaa034Syomin, V., Kolbasova, G., Semenova, M., & Neretina, T. (2025). A new species of an unusual polychaete genus Ctenophoricola (Phyllodocida, Phyllodocidae, Alciopini) from the Indian Ocean. Zootaxa, 5613(1), 82–98. doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5613.1.3Bok, M. J., Macali, A., & Garm, A. (2024). High-resolution vision in pelagic polychaetes. Current Biology, *Outro*The Soundlings - Silent Night (Youtube Library)*Thumbnail Image*Alison SweeneyJoin the channel's membership:youtube.com/channel/UC6eT6uO4hgkRZPXOSMJw-dQ/join
One Step Forward, Two Steps Back | 2-Year Anniversary Special Out-of-Place Zoologist 2025-12-05 | It's the channel's 2-year anniversary, so let's talk about some stuffs that has been happening for the past year.*Background Music*Limbus Company Main Menu ThemeJoin the channel's membership:youtube.com/channel/UC6eT6uO4hgkRZPXOSMJw-dQ/join
What Exactly Is: Tentacled Snake | Born to Predict Out-of-Place Zoologist 2025-11-28 | While tentacled snakes are commonly known to be unique among snakes because of their tentacle-like protrusion on the tip of their snout, their behaviour is even more exceptional. They are the perfect counter to fish, exploiting the innate mechanism of their prey and predicting their movement. *Timestamps*0:00 Opening Thought0:52 Taxonomy and General Information2:50 Morphology4:39 Lifestyle and Behaviour9:43 Tentacle*References*Murphy, J., Brooks, S.E. & Bain, R.H. 2010. Erpeton tentaculatum. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2010: e.T176697A7285596. dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T176697A7285596.en. Catania K. C. (2012). Evolution of brains and behavior for optimal foraging: a tale of two predators. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 109 Suppl 1(Suppl 1), 10701–10708. doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1201885109Catania K. C. (2010). Born knowing: tentacled snakes innately predict future prey behavior. PloS one, 5(6), e10953. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0010953Catania, K. C., Leitch, D. B., & Gauthier, D. (2010). Function of the appendages in tentacled snakes (Erpeton tentaculatus). The Journal of experimental biology, 213(3), 359–367. doi.org/10.1242/jeb.039685*Outro*The Soundlings - Silent Night (Youtube Library)*Thumbnail Image*Catania, 2010 (see the Reference section)Join the channel's membership:youtube.com/channel/UC6eT6uO4hgkRZPXOSMJw-dQ/join
What Exactly Is: Turtle Frog | The Muscular Frog Out-of-Place Zoologist 2025-11-21 | Turtle frog is named that way because people think it looks like shell-less turtle. Their uniqueness doesn’t stop there though. Turtle frogs are one of a kind among anurans in several ways, so let’s talk about it.*Timestamps*0:00 Opening Thought1:02 Taxonomy and General Information3:05 Morphology4:39 Lifestyle and Behaviour7:23 Evolutionary Relationship*References*IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group. 2022. Myobatrachus gouldii. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2022: e.T41171A78444058. dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-2.RLTS.T41171A78444058.en. Accessed on 20 November 2025.Emerson S. B. (1976). Burrowing in frogs. Journal of morphology, 149(4), 437–458. doi.org/10.1002/jmor.1051490402Portik, D. M., Streicher, J. W., & Wiens, J. J. (2023). Frog phylogeny: A time-calibrated, species-level tree based on hundreds of loci and 5,242 species. Molecular phylogenetics and evolution, 188, 107907. doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2023.107907Vertucci, S., Pepper, M., Edwards, D. L., Roberts, J. D., Mitchell, N., & Keogh, J. S. (2017). Evolutionary and natural history of the turtle frog, Myobatrachus gouldii, a bizarre myobatrachid frog in the southwestern Australian biodiversity hotspot. PloS one, 12(3), e0173348. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0173348*Outro*The Soundlings - Silent Night (Youtube Library)*Thumbnail Image*Nick VolpeJoin the channel's membership:youtube.com/channel/UC6eT6uO4hgkRZPXOSMJw-dQ/join
What Exactly Is: Yeti Crab | The Crabominable Deep-Sea Crustacean Out-of-Place Zoologist 2025-11-14 | Even though they are called yeti crabs, they are actually not crabs. Yeti crabs are squat lobsters specialized to live on hydrothermal vents and hydrocarbon seeps. The iconic hair-like setae on their body facilitates this lifestyle. So far, we’ve found six potential species, and one of those have not been described yet. Let’s talk about them.*Timestamps*0:00 Opening Thought0:55 Taxonomy and General Information5:01 Morphology8:20 Lifestyle and Behaviour*References*Scholtz, G. (2014). Evolution of crabs - history and deconstruction of a prime example of convergence. Contributions to Zoology, 83(2): 87-105. doi.org/10.1163/18759866-08302001Roterman, C. N., Lee, W. K., Liu, X., Lin, R., Li, X., & Won, Y. J. (2018). A new yeti crab phylogeny: Vent origins with indications of regional extinction in the East Pacific. PloS one, 13(3), e0194696. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0194696Thurber, A. R., Jones, W. J., & Schnabel, K. (2011). Dancing for food in the deep sea: bacterial farming by a new species of Yeti crab. PloS one, 6(11), e26243. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0026243Rogers, A. D., Tyler, P. A., Connelly, D. P., Copley, J. T., James, R., Larter, R. D., Linse, K., Mills, R. A., Garabato, A. N., Pancost, R. D., Pearce, D. A., Polunin, N. V., German, C. R., Shank, T., Boersch-Supan, P. H., Alker, B. J., Aquilina, A., Bennett, S. A., Clarke, A., Dinley, R. J., … Zwirglmaier, K. (2012). The discovery of new deep-sea hydrothermal vent communities in the southern ocean and implications for biogeography. PLoS biology, 10(1), e1001234. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.1001234Thatje, S., Marsh, L., Roterman, C. N., Mavrogordato, M. N., & Linse, K. (2015). Adaptations to Hydrothermal Vent Life in Kiwa tyleri, a New Species of Yeti Crab from the East Scotia Ridge, Antarctica. PloS one, 10(6), e0127621. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0127621Lee, S-H., Lee, W-K., & Won, Y-J. (2016). A New Species of Yeti Crab, Genus Kiwa (Decapoda: Anomura: Kiwaidae), from a Hydrothermal Vent on the Australian-Antarctic Ridge. Journal of Crustacean Biology, 36(2): 238-247. doi.org/10.1163/1937240X-00002418Liu, X., Lin, J., Mendoza, J.C.E. (2024). A new species of the bathyal yeti crab genus Kiwa Macpherson, Jones & Segonzac, 2005 (Decapoda: Anomura: Kiwaidae) from a hydrothermal vent field in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, with a key to the genus. Journal of Crustacean Biology, 44(2): ruae030. doi.org/10.1093/jcbiol/ruae030*Outro*The Soundlings - Silent Night (Youtube Library)Join the channel's membership:youtube.com/channel/UC6eT6uO4hgkRZPXOSMJw-dQ/join
What Exactly Is: Wing | Evolution, Structure, Mechanism, and Variation Out-of-Place Zoologist 2025-11-08 | Humans have been obsessed with wings because it enables flight, one of many things that we couldn’t do as a species. While all wings basically have the same core function, the way they works are different. Each winged animals also evolved wings independently, hence their structures are also different. Let's talk about each of them.*Timestamps*0:00 Opening Thought0:47 Wings and Flight5:20 Insect Wing13:03 Vertebrate Wing13:40 Pterosaur Wing19:04 Bird Wing and Other Non-Avian Theropods28:05 Bat Wing*References*Cho, M., et al. (2018). doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.2004405Alexander D. E. (2018). doi.org/10.1016/j.asd.2017.11.007Prokop, J., et al. (2019). http://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.190460Tomoyasu, Y., et al. (2017). doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.10285.1Prokop, et al. (2017). doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2016.11.021Ross A. (2022). doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2022.06.087Almudi, et al. (2020). doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-16284-8Dehling J. M. (2017). doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0189573Ezcurra, et al. (2020). doi.org/10.1038/s41586-020-3011-4Zhou, et al. (2020). doi.org/10.5194/fr-23-191-2020Witton M. P. (2015). doi.org/10.7717/peerj.1018Bennett, S. C. (2000). doi.org/10.1080/10292380009380572Kellner, et al. (2010). doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2009.0846Dyke, et al. (2006). doi.org/10.1111/j.1420-9101.2006.01096.xPittman, et al. (2021). doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2107631118Chatterjee, S., & Templin, R.J. (2004). doi.org/10.1130/SPE376Witton, M. P., & Habib, M. B. (2010). doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0013982Longrich, et al. (2018). doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.2001663Voeten, et al. (2018). doi.org/10.1038/s41467-018-03296-8Hone, et al. (2010). doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0009223Liard, et al. (2015). researchgate.net/publication/341039760_Phu_Noi_a_mesozoic_vertebrate_locality_from_the_Jurassic_of_ThailandHartman, et al. (2019). doi.org/10.7717/peerj.7247Tobalske B. W. (2016). doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2015.0383Rietbergen, et al. (2023). doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0283505Tokita, et al. (2012). doi.org/10.1038/ncomms2298Cheney, et al. (2017). doi.org/10.1111/joa.12580Adams, et al. (2012). doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0032074*Outro*The Soundlings - Silent Night (Youtube Library)*Thumbnail Image*Pterosaur Wing: Rudolf Hima(The rest are Public Domain)Join the channel's membership:youtube.com/channel/UC6eT6uO4hgkRZPXOSMJw-dQ/join
What Exactly Is: Crocodile Icefish | The White-Blooded Fish Out-of-Place Zoologist 2025-10-31 | Although we are mostly familiar with red coloured blood, various animals have different blood colour. What’s quite unique is a colourless blood, and that do exist. The crocodile icefish is the only vertebrate without red blood. Even though their uniqueness might sound fascinating, it’s actually quite costly for them and a lot of compensations are needed to survive.*Timestamps*0:00 Opening Thought0:49 Taxonomy and General Information2:16 Morphology4:02 Blood and Iron8:35 Lifestyle and Behaviour*References*Corliss, B. A., Delalio, L. J., Stevenson Keller, T. C., 4th, Keller, A. S., Keller, D. A., Corliss, B. H., Beers, J. M., Peirce, S. M., & Isakson, B. E. (2019). Vascular Expression of Hemoglobin Alpha in Antarctic Icefish Supports Iron Limitation as Novel Evolutionary Driver. Frontiers in physiology, 10, 1389. doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2019.01389Beers, J. M., & Jayasundara, N. (2015). Antarctic notothenioid fish: what are the future consequences of 'losses' and 'gains' acquired during long-term evolution at cold and stable temperatures?. The Journal of experimental biology, 218(Pt 12), 1834–1845. doi.org/10.1242/jeb.116129Sidell, B. D., & O'Brien, K. M. (2006). When bad things happen to good fish: the loss of hemoglobin and myoglobin expression in Antarctic icefishes. The Journal of experimental biology, 209(Pt 10), 1791–1802. doi.org/10.1242/jeb.02091Corliss, B. A., Delalio, L. J., Stevenson Keller, T. C., 4th, Keller, A. S., Keller, D. A., Corliss, B. H., Beers, J. M., Peirce, S. M., & Isakson, B. E. (2019). Vascular Expression of Hemoglobin Alpha in Antarctic Icefish Supports Iron Limitation as Novel Evolutionary Driver. Frontiers in physiology, 10, 1389. doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2019.01389Purser, A., Hehemann, L., Boehringer, L., Tippenhauer, S., Wege, M., Bornemann, H., Pineda-Metz, S. E. A., Flintrop, C. M., Koch, F., Hellmer, H. H., Burkhardt-Holm, P., Janout, M., Werner, E., Glemser, B., Balaguer, J., Rogge, A., Holtappels, M., & Wenzhoefer, F. (2022). A vast icefish breeding colony discovered in the Antarctic. Current biology : CB, 32(4), 842–850.e4. doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2021.12.022Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. (2025). FishBase. Channichthyidae Gill, 1861. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=234518*Outro*The Soundlings - Silent Night (Youtube Library)*Thumbnail Image*Blood: Jody M. BeersLarva: uwe kilsJoin the channel's membership:youtube.com/channel/UC6eT6uO4hgkRZPXOSMJw-dQ/join
What Exactly Is: Edible Dormouse | A Historical Delicacy Out-of-Place Zoologist 2025-10-24 | Sometimes common name can be cryptic, while in some cases, it can be quite obvious. What is the case for edible dormouse though? Why is this dormouse the only animal with edible in its common name? How relevant is that name? What’s so special about them? Let’s talk about it.*Timestamps*0:00 Opening Thought1:00 Taxonomy and General Information3:13 Morphology6:20 Lifestyle and Behaviour8:30 Cultural Relevance*References*Kryštufek, B. (2010). Glis glis (Rodentia: Gliridae). Mammalian Species, 42(865), 195–206. doi.org/10.1644/865.1Kryštufek, B., Naderi, M., Janžekovič, F., Hutterer, R., Bombek, D. & Mahmoudi, A. (2021). A taxonomic revision of fat dormice, genus Glis (Rodentia). Mammalia, 85(4), 362-378. doi.org/10.1515/mammalia-2020-0161Vekhnik, V. A. (2022). Nutrition of the Edible dormouse (Glis glis Linnaeus, 1766) across the distributional range. Journal of Wildlife and Biodiversity, 6(Special issue), 1–23. doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7154224Bieber, C., Turbill, C. & Ruf, T. (2018). Effects of aging on timing of hibernation and reproduction. Sci Rep 8, 13881. doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-32311-7Amori, G., Hutterer, R., Kryštufek, B., Yigit, N., Mitsainas, G., Muñoz, L., Meinig, H. & Juškaitis, R. 2021. Glis glis (amended version of 2016 assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: e.T39316A197292692. dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-1.RLTS.T39316A197292692.en. *Outro*The Soundlings - Silent Night (Youtube Library)*Thumbnail Image*Julien 31Join the channel's membership:youtube.com/channel/UC6eT6uO4hgkRZPXOSMJw-dQ/join
What Exactly Is: Bathydevius | The Mystery Mollusc Out-of-Place Zoologist 2025-10-10 | Bathydevius have been encountered multiple times since the early 2000s. For over 20 years, we didn’t know what exactly are they. We called them “Mystery Mollusc” for years, before it’s finally revealed in a scientific publication back in December 2024. True to their name, Bathydevius are indeed deep-living deviations.MBARI Video: youtube.com/watch?v=MszfZriuVVs&t=1s*Timestamps*0:00 Opening Thought0:44 Discovery1:37 Taxonomy and General Information3:13 Morphoanatomy6:49 Lifestyle and Behaviour9:17 Evolutionary Relationship*Reference*Robison, B. H. & Haddock, S. H. D. (2024). Discovery and description of a remarkable bathypelagic nudibranch, Bathydevius caudactylus, gen. et. sp. nov. Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers, 214: 104414. doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr.2024.104414*Outro*The Soundlings - Silent Night (Youtube Library)*Thumbnail Image*Robison & Haddock, 2024 (check the reference section)Join the channel's membership:youtube.com/channel/UC6eT6uO4hgkRZPXOSMJw-dQ/join
What Exactly Is: Sandfish | The Sand-Swimmer Out-of-Place Zoologist 2025-10-03 | Reptiles swimming in the desert is real, and we’ve known that for centuries. Sandfishes have been catching our attention because of their ability to swim in the sand. Research had been done to discover their secret, and they become a great inspiration for biomimetics and biorobotics.Sandfish Robot: youtube.com/watch?v=Rwoz4WbXxdI*Timestamps*0:00 Opening Thought0:36 Taxonomy and General Information2:27 Morphology5:01 Lifestyle and Behaviour*References*Els, J., Eid, E.K.A., Al Johany, A.M.H., Amr, Z.S.S., Egan, D.M., Sharifi, M., Papenfuss, T. & Shafiei Bafti, S. 2022. Scincus mitranus (amended version of 2012 assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2022: e.T164651A217762229. dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T164651A217762229.en.Baumgartner, W., Fidler, F., Weth, A., Habbecke, M., Jakob, P., Butenweg, C., & Böhme, W. (2008). Investigating the locomotion of the sandfish in desert sand using NMR-imaging. PloS one, 3(10), e3309. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0003309Maladen, R. D., Ding, Y., Li, C., & Goldman, D. I. (2009). Undulatory swimming in sand: subsurface locomotion of the sandfish lizard. Science (New York, N.Y.), 325(5938), 314–318. doi.org/10.1126/science.1172490Wu, W., Lutz, C., Mersch, S., Thelen, R., Greiner, C., Gomard, G., & Hölscher, H. (2018). Characterization of the microscopic tribological properties of sandfish (Scincus scincus) scales by atomic force microscopy. Beilstein journal of nanotechnology, 9, 2618–2627. doi.org/10.3762/bjnano.9.243Stadler, A. T., Vihar, B., Günther, M., Huemer, M., Riedl, M., Shamiyeh, S., Mayrhofer, B., Böhme, W., & Baumgartner, W. (2016). Adaptation to life in aeolian sand: how the sandfish lizard, Scincus scincus, prevents sand particles from entering its lungs. The Journal of experimental biology, 219(Pt 22), 3597–3604. doi.org/10.1242/jeb.138107Hetherington, T. E. (1989). Use of vibratory cues for detection of insect prey by the sandswimming lizard Scincus scincus. Animal Behaviour, 37(2): 290-297. doi.org/10.1016/0003-3472(89)90118-8Zimin, Anna; Zimin, Sean; Shine, Richard et al. (2022). A global analysis of viviparity in squamates highlights its prevalence in cold climates [Dataset]. Dryad. doi.org/10.5061/dryad.kd51c5b6mAl-Johany, A. M., Al-Sadoon, M. K., & Al-Farraj, S. A. (1997). Reproductive biology of the skinkScincus mitranus(Anderson, 1871) in the central region of Saudi Arabia. Journal of Arid Environments, 36(2), 319–326. doi.org/10.1006/JARE.1996.0241*Outro*The Soundlings - Silent Night (Youtube Library)*Thumbnail Image*dhfischer (iNaturalist)Join the channel's membership:youtube.com/channel/UC6eT6uO4hgkRZPXOSMJw-dQ/join
What Exactly Is: Lancelet | The Model of Chordate Evolution Out-of-Place Zoologist 2025-09-26 | Lancelet is generally thought to be the basal chordate, at least among the observable extant animals. This, combined with their relatively simplistic yet definitely unique traits make them the perfect model for studying the evolution of chordate. However, outside the scientific community, lancelets are generally not well-known, so let’s talk about them.*Timestamps*0:00 Opening Thought1:01 Taxonomy and General Information4:41 Morphology and Anatomy7:51 Behaviour and Physiology*References*Sui, Z., Zhao, Z., & Dong, B. (2021). Origin of the Chordate Notochord. Diversity, 13(10), 462. doi.org/10.3390/d13100462 Röttinger, E., & Lowe, C. J. (2012). Evolutionary crossroads in developmental biology: hemichordates. Development (Cambridge, England), 139(14), 2463–2475. doi.org/10.1242/dev.066712Satoh, N., Tagawa, K., Lowe, C. J., Yu, J. K., Kawashima, T., Takahashi, H., Ogasawara, M., Kirschner, M., Hisata, K., Su, Y. H., & Gerhart, J. (2014). On a possible evolutionary link of the stomochord of hemichordates to pharyngeal organs of chordates. Genesis (New York, N.Y. : 2000), 52(12), 925–934. doi.org/10.1002/dvg.22831Igawa, T., Nozawa, M., Suzuki, D. G., Reimer, J. D., Morov, A. R., Wang, Y., Henmi, Y., & Yasui, K. (2017). Evolutionary history of the extant amphioxus lineage with shallow-branching diversification. Scientific reports, 7(1), 1157. doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-00786-5Wei-Ye, L., Fang, S. H., & Wang, Y. Q. (2014). Complete mitochondrial genome of Epigonichthys cultellus (Cephalochordata: Branchiostomatidae). Zoological science, 31(11), 766–772. doi.org/10.2108/zs130213Nishikawa T. (2004). A new deep-water lancelet (Cephalochordata) from off Cape Nomamisaki, SW Japan, with a proposal of the revised system recovering the genus Asymmetron. Zoological science, 21(11), 1131–1136. doi.org/10.2108/zsj.21.1131Kon, T., Nohara, M., Yamanoue, Y., Fujiwara, Y., Nishida, M., & Nishikawa, T. (2007). Phylogenetic position of a whale-fall lancelet (Cephalochordata) inferred from whole mitochondrial genome sequences. BMC evolutionary biology, 7, 127. doi.org/10.1186/1471-2148-7-127Madrid Concepcion, M. E., Macdonald, K. S., III, Driskell, A. C., Wetzer, R., Di Domenico, M., & Collin, R. (2025). Lots of Lancelets or Not? Diversity of Cephalochordates in the Tropical Eastern Pacific. Diversity, 17(6), 411. doi.org/10.3390/d17060411 Lamb T. D. (2013). Evolution of phototransduction, vertebrate photoreceptors and retina. Progress in retinal and eye research, 36, 52–119. doi.org/10.1016/j.preteyeres.2013.06.001McDougall, A., Hebras, C., Gomes, I., & Dumollard, R. (2021). Gene Editing in the Ascidian Phallusia mammillata and Tail Nerve Cord Formation. Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.), 2219, 217–230. doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-0974-3_13Garcia-Fernàndez, J., & Benito-Gutiérrez, E. (2009). It's a long way from amphioxus: descendants of the earliest chordate. BioEssays : news and reviews in molecular, cellular and developmental biology, 31(6), 665–675. doi.org/10.1002/bies.200800110D'Aniello, S., Bertrand, S., & Escriva, H. (2023). Amphioxus as a model to study the evolution of development in chordates. eLife, 12, e87028. doi.org/10.7554/eLife.87028Yue, J. X., Holland, N. D., Holland, L. Z., & Deheyn, D. D. (2016). The evolution of genes encoding for green fluorescent proteins: insights from cephalochordates (amphioxus). Scientific reports, 6, 28350. doi.org/10.1038/srep28350*Thumbnail Image*Chris Isaacs (iNaturalist)*Outro*The Soundlings - Silent Night (Youtube Library)Join the channel's membership:youtube.com/channel/UC6eT6uO4hgkRZPXOSMJw-dQ/join
What Exactly Is: Coffin Ray | Coastal Electric Mine Out-of-Place Zoologist 2025-09-19 | Coffin ray is one of, if not the most interesting looking electric ray. They can deliver a potent electric shock. Although it’s normally not lethal for human, it can still numb your limbs or knock you out. They live along the coast, so do be careful to not accidentally step on them *Timestamps*0:00 Opening Thought0:44 Taxonomy and General Information3:00 Morphology5:03 Lifestyle and Behaviour6:31 Electric Shock*References*Jacobsen, I.P. & Lisney, T.J. 2015. Hypnos monopterygius. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015: e.T41828A68630121. dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T41828A68630121.en. Frost A.-M., Jacobsen I. P., Bennett M. B. (2017) The diet of the coffin ray, Hypnos monopterygius (Shaw, 1795), and predation mode inferred from jaw, dentition and electric organ morphology. Marine and Freshwater Research 68, 1193-1198. doi.org/10.1071/MF16200McGrouther, M. (2023). Coffin Ray, Hypnos monopterygius (Shaw & Nodder 1795). Australian Museum. https://australian.museum/learn/animals/fishes/numbfish-hypnos-monopterygium-shaw-nodder-1795/Dulvy, N.K. & Reynolds, J.D. (1997). Evolutionary transitions among egg-Laying, live-bearing and maternal inputs in sharks and rays. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 264: 1309-1315. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.1997.0181Katona, G., Szabó, F., Végvári, Z., Székely, T., Jr, Liker, A., Freckleton, R. P., Vági, B., & Székely, T. (2023). Evolution of reproductive modes in sharks and rays. Journal of evolutionary biology, 36(11), 1630–1640. doi.org/10.1111/jeb.14231Blackburn, D. G., & Hughes, D. F. (2024). Phylogenetic analysis of viviparity, matrotrophy, and other reproductive patterns in chondrichthyan fishes. Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, 99(4), 1314–1356. doi.org/10.1111/brv.13070Tanaka, Y., Funano, Si., Nishizawa, Y. et al. (2016). An electric generator using living Torpedo electric organs controlled by fluid pressure-based alternative nervous systems. Sci Rep 6, 25899. doi.org/10.1038/srep25899*Outro*The Soundlings - Silent Night (Youtube Library)*Thumbnail Image*withgrahamJoin the channel's membership:youtube.com/channel/UC6eT6uO4hgkRZPXOSMJw-dQ/join
What Exactly Is: Hornet | Stings of Pain Out-of-Place Zoologist 2025-09-12 | Hornets are infamous for being aggressive stinging machine. It is told that hornets’ sting is painful and deadly, so people are afraid of them. How true is that? Which rumour is just a myth? Let’s talk about hornet*Timestamps*0:00 Opening Thought0:47 Taxonomy and General Information4:54 Morphology5:57 Lifestyle and Behaviour*References*Herrera, C., Leza, M. & Martínez-López, E. (2020). Diversity of compounds in Vespa spp. venom and the epidemiology of its sting: a global appraisal. Arch Toxicol 94, 3609–3627. doi.org/10.1007/s00204-020-02859-3Cappa, F., Cini, A., Bortolotti, L., Poidatz, J., & Cervo, R. (2021). Hornets and Honey Bees: A Coevolutionary Arms Race between Ancient Adaptations and New Invasive Threats. Insects, 12(11), 1037. doi.org/10.3390/insects12111037 Ono, M., Terabe, H., Hori, H. et al. (2003). Components of giant hornet alarm pheromone. Nature 424, 637–638. doi.org/10.1038/424637aHirano, K., & Tanikawa, A. (2020). Ocular Injury Caused by the Sprayed Venom of the Asian Giant Hornet (Vespa mandarinia). Case reports in ophthalmology, 11(2), 430–435. doi.org/10.1159/000508911BHOOLA, K. D., CALLE, J. D., & SCHACHTER, M. (1961). Identification of acetylcholine, 5-hydroxy-tryptamine, histamine, and a new kinin in hornet venom (V. crabro). The Journal of physiology, 159(1), 167–182. doi.org/10.1113/jphysiol.1961.sp006799Gong, Z., Tan, K., & Nieh, J. C. (2019). Hornets possess long-lasting olfactory memories. The Journal of experimental biology, 222(Pt 13), jeb200881. doi.org/10.1242/jeb.200881Rominiecki, J. (2022). ‘Northern Giant Hornet’ Adopted as Common Name for Vespa mandarinia. Entomological Society of America. entsoc.org/news/press-releases/northern-giant-hornet-common-name-vespa-mandarinia*Outro*The Soundlings - Silent Night (Youtube Library)Join the channel's membership:youtube.com/channel/UC6eT6uO4hgkRZPXOSMJw-dQ/join
What Exactly Is: Hammerheaded bat | The Noisy Honkers Out-of-Place Zoologist 2025-09-05 | There are many weird-looking bats, and the hammerheaded bat is definitely one of them. They are called that way because males have a big muzzle which acts as resonating chamber. They live in the forest and they make loud honking noises during breeding season. *Timestamps*0:00 Opening Thought1:04 Taxonomy and General Information2:09 Morphology3:54 Lifestyle and Behaviour8:31 Conservation and Relevance*References*Langevin, P. & Barclay, R.M.R. (1990) Hypsignathus monstrosus, Mammalian Species, Issue 357: 1–4, doi.org/10.2307/3504110Olson, S. H., Bounga, G., Ondzie, A., Bushmaker, T., Seifert, S. N., Kuisma, E., Taylor, D. W., Munster, V. J., & Walzer, C. (2019). Lek-associated movement of a putative Ebolavirus reservoir, the hammer-headed fruit bat (Hypsignathus monstrosus), in northern Republic of Congo. PloS one, 14(10), e0223139. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0223139Russo, N.J., Takuo, J.M., Tegebong, V. et al. (2025). Spaceborne and UAV-LiDAR reveal hammer-headed bat preference for intermediate canopy height and diverse structure in a Central African rainforest. Mov Ecol 13, 30. doi.org/10.1186/s40462-025-00552-7Mildenstein, T., Tanshi, I., Racey, P.A. (2016). Exploitation of Bats for Bushmeat and Medicine. In: Voigt, C., Kingston, T. (eds) Bats in the Anthropocene: Conservation of Bats in a Changing World. Springer, Cham. doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-25220-9_12Tanshi, I. 2016. Hypsignathus monstrosus (errata version published in 2017). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T10734A115098825. dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T10734A21999919.en. *Outro*The Soundlings - Silent Night (Youtube Library)*Thumbnail Image*Sarah H. OlsonJoin the channel's membership:youtube.com/channel/UC6eT6uO4hgkRZPXOSMJw-dQ/join
What Exactly Is: Wombat | The Most Unique Faeces in the Animal Kingdom Out-of-Place Zoologist 2025-08-29 | Wombat is one of the iconic animals from Australia. Wombats are famous for their hardened rump, which sprout a myth that are quite well-known by the general public. They also produce the most unique droppings on earth that confused scientist for centuries. Which ones are myths and which ones are facts? Let’s talk about it.*Timestamps*0:00 Opening Thought0:38 Taxonomy and General Information3:07 Morphology5:45 Lifestyle and Behaviour10:02 Fossil Record10:53 Conservation and Cultural Relevance*References*Fraser, R.A., Grün, R., Privat, K., & Gagan, M.K. (2008). Stable-isotope microprofiling of wombat tooth enamel records seasonal changes in vegetation and environmental conditions in eastern Australia. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 269(1-2), 66-77. doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2008.08.004Linley, G.D., Geary, W.L., Jolly, C.J., et al. (2024). Wombat burrows are hotspots for small vertebrates in a landscape subject to gigafire. Journal of Mammalogy, 105(4), 752–764. doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyae034Yang, P.J., Lee, A.B., Chan, M., et al. (2021). Intestines of non-uniform stiffness mold the corners of wombat feces. Soft Matter, 17, 475-488. doi.org/10.1039/D0SM01230KOld, J. M., Vallin, B. L., Thorley, R. K., Casey, F., & Stannard, H. J. (2024). DNA metabarcoding analysis of the bare-nosed wombat (Vombatus ursinus) diet. Ecology and evolution, 14(5), e11432. doi.org/10.1002/ece3.11432Casey, F., Old, J. M., & Stannard, H. J. (2023). Assessment of the diet of the critically endangered northern hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus krefftii) using DNA metabarcoding. Ecology and evolution, 13(9), e10469. doi.org/10.1002/ece3.10469Brewer, P., Archer, M., Hand, S., & Price, G.J. (2018). A new species of Miocene wombat (Marsupialia, Vombatiformes) from Riversleigh, Queensland, Australia, and implications for the evolutionary history of the Vombatidae. Brewer, P., Archer, M., Hand, S., & Godthelp, H. (2007). A new species of the wombat Warendja from late Miocene deposits at Riversleigh, northwest Queensland, Australia. Palaeontology 50: 811–828. doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-4983.2007.00678.xOld, J., Stannard, H., Woinarski, J.C.Z. & Burbidge, A.A. (2025). Vombatus ursinus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2025: e.T40556A258654868. dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS.T40556A258654868.en. Woinarski, J.C.Z., Burbidge, A.A., Old, J. & Stannard, H. (2025). Lasiorhinus latifrons. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2025: e.T40555A258654451. dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS.T40555A258654451.en. Taggart, D., Martin, R. & Horsup, A. (2016). Lasiorhinus krefftii. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T11343A21959050. dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T11343A21959050.en. Thorley, R.K. & Old, J.M. (2020). Distribution, abundance and threats to bare-nosed wombats (Vombatus ursinus). Australian Mammalogy. 42(3): 249–256. doi.org/10.1071/AM19035*Outro*The Soundlings - Silent Night (Youtube Library)*Thumbnail Image*cactusbeetrootJoin the channel's membership:youtube.com/channel/UC6eT6uO4hgkRZPXOSMJw-dQ/join
What Exactly Is: Oilbird | The Echolocating Nocturnal Bird Out-of-Place Zoologist 2025-08-22 | Oilbirds are iconic because humans used them to produce oil. Besides the interesting historical importance, they are also biologically unique. They are the only nocturnal frugivore flying bird. Not only that, they also exhibit echolocation. Their biology somewhat resembles bats, which is very unique for a bird.*Timestamps*0:00 Opening Thought1:09 Taxonomy and General Information2:22 Morphology3:42 Unique Traits and Lifestyle7:01 Uses and Importance*References*Holland, R. A., Wikelski, M., Kümmeth, F., & Bosque, C. (2009). The secret life of oilbirds: new insights into the movement ecology of a unique avian frugivore. PloS one, 4(12), e8264. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0008264Martin, G., Rojas, L.M., Ramírez, Y. et al. (2004). The eyes of oilbirds (Steatornis caripensis): pushing at the limits of sensitivity. Naturwissenschaften 91, 26–29. doi.org/10.1007/s00114-003-0495-3Rojas, L. M., Ramírez, Y., McNeil, R., Mitchell, M., & Marín, G. (2004). Retinal morphology and electrophysiology of two caprimulgiformes birds: the cave-living and nocturnal oilbird (Steatornis caripensis), and the crepuscularly and nocturnally foraging common pauraque (Nyctidromus albicollis). Brain, behavior and evolution, 64(1), 19–33. doi.org/10.1159/000077540BirdLife International. 2021. Steatornis caripensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: e.T22689633A137757943. dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T22689633A137757943.en. *Outro*The Soundlings - Silent Night (Youtube Library)Join the channel's membership:youtube.com/channel/UC6eT6uO4hgkRZPXOSMJw-dQ/join
What Exactly Is: Screamer | The Mysterious Outgroup Out-of-Place Zoologist 2025-08-15 | When looking at screamers, most people wouldn’t believe that they are in fact waterfowl. Even among birds, screamers are very unique, especially the Horned Screamers that have a cornified horn growing form their skull. To this day, their evolution is still a mystery.*Timestamps*0:00 Opening Thought1:04 Taxonomy and General Information3:34 Morphology5:25 Lifestyle and Behaviour8:04 Evolution*References*Tubelis, D.P. (2020). Breeding biology of the Horned Screamer (Anhima cornuta) in non-protected areas in the Brazilian Cerrado. Ornithol. Res. 28: 115–124. doi.org/10.1007/s43388-020-00015-0Mayr, G., Pittman, M., Saitta, E., Kaye, T.G., & Vinther, J. (2016). Structure and homology of Psittacosaurus tail bristles. Palaeontology, 59(6): 793-802. doi.org/10.1111/pala.12257Kurochkin, E. N., Dyke, Gareth, & Karhu, Alexandr A. (2002). A new presbyornithid bird (Aves, Anseriformes) from the late Cretaceous of southern Mongolia. American Museum of Natural History. De Pietri, V. L., Scofield, R. P., Zelenkov, N., Boles, W. E., & Worthy, T. H. (2016). The unexpected survival of an ancient lineage of anseriform birds into the Neogene of Australia: the youngest record of Presbyornithidae. Royal Society Open Science, 3(2). doi.org/10.1098/rsos.150635Livezey, B.C. (1997). A phylogenetic analysis of basal Anseriformes, the fossil Presbyornis, and the interordinal relationships of waterfowl, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 121(4): 361–428, doi.org/10.1111/j.1096-3642.1997.tb01285.xDonne-Goussé, C., Laudet, V., & Hänni, C. (2002). A molecular phylogeny of anseriformes based on mitochondrial DNA analysis. Molecular phylogenetics and evolution, 23(3), 339–356. doi.org/10.1016/s1055-7903(02)00019-2Houde, P., Dickson, M., & Camarena, D. (2023). Basal Anseriformes from the Early Paleogene of North America and Europe. Diversity, 15(2), 233. doi.org/10.3390/d15020233 *Outro*The Soundlings - Silent Night (Youtube Library)*Thumbnail Image*Vincent Vos BoliviaJoin the channel's membership:youtube.com/channel/UC6eT6uO4hgkRZPXOSMJw-dQ/join
A 600-Million-Year Natural History Journey | A Promising New Paleontology Manga Out-of-Place Zoologist 2025-08-12 | Last week, a new paleontology manga was just physically released in Japan, and it piqued my interest. The content looks promising so i want more people to know about itCheck these links:Mangaka’s Twitter Account: https://x.com/AlpacaOkinawaPilot Chapter: https://x.com/AlpacaOkinawa/status/1945677901829128521Mosasaurus Chapter: https://x.com/AlpacaOkinawa/status/1953960797551624655
What Exactly Is: Hammerhead Worm | The Noxious Invader Out-of-Place Zoologist 2025-08-08 | Even though hammerhead worms might look cool or at least interesting, they are highly invasive. In fact, some of them are even described from invasive specimens, far from their origin. The fact that they can reproduce easily and they secrete tetrodotoxin make them a very successful invasive alien species in many regions. *Timestamps*0:00 Opening Thought0:39 Taxonomy and General Information3:59 Morphology6:55 Lifestyle and Behaviour8:58 Invasive Species*References*Kawakatsu, M., Ogren, R.E., & Froehlich, E.M. (1998). The Taxonomic Revision of Several Homonyms in the genus Bipalium, Family Bipaliidae (Turbellaria, Seriata, Tricladida, Terricola). Bull. Fuji Women’s College, 36, ser. II: 83-93. fujijoshi.repo.nii.ac.jp/record/1375/files/KJ00006968702.pdfOgren, R.E. & Sluys, R. (2001). The genus Humbertium gen. nov., a new taxon of the land planarian family Bipaliidae (Tricladida, Terricola). Belg. J. Zool, 131: 201-204. biblio.naturalsciences.be/associated_publications/bjz/131-1-supplement/volume-131-s1-pp-201-204.pdfKawakatsu, M., Ogren, R.E., Froehlich, E.M., Takai, M., & Sasaki, G. (2002). Additions and Corrections of the Previous Land Planarian Indices of the World (Turbellaria, Seriata, Tricladida, Terricola) - 10. Bull. Fuji Women’s College, 40, ser. II: 157-177. fujijoshi.repo.nii.ac.jp/record/259/files/KJ00004724391.pdfSolà, E., Sluys, R., Riutort, M., & Kawakatsu, M. (2023). Molecular phylogenetics facilitates the first historical biogeographic analysis of the hammerhead worms (Platyhelminthes: Tricladida: Bipaliinae), with the description of twelve new species and two new genera. Zootaxa, 5335(1), 1–77. doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5335.1.1Justine, J. L., Gastineau, R., Gros, P., Gey, D., Ruzzier, E., Charles, L., & Winsor, L. (2022). Hammerhead flatworms (Platyhelminthes, Geoplanidae, Bipaliinae): mitochondrial genomes and description of two new species from France, Italy, and Mayotte. PeerJ, 10, e12725. doi.org/10.7717/peerj.12725Fourcade, Y., Winsor, L., & Justine, J.-L. (2022). Hammerhead worms everywhere? Modelling the invasion of bipaliin flatworms in a changing climate. Diversity and Distributions, 28, 844–858. doi.org/10.1111/ddi.13489 Justine, J. L., Winsor, L., Gey, D., Gros, P., & Thévenot, J. (2018). Giant worms chez moi! Hammerhead flatworms (Platyhelminthes, Geoplanidae, Bipalium spp., Diversibipalium spp.) in metropolitan France and overseas French territories. PeerJ, 6, e4672. doi.org/10.7717/peerj.4672Stokes, A. N., Ducey, P. K., Neuman-Lee, L., Hanifin, C. T., French, S. S., Pfrender, M. E., Brodie, E. D., 3rd, & Brodie, E. D., Jr (2014). Confirmation and distribution of tetrodotoxin for the first time in terrestrial invertebrates: two terrestrial flatworm species (Bipalium adventitium and Bipalium kewense). PloS one, 9(6), e100718. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0100718*Outro*The Soundlings - Silent Night (Youtube Library)*Thumbnail Image*BudakJoin the channel's membership:youtube.com/channel/UC6eT6uO4hgkRZPXOSMJw-dQ/join
What Exactly Is: Sea Monkey | The Instant Live Pets Out-of-Place Zoologist 2025-08-01 | Some say sea-monkeys is a scam, while some genuinely enjoy them. No matter what you think about that particular product, the animal itself is actually quite scientifically interesting and economically useful, so let’s talk about them.*Timestamps*0:00 Opening Thought0:44 Sea Monkey?1:32 Sea-Monkeys5:00 Brine Shrimp8:59 Usage and Importance*References*sea-monkeys.comCriel, G.R.J., Macrae, T.H. (2002). Artemia Morphology and Structure. In: Abatzopoulos, T.J., Beardmore, J.A., Clegg, J.S., Sorgeloos, P. (eds) Artemia: Basic and Applied Biology. Biology of Aquatic Organisms, vol 1. Springer, Dordrecht. doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-0791-6_1Gajardo, G. M., & Beardmore, J. A. (2012). The brine shrimp artemia: adapted to critical life conditions. Frontiers in physiology, 3, 185. doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2012.00185Kara, M.H. & Amarouayache, M. (2012). Review of the biogeography of Artemia Leach 1819 (Crustacea: Anostraca) in Algeria. International Journal of Artemia Biology, 2(1): 40-50. University of Utah. Brine Shrimp Life Cycle. https://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/gsl/artemia/Blizzard, T. A., Ruby, C. L., Mrozik, H., Preiser, F. A., & Fisher, M. H. (1989). Brine shrimp (Artemia salina) as a convenient bioassay for avermectin analogs. The Journal of antibiotics, 42(8), 1304–1307. doi.org/10.7164/antibiotics.42.1304Lewan L, Andersson M, & Morales-Gomez P. (1992). The Use of Artemia Salina in Toxicity Testing. Alternatives to Laboratory Animals, 20(2): 297-301. doi.org/10.1177/026119299202000222*Outro*The Soundlings - Silent Night (Youtube Library)Join the channel's membership:youtube.com/channel/UC6eT6uO4hgkRZPXOSMJw-dQ/join
What Exactly Is: Pocket Shark | One of the Rarest Shark Out-of-Place Zoologist 2025-07-25 | We only ever found two specimens of pocket shark, each belonging to a different species. That makes both of them arguably one of, if not the rarest shark species that we currently know. There's a lot of uncertainties caused by the lack of specimen, but we could hypothesize their lifestyle to some extent by looking at their relatives.*Timestamps*0:00 Opening Thought0:47 Taxonomy and Discovery3:53 Morphology8:15 Lifestyle and Uncertainties*References*Grace, M. A., Doosey, M. H., Bart, H. L., & Naylor, G. J. P. (2015). First record of Mollisquama sp. (Chondrichthyes: Squaliformes: Dalatiidae) from the Gulf of Mexico, with a morphological comparison to the holotype description of Mollisquama parini Dolganov. Zootaxa, 3948(3). doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3948.3.10 Denton, J. S. S., Maisey, J. G., Grace, M., Pradel, A., Doosey, M. H., Bart, H. L., Jr, & Naylor, G. J. P. (2018). Cranial morphology in Mollisquama sp. (Squaliformes; Dalatiidae) and patterns of cranial evolution in dalatiid sharks. Journal of anatomy, 233(1), 15–32. doi.org/10.1111/joa.12823Grace, M. A., Doosey, M. H., Denton, J. S. S., Naylor, G. J. P., Bart, H. L. J., & Maisey, J. G. (2019). A new Western North Atlantic Ocean kitefin shark (Squaliformes: Dalatiidae) from the Gulf of Mexico. Zootaxa, 4619(1), zootaxa.4619.1.4. doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4619.1.4Kyne, P.M. & Herman, K. (2020). Mollisquama mississippiensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T153198442A153199019. dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T153198442A153199019.en. Kyne, P.M., Ebert, D.A., Concha, F. & Herman, K. (2020). Mollisquama parini. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T44515A124432387. dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T44515A124432387.en. *Thumbnail Image*M. Doosey*Outro*The Soundlings - Silent Night (Youtube Library)Join the channel's membership:youtube.com/channel/UC6eT6uO4hgkRZPXOSMJw-dQ/join
What Exactly is: Tongue Worm | A Taxonomic Nightmare Out-of-Place Zoologist 2025-07-18 | Even though tongue worms might look like worms, they are not. They don’t even infect tongue. Depends on who you ask, tongue worms could be considered crustacean or even their own phylum. Tongue worms are parasites. While humans are not their definitive host, they can be dangerous to human, so let’s talk about it.*Timestamps*0:00 Opening Thought0:44 Taxonomy and General Information3:17 Morphology4:41 Lifestyle and Behaviour7:08 Pentastomiasis9:29 Fossil Records*References*McAllister, C.T. (2024). Pentastomida: Endoparasitic Arthropods, in S. L. Gardner & S. A. Gardner, eds. Concepts in Animal Parasitology. Zea Books, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States. doi.org/10.32873/unl.dc.ciap059Kelehear, C., Spratt, D. M., O'Meally, D., & Shine, R. (2013). Pentastomids of wild snakes in the Australian tropics. International journal for parasitology. Parasites and wildlife, 3(1), 20–31. doi.org/10.1016/j.ijppaw.2013.12.003Wingstrand, K.G. (1972). Comparative spermatology of a pentastomid, Raillietiella hemidactyli, and a branchiuran crustacean, Argulus foliaceus, with a discussion of pentastomid relationships. Det Kongelige Danske Videnskabernes Selskab Biologiske Skrifter. 19(4):1-72.Lavrov, D. V., Brown, W. M., & Boore, J. L. (2004). Phylogenetic position of the Pentastomida and (pan)crustacean relationships. Proceedings. Biological sciences, 271(1538), 537–544. doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2003.2631Waloszek, D., Repetski, J. E., & Maas, A. (2005). A new Late Cambrian pentastomid and a review of the relationships of this parasitic group. Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh: Earth Sciences, 96(2), 163–176. doi:10.1017/S0263593300001280Almeida, W.O., Christoffersen, M. L., Amorim, D. S., & Eloy, E. C. C. (2008). Morphological support for the phylogenetic positioning of Pentastomida and related fossils. Biotemas. 21 (3): 81–90. doi:10.5007/2175-7925.2008v21n3p81Raele, D. A., Petrella, A., Troiano, P., & Cafiero, M. A. (2022). Linguatula serrata (Fröhlich, 1789) in Gray Wolf (Canis lupus) from Italy: A Neglected Zoonotic Parasite. Pathogens, 11(12), 1523. doi.org/10.3390/pathogens11121523 Chen, S. H., Liu, Q., Zhang, Y. N., Chen, J. X., Li, H., Chen, Y., Steinmann, P., & Zhou, X. N. (2010). Multi-host model-based identification of Armillifer agkistrodontis (Pentastomida), a new zoonotic parasite from China. PLoS neglected tropical diseases, 4(4), e647. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0000647Barton, D.P. & Shamsi, S. (2024). Diagnosis of Pentastome Infections and the Need for Increased Awareness Among Medical Practitioners and Diagnosticians in the Developed World. Curr Clin Micro Rpt 11, 79–87. doi.org/10.1007/s40588-024-00225-wTappe, D., & Büttner, D. W. (2009). Diagnosis of human visceral pentastomiasis. PLoS neglected tropical diseases, 3(2), e320. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0000320Sulyok, M., Rózsa, L., Bodó, I., Tappe, D., & Hardi, R. (2014). Ocular pentastomiasis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. PLoS neglected tropical diseases, 8(7), e3041. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0003041Ioannou, P., & Vamvoukaki, R. (2019). Armillifer Infections in Humans: A Systematic Review. Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease, 4(2), 80. doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed4020080 Siveter, D. J., Briggs, D. E., Siveter, D. J., & Sutton, M. D. (2015). A 425-million-year-old silurian pentastomid parasitic on ostracods. Current biology : CB, 25(12), 1632–1637. doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2015.04.035*Thumbnail Image*Sulyok et al., 2014 (see References section above)*Outro*The Soundlings - Silent Night (Youtube Library)Join the channel's membership:youtube.com/channel/UC6eT6uO4hgkRZPXOSMJw-dQ/join
What Exactly is: Antlion | The Ant Hell Dweller Out-of-Place Zoologist 2025-07-11 | Whether you are into zoology or not, antlions are quite famous. Antlions are depicted in many ways and forms in popular media. However, in most cases, only the larvae got the spotlight. In fact, many people didn’t know that the antlions that they have known are just the larval stage. *Timestamps*0:00 Opening Thought0:33 Taxonomy and General Information2:34 Morphology5:11 Lifestyle and Behaviour8:49 Fossil Records*References*Hévin, N.-C., Kergoat, G.J., Clamens, A.-L., Le Ru, B., Mansell, M.W. & Michel, B. (2023) Evolution, systematics and historical biogeography of Palparini and Palparidiini antlions (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae): Old origin and in situ diversification in Southern Africa. Systematic Entomology, 48(4), 600–617. Available from: doi.org/10.1111/syen.12593Hayashi, T., Hayashi, K., Hayashi, N. et al. (2023). Optimal pit site selection in antlion larvae: the relationship between prey availability and pit maintenance costs. J Ethol 41, 59–72. doi.org/10.1007/s10164-022-00767-wBadano, D., Engel, M.S., Basso, A. et al. (2018). Diverse Cretaceous larvae reveal the evolutionary and behavioural history of antlions and lacewings. Nat Commun 9, 3257. doi.org/10.1038/s41467-018-05484-yHaug, C., Posada Zuluaga, V., Zippel, A., Braig, F., Müller, P., Gröhn, C., Weiterschan, T., Wunderlich, J., Haug, G. T., & Haug, J. T. (2022). The Morphological Diversity of Antlion Larvae and Their Closest Relatives over 100 Million Years. Insects, 13(7), 587. doi.org/10.3390/insects13070587 *Outro*The Soundlings - Silent Night (Youtube Library)*Thumbnail Image*Joseph BergerJoin the channel's membership:youtube.com/channel/UC6eT6uO4hgkRZPXOSMJw-dQ/join
What Exactly Is: Horse | Eclipse First, The Rest Nowhere Out-of-Place Zoologist 2025-07-04 | People have known horse for a long time because they are one of the animals that we domesticated. Most people should be able to imagine a horse. However, how much do most of us know about horses exactly? Where do they come from? Is there any wild horse left in the wild? Why did we domesticate horse in the first place? Let’s talk about it*Timestamps*0:00 Opening Thought0:25 Taxonomy and General Information2:49 Morphology5:30 Lifestyle and Behaviour6:51 Speed, Power, Stamina9:55 Domestication11:55 Evolution13:22 Mustang14:16 Przewalski’s Horse16:39 Hybrid*References*Barrón-Ortiz, C. I., Avilla, L.S., Jass, C.N., et al. (2019). What Is Equus? Reconciling Taxonomy and Phylogenetic Analyses. Front. Ecol. Evol, 7: 00343. doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2019.00343Bernátková, A., Ceacero, F., Oyunsaikhan, G. et al. (2023). Novel observation of play behaviour between a harem holder and a bachelor group of Przewalski’s horses in the wild. acta ethol 26, 145–150. doi.org/10.1007/s10211-023-00421-9Menard, C., Duncan, P., Fleurance, G., Georges, J-Y., & Lila, M. (2002). Comparative foraging and nutrition of horses and cattle in European wetlands. Journal of Applied Ecology, 39(1): 120-133. doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2664.2002.00693.xTaylor W. T. (2024). When Horse Became Steed: Archaeological and genetic discoveries topple long-standing ideas about the domestication of equines. Scientific American, 331(5), 22. doi.org/10.1038/scientificamerican122024-7qfHkaSxwWOJpTcwY2J0bgCai, D., Zhu, S., Gong, M., Zhang, N., Wen, J., Liang, Q., Sun, W., Shao, X., Guo, Y., Cai, Y., Zheng, Z., Zhang, W., Hu, S., Wang, X., Tian, H., Li, Y., Liu, W., Yang, M., Yang, J., Wu, D., … Jiang, Y. (2022). Radiocarbon and genomic evidence for the survival of Equus Sussemionus until the late Holocene. eLife, 11, e73346. doi.org/10.7554/eLife.73346Goto, H., Ryder, O. A., Fisher, A. R., Schultz, B., Kosakovsky Pond, S. L., Nekrutenko, A., & Makova, K. D. (2011). A massively parallel sequencing approach uncovers ancient origins and high genetic variability of endangered Przewalski's horses. Genome biology and evolution, 3, 1096–1106. doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evr067Novak, B. J., Ryder, O. A., Houck, M. L., et al. (2025). Endangered Przewalski's Horse, Equus przewalskii, Cloned from Historically Cryopreserved Cells. Animals : an open access journal from MDPI, 15(5), 613. doi.org/10.3390/ani15050613*Outro*The Soundlings - Silent Night (Youtube Library)Join the channel's membership:youtube.com/channel/UC6eT6uO4hgkRZPXOSMJw-dQ/join
