What is That?

Pack some snacks and your most comfy travel attire as we prepare to follow a couple of animals that live life in constant motion. First, keep your fingers and toes in tight and have a watchful eye for the fast-paced life and times of the Humboldt Squid. Then kick back and enjoy the majesty as we soar from one end of the globe to the other, drifting along with the Arctic Tern.Today we're going on a long adventure, and after this we, Danielle and Katie, will be taking a hiatus. We're so honored you've travelled this far with us and we hope to return soon for another run of searching high and low, in and out, freezing, steaming, squeaking and always laughing as we plunge into the trenches of our wild world for unique and fascinating animals! 

It's April shower season and this week we are soaking it all in by taking the plunge into freshwater habitats. Keeping it cool, calm and quiet, we are searching for a couple of very shy critters. We're country hopping today as we begin our journey in South Africa, gently scouring the riparian banks for one of Africa's most endangered animals: the Riverine Rabbit. Then we bounce over to South America where we'll drift dreamily in the plentiful wetland waters and peer into the dense, dark foliage to get a glimpse of the Boat-billed Heron.

There's an island off of the eastern shores of Africa called Madagascar. Maybe you've heard of it, maybe you picture towering Baobab trees or maybe you picture a CGI ring-tailed lemur named Julian. Either way, our goal is to introduce you to some life on this island you've never heard of before. Prepare for the unexpected in the bizarre patchwork animal that is the Lowland Streaked Tenrec and bust out your magnifying glasses as we get a closer look at some of the smallest reptiles on earth, the tiny chameleons in the genus Brookesia.

The color yellow is sprinkled all throughout the natural world. It can be found in every group of animal, in plants and fungi and let us not forget the sunshine that rains down upon us all from space. Yellow has different reasons for being in all of these places, some you may not expect. Let us brighten your day with the Golden-lion Tamarin and the Egyptian Vulture, each yellow in their own right, owning it in their own unique way.

- We've done a lot of animal research and we've come across some very bizarre animal names. Most of the time the animal's scientific name can be broken down to the scientist that discovered it and greek, latin, or other root words describing the animal. But sometimes... we don't know what the heck was going through scientists minds when they were naming these animals. This episode highlights a couple of animals with some off-the-wall names that turn out to be some very cool creatures. We'll visit the Strange-Tailed Tyrant and then dive in the ocean to learn about the Tasselled Wobbegong. You'll have to listen to find out more, brace yourselves!

Welcome to the Month of Love: Cribs Edition. Grab a loved one and tune in, this time we're celebrating a couple of animals who go above and beyond to set the scene for that special someone. First we're diving into the ocean to be dazzled by the intricate set up the Puffer fish meticulously curates to woo his lucky mate, then we're journeying to South Africa to tunnel through the labyrinth of a nest the Sociable Weaver creates over generations to house its family, friends, and some freeloaders to boot.

We've made it to 50 episodes, meaning we've introduced you to nearly 100 unique animals tucked in every habitat on this very special planet we call Earth! Today, we are heading out for a field trip in the birthplace of the podcast, Shollenberger Park in Petaluma, CA: a 165 acre wetlands area filled with birds, water and a flocking point for animal nerds of all ages. Join us as we sit and talk about the bird life surrounding us and interacting with its environment in real time, as we interrupt each other to point out a new event and tell stories of what we've seen along the walk, and of course a short discourse of our origin story, the fateful day the podcast idea took flight. We're so thrilled we've made it this far, honored you've come with us and hope you enjoy journeying with us through these wetlands and beyond. 

What a mouthful! Ring in the new year with us as we dissect and attempt to pronounce ametabolous metamophosis, our third installment of the metamorphic series. With only two groups of animals claiming this style of life we'll cover it all starting with the Archaeognatha bristleworms followed by the Zygentoma silverfish and firebrats. If that all sounded like a load of gibberish, don't worry, we lay it all out and as usual learn some surprising, interesting and all around bizzare facts about these seemingly simple animals. 

Brr, is anybody else feeling chilly? Well hang in there, it's our last episode of the year! Layer up, get a fire going or huddle around your heater, however you need to get cozy as we learn about a couple of animals who are experts at enduring the cold climate in the eternal winter wonderland that is the world's Boreal Forests. We'll start off diving in to icy Canadian waters to swim with the Arctic Grayling then fly to the vast and mysterious forests of eastern Russia and Northern China to catch a glimpse of the Amur Tiger. Let's cheers to sending off the year with us in a glittering snowscape!

We've digested Thanksgiving and it's a quick turn around this year for the Winter holidays. Bust out those holiday bins and get creative with us as we meet up with some unique animal builders. Whether its weaving and winding in the forest with the Bower Bird or creating meticulous spirals with your claws like the Australian Desert Scorpion, you're bound to get inspired to do something a little different this year with your holiday decorations!

Journey with us on this Location, Location, Location excursion to the unassuming little country with a shockingly big wildlife game: Montenegro. Tucked in tight along the Adriactic coast, surrounded by other Baltic countries, we find ourselves in a lush landscape, keeping our eyes peeled as we oh-so carefully seek out the sleek and venonmous Nose Horned Viper and putting our waders on, quietly watching, mesmerized by the absolutely gigantic and somehow majestic Dalmatian Pelican. 

We're back with Part Two of the spooky, Witches brew themed Halloween episode! Join us around the cauldron as we sing and sway and pluck ingredients from the potion to fill you with. Danielle brings us to the highlands to meet the Scottish Cat and then watch where you step in the murky waters as Katie reveals the Venomous Toadfish. It's a bubbling frothing good time you won't want to miss out on!

We talkin' caves.

Get ready for some Katie and Danielle lore as we bring to life a couple of animals inspired by our favorite book series. Katie reveals the horrifying creature from the depths of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry from the Harry Potter series, the legendary Basilisk and Danielle leads us bravely into the world of the Lord of the Rings to meet the majestic Shadowfax, Lord of all horses, brought to life as the Przelwalzski's Horse. Pack up your wand and your backpacking gear because as you may know we will definitely need people of intelligence on this sort of Mission... Quest... Thing!

Animal Teachers - We're getting meta today learning about how some animals are learning. Bust out the pom-poms, letterman jackets and, most importantly, your boundless curiosity, we're going back to school. Starting the school year off with a nod to some impressive animal teachers we'll swim through the generational influencing, culture-creating world of two populations of Bottlenose Dolphins living side-by-side and then bust out our hand-held microscope to observe the fascinating teaching practices of the Rock Ant taking it one eager student at a time.

We've got good news and bad news and I'll be honest with you: it's the same news. We've. Got. Worms. Again. Prepare to be delighted and disgusted, maybe at the same time, as we delve into the depths of the ocean for the Bearded Fireworm, then traverse into some moist marshlands to be infected by the Snail Eyestalk Worm.

This week we go back, way back, wending our way to some of our first animal discoveries to see how they're doing now. We've headed back to year one of the podcast and we have some exciting updates! Pack your bags and prepare for all weather as we start up in the arctic, learning new behaviors emerging in the Bowhead Whale. Hike up the mountains to revisit the Himalayan Brown Bear. We'll also be taking a trip to the land of noses to see what the Brown Kiwi and Proboscis Monkey are up to. It's going to be a whirlwind adventure that you won't want to miss!

Have we got a treat for you! On this very special "Location" episode we are telling our first-hand experiences with a variety of animals from our very own trip to the incredible island-country of Iceland. By joining us on our journey first to the raw, mostly undeveloped East side and then as we make our way back to the more often traveled West side of the island, you will hear stories from our wild, awe-inspiring, sometimes perilous adventure. Prepare yourself for the unexpected as we encounter the Icelandic Horse, Reindeer, Arctic Fox, Iceland Gull and Arctic Char.

Happy Independence Day! As you look to the skies with joy and excitement to celebrate with explosions of light, we will be exploring some places much more down to earth and ocean with just as much vibrancy. Learn about the multiple functions and omnipotent beauty of nature's light-producing capabilities through discovery of two animals that have incredibly evolved to be lit from within. The California Millipede and Siphonophores burst with color intensity, celebrating year round the independent evolution of bioluminescence.

 Join us as we venture to one of the most unique and critically endangered ecosystems on Earth, the Cloud Forests. These forests exist under such specialized conditions that it's no surprise the animals that live there are incredibly uniquely adapted to survive in them. We'll breathe the misty mountain fog and creep through the foliage dense, biodiverse landscape to uncover the nearly invisible Glass Frog and wait with baited breath for a glimpse of the newly discovered Olinguito.

Bust out those wet suits and find a really big suit case for all of your diving gear, we're back in the kelp forests and we've gone a-travelling. We've discovered that the world is riddled with kelp forests in all states whether increasing, declining or holding a stasis and this week we're highlighting some kelp forests you may have never heard of. Brush up on your Japanese as Danielle guides us through the chilly, ethereal Japanese Kelp Forest and prepare yourself to be awed by the Pajama Catshark in the Great African Seaforest. 

The rains have ceased, the flowers are blooming... and we're all sneezing every time we step outside. It's pollinator season! This week, as is our fashion, we've dug up a couple of animals that are key pollinators in their area, and if you're expecting a buzzing insect or a nectar-obsessed bird, you're in for a surprise. Join us as we learn about how the Drakensberg Crag Lizard and the Cape Spiny Mouse have developed a close relationship with the plants in their area, and really how surprisingly similar their lifestyles are!

 Ever dreamed of having a talking parrot to come home to or a fuzzy chimp to integrate into the family dynamics? We're here to tell you why you might want to rethink those pets. This week we delve into the dark world of illegal wildlife trafficking. We'll be narrowing our focus in order to go a little deeper into some of the most at risk species and spout some surprising statistics about the all too familiar parrot and the closest living relatives to humans, apes and monkeys. Content Warning: Some disturbing stories are described during this episode concerning bodily mutilation, sensitive audiences be advised. 

 Are you glad there's been an end to the months of wet winter storms? These animals are too! This week we are joined by a couple of animals that hardly seem to need water at all and thrive in some pretty extreme lifestyles. Soar the salty skies as we try to keep up with the Frigate Bird, then hunker in the arid desert as we painstakingly try to get a glimpse of the elusive Sand Cat. These two incredible animals bring new meaning to conserving your resources and utilizing the environment you have to survive.

With millions of species and countless lifestyles animals have to come up with some pretty creative life-hacks to get by sometimes. Meet our animal scamming stars this week: the Potoo and the Ant-Mimic Spider, two animals that have evolved to trick the eye and con the senses of other animals to such an extent you might never even know if you passed them by.

Maybe you've heard of the picture-perfect tropical paradise vacation destination off of Africa's eastern coast that is the Seychelles islands, but you've probably not heard of or seen the other side of these stunning islands featuring sheer rock cliffs jutting out of the ocean protecting secluded pristine tropical forest. Well, hop aboard because we are taking you into the unknown depths of these islands to discover the Seychelles Sheath-Tailed Bat and Seychelles Giant Tortoise.

If you've ever dreamed of being an explorer of a mythic world of old, delving deep to discover dragons lairs or dipping back a pine branch to reveal a gentle unicorn, this episode is for you. Fair maidens and lads, join us as we enter a world of mythological origin right in our own backyard. We'll slip into tossing ocean waters to find the Sea Dragon and traveling to magical lands to find the Pink Fairy Armadillo.Adventure awaits! 

The natural world provides a vast array of different ways that one animal may attract another to produce that magical behavior called reproduction. One of the most relatable varieties for humans may be what is infamously known as the "cat call". Although detested by many humans, it is widely used to the benefit of males in the animal world. Join us as we listen for a couple of cat calls that might surprise you when we learn about the Desert Rain Frog and the Club Winged Manakin.

It's that time again, pink hearts and overpriced flowers line the shops, but not everybody is looking to cuddle up to or impress a mate this season. We've scoured the mountains to the desert plains to find a couple of females who prefer to celebrate Galentines day, every year. Come celebrate the ladies out there with us while we divulge the female-centered lives of the New Mexico Whiptail Lizard and the Wolverine!

Join us as we kick off a new series exploring the animal world through colors! We're starting this technicolor series defying conventional perceptions of color with Blue. Although it's winter and the blues are commonly associated with feeling a little down and looking forward to the sunshine, we've found a couple of animals that embrace their blues and use it to their advantage.  Delve into two complete opposite ends of the animal spectrum as we find out what blue means for the Mandrill and...shoot Danielle I forgot the name of your animal, even though I can picture the gummy snack perfectly (Blue glaucus).

Welcome back to a brand new year! We are continuing our New Year's tradition of exploration into the different types of metamorphosis with Simple Metamorphosis. Join us as we creep through the jungle to discover the Stick Insect and flit through the air on four wings with the Dragonfly. We'll learn about their unique life stages and species adaptations to their truly amazing ways of life!

Brrrr it's cold out here!! Slide on some mittens and cradle a hot beverage as we venture into the freezing habitats of the Wood Frog and the Arctic Cod to find out how these incredible animals have adapted to keep their fins and webbed little toes from getting frost bitten!

This week, journey with us into the depths of winter as we hunker down with a few unexpected animals that hibernate all through the coldest months of the year. In the corner of the earth snuggling Australia and Madagascar, traditionally thought of as hot and dry places, we flip the script by joining the Mountain Pygmy Possum and Dwarf Fat-Tailed Lemur as they slumber on through the chilly months. 

Happy spooky season and prepare yourselves for a second installment of our Halloween Spooktactular. Join us as we dissect Shakespeare's MacBeth's famous witches brew, parsing out key ingredients and where to find them. From the tiny elf owlets wing to the “Fenny” snake across the pond, we will be sure to give you the proper ingredients for your next bubbling potion. 

Join us to learn about a couple of unique Ghanaian creatures, the Black Bellied Pangolin and the Gaboon Caecilian!

Mail Time!In this episode we answer three burning questions from our listeners. If you have a question for a future episode, you can email it to us at whatisthatapodcast@gmail.com or send us a DM on Instagram.

Worms! Wiggling, Wild, Wonderful!Join us as we dig deep into one of the most diverse animal kingdoms on the planet...WORMS!

Practice your breath holds and dive into kelp forests with us. We will not only be ogling through our goggles at the lives of Rock Lobsters and the Garibaldi Fish, but focusing on the magnificent kelp itself, it's current status and the wonderful and inspiring work being done to save these majestic ecosystems. 

Give your favorite critter some fresh water and relax with them as you join us for a very special episode celebrating national pets month! We have some exciting guests today and are shifting our focus from wildlife to some of our domestic companions. Danielle is going to take us on her journey learning to care for specialty exotics the Uromastyx and Hedgehogs. Then, our first ever Special Guest, Kristi, is here with us in studio shining a light on Pit and Bulldog breeds among other ups and downs and everything in between coming from the animal shelter world.

It's time to dust off that passport for another Location, Location, Location episode! This time we are taking a short trip south to the picturesque island of Cuba where we will get to know some of its more unique inhabitants in the form of the Cuban Painted Snail and the Solenodon. 

There's nothing like the feeling of getting wild with a few… million of your closest pals. Join us as we get in the spring break spirit and let the Mexican Free-Tailed Bat and the Christmas Island Red Crab show us how to get down and party up on a massive scale!

Have you ever gone above and beyond to woo that special someone? Well, prepare to be in good company as we explore some of natures most extreme and baffling shows of courtship!This episode includes a considerate kob and a clingy anglerfish. 

We're buggin' out in this transformative episode! Join us as we discuss two nifty insects who's metamorphic transformations we find inspiring. This episode includes a clever Namib Desert beetle and a special scorpion fly. 

This episode we look at two creatures who are keeping it extra cool. We learn about the Steller's Eiders and the Sea Spider.

Second installment of our Location, Location, Location series, where we spin a globe to find out which country's wildlife we will be learning about. Round 2: Venezuela!Meet the stunning red-face uakari and the sneeky mata mata. 

In this episode we discuss a couple of critters that give us the heebies AND the jeebies. Brace yourself for the mysterious sea snake and non howling wolf spider.  

Please be sure to pack your finest filtering equipment as we dive on in and explore two  animals who are experts on using their filters. Meet the super chill basking shark and work obsessed tunicates. 

In this episode we discover a couple of critter that have short, but sweet, life spans.Tune in to learn more about the tiny labords chameleon and the adorable coral reef pygmy gobi. 

In this episode we discuss two creatures that have loooooooong lives, the Bowhead Whale and the Immortal Jellyfish!

In this episode we take a look at a couple of critters who do not rely on vision to navigate their world. Meet the Olm and the Golden Mole!