Ingenious ways to evade predators

My oh my
How creative nature can be
When one has not the opportunity to flee.

On the March 10th show, we explored a list compiled by Cracked.com that features some of the most ingenious ways that organisms avoid predation. For example the Western Hognose Snake (pictured here) has incredible commitment to the faking of it's own death. The idea behind such behavior is that many animals avoid eating carrion and therefore seemingly dead prey is often avoided. Click here for a video of a masterful performance.

One of the most impressive adaptations for freaking out potential hunters is the Horned Lizard's (pictured right) ability to shoot blood out of its eyeballs! No, the blood is not meant to blind or confuse predators so that the lizard can make a quick get-away. Instead, it is thought that the blood is distasteful to those that might eat the lizards and therefore bloody lizards are avoided. Click here for a video of this amazing defense mechanism.

The list goes on and on and includes players such as hagfishes, dresser crabs, sea cucumbers (one of my faves), and more! For the original article I used in the show, click here. You will find plenty more pictures, descriptions, and videos.

As for the news...

• "The Cove" filmmakers stage sting at a sushi restaurant
• Your tolerance to feel pain is likely inherited
• Forget DDT, just keep a mosquito from peeing

Artists featured: Bjork, Deerhunter, Shout Lulu, Joy Division, Curtis Mayfield, Joanna Newsom, Damien Jurado, Sufjan Stevens, DJ Shadow, Beastie Boys, Radiohead, Feist, The Cramps, and Pavement.

A sex column for freaks of nature

On the March 3rd show, I read from a book titled "Dr. Tatiana's Sex Advice to All Creation". This work addresses some of the animal kingdom's burning questions about the birds and the bees.  Author Olivia Judson takes on the persona of Dr. Tatiana, who answers letters from concerned organisms such as marathon-mating stick insects and gender-bending female hyenas with penis-like projections. Check out the book's website here and listen to an NPR interview with Judson here.

As for the news, we learned...

• why dung beetles are so horny, and
• that dog dealers days may be numbered.

Music featured included: Breaks Co-op, Feist, R.E.M., Common, Madonna, Jeff Buckley, Beck, Morphine, The Rapture, and Dr. Dog.