Have You Herd About Animals?: Recent Episodes
Tyler and Sam
Tyler and Sam bring a fun and diverse range to the topics of animals, with witty puns and fun antics. Hop on in with us and with your kids into the diverse world of animals. This podcast is appropriate for all ages and will ALWAYS remain kid friendly for the purpose of educating our future generations of Animal Activists.
Chipmunks may be classified either as a single genus, Tamias, or as three genera: Tamias, of which the eastern chipmunk (T. striatus) is the only living member; Eutamias, of which the Siberian chipmunk (E. sibiricus) is the only living member; and Neotamias, which includes the 23 remaining, mostly western North American, species. These classifications were treated as subgenera due to the chipmunks' morphological similarities.[2] As a result, most taxonomies over the twentieth century have placed the chipmunks into a single genus. However, studies of mitochondrial DNA show that the divergence between each of the three chipmunk groups is comparable to the genetic differences between Marmota and Spermophilus,[2][3][4][5][6] so the three genera classifications have been adopted here.
The peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus), also known simply as the peregrine,[3] and historically as the duck hawk in North America,[4] is a cosmopolitan bird of prey (raptor) in the family Falconidae. A large, crow-sized falcon, it has a blue-grey back, barred white underparts, and a black head. The peregrine is renowned for its speed. It can reach over 320 km/h (200 mph) during its characteristic hunting stoop (high-speed dive),[5] making it the fastest member of the animal kingdom.[6][7][8] According to a National Geographic TV program, the highest measured speed of a peregrine falcon is 389 km/h (242 mph).[9][10] As is typical for bird-eating (avivore) raptors, peregrine falcons are sexually dimorphic, with females being considerably larger than males.[11][12]
The peregrine's breeding range includes land regions from the Arctic tundra to the tropics. It can be found nearly everywhere on Earth, except extreme polar regions, very high mountains, and most tropical rainforests; the only major ice-free landmass from which it is entirely absent is New Zealand. This makes it the world's most widespread raptor,[13] and one of the most widely found bird species. In fact, the only land-based bird species found over a larger geographic area is not always naturally occurring, but one widely introduced by humans, the rock pigeon, which in turn now supports many peregrine populations as a prey species. The peregrine is a highly successful example of urban wildlife in much of its range, taking advantage of tall buildings as nest sites and an abundance of prey such as pigeons and ducks. Both the English and scientific names of this species mean "wandering falcon", referring to the migratory habits of many northern populations. Experts recognize 17 to 19 subspecies, which vary in appearance and range; disagreement exists over whether the distinctive Barbary falcon is represented by two subspecies of Falco peregrinus, or is a separate species, F. pelegrinoides. The two species' divergence is relatively recent, during the time of the last ice age, therefore the genetic differential between them (and also the difference in their appearance) is relatively tiny. They are only about 0.6–0.8% genetically differentiated.[14]
Penguins are a group of aquatic flightless birds from the order Sphenisciformes (/sfɪˈnɪsəfɔːrmiːz/) of the family Spheniscidae (/sfɪˈnɪsɪdiː, -daɪ/).[4] They live almost exclusively in the Southern Hemisphere: only one species, the Galápagos penguin, is found north of the Equator. Highly adapted for life in the water, penguins have countershaded dark and white plumage and flippers for swimming. Most penguins feed on krill, fish, squid and other forms of sea life which they catch with their bills and swallow whole while swimming. A penguin has a spiny tongue and powerful jaws to grip slippery prey.[5]
They spend roughly half of their lives on land and the other half in the sea. The largest living species is the emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri):[6] on average, adults are about 1.1 m (3 ft 7 in) tall and weigh 35 kg (77 lb). The smallest penguin species is the little blue penguin (Eudyptula minor), also known as the fairy penguin, which stands around 30–33 cm (12–13 in) tall and weighs 1.2–1.3 kg (2.6–2.9 lb).[7] Today, larger penguins generally inhabit colder regions, and smaller penguins inhabit regions with temperate or tropical climates. Some prehistoric penguin species were enormous: as tall or heavy as an adult human. There was a great diversity of species in subantarctic regions, and at least one giant species in a region around 2,000 km south of the equator 35 mya, during the Late Eocene, a climate decidedly warmer than today.[8]
The earliest known fossil earless seal is Noriphoca gaudini from the late Oligocene or earliest Miocene (Aquitanian) of Italy.[1] Other early fossil phocids date from the mid-Miocene, 15 million years ago in the north Atlantic.[1][3] Until recently, many researchers believed that phocids evolved separately from otariids and odobenids; and that they evolved from otter-like animals, such as Potamotherium, which inhabited European freshwater lakes. Recent evidence strongly suggests a monophyletic origin for all pinnipeds from a single ancestor, possibly Enaliarctos, most closely related to the mustelids and bears.[4]
Monk seals and elephant seals were previously believed to have first entered the Pacific through the open straits between North and South America,[5] with the Antarctic true seals either using the same route or travelled down the west coast of Africa.[6] It is now thought that the monk seals, elephant seals, and Antarctic seals all evolved in the southern hemisphere, and likely dispersed to their current distributions from more southern latitudes.[7]
The black mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis) is a species of highly venomous snake belonging to the family Elapidae. It is native to parts of sub-Saharan Africa. First formally described by Albert Günther in 1864, it is the second-longest venomous snake after the king cobra; mature specimens generally exceed 2 m (6 ft 7 in) and commonly grow to 3 m (9.8 ft). Specimens of 4.3 to 4.5 m (14 to 15 ft) have been reported. Its skin colour varies from grey to dark brown. Juvenile black mambas tend to be paler than adults and darken with age.
The species is both terrestrial (ground-living) and arboreal (tree-living); it inhabits savannah, woodland, rocky slopes and in some regions, dense forest. It is diurnal and is known to prey on birds and small mammals. Over suitable surfaces, it can move at speeds up to 16 km/h (10 mph) for short distances. Adult black mambas have few natural predators.
In a threat display, the black mamba usually opens its inky-black mouth, spreads its narrow neck-flap and sometimes hisses. It is capable of striking at considerable range and may deliver a series of bites in rapid succession. Its venom is primarily composed of neurotoxins that often induce symptoms within ten minutes, and is frequently fatal unless antivenom is administered. Despite its reputation as a formidable and highly aggressive species, the black mamba attacks humans only if it is threatened or cornered. It is rated as least concern on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)'s Red List of Threatened Species.
The jaguar (Panthera onca) is a large cat species and the only living member of the genus Panthera native to the Americas. With a body length of up to 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) and a weight of up to 158 kg (348 lb), it is the largest cat species in the Americas and the third largest in the world. Its distinctively marked coat features pale yellow to tan colored fur covered by spots that transition to rosettes on the sides, although a melanistic black coat appears in some individuals. The jaguar's powerful bite allows it to pierce the carapaces of turtles and tortoises, and to employ an unusual killing method: it bites directly through the skull of mammalian prey between the ears to deliver a fatal blow to the brain.
The modern jaguar's ancestors probably entered the Americas from Eurasia during the Early Pleistocene via the land bridge that once spanned the Bering Strait. Today, the jaguar's range extends from core Southwestern United States across Mexico and much of Central America, the Amazon rainforest and south to Paraguay and northern Argentina. It inhabits a variety of forested and open terrains, but its preferred habitat is tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forest, wetlands and wooded regions. It is adept at swimming and is largely a solitary, opportunistic, stalk-and-ambush apex predator. As a keystone species, it plays an important role in stabilizing ecosystems and in regulating prey populations.
Physical Description
Ring-tailed lemur backs are gray to rosy brown with gray limbs and dark gray heads and necks. They have white bellies. Their faces are white with dark triangular eye patches and a black nose. True to their name, ring-tailed lemurs' tails are ringed with 13 alternating black and white bands.
Unlike most other lemurs, ringtails spend 40 percent of their time on the ground. They move quadrupedally along the forest floor.
Size
The average body mass for adult males is 6 pounds (3 kilograms). Females are usually smaller. Their tails can be up to 2 feet long (61 centimeters).
Native Habitat
Ring-tailed lemurs live in southwestern Madagascar, in arid, open areas and forests in territories that range from 15 to 57 acres (0.06 to 0.2 square kilometers) in size.
Physical Description
Naked mole-rats have wrinkly pink or grayish-pink skin, which is somewhat translucent on their undersides and light purplish-brown on their backs and tails. This countershading appears to be lost with advanced age. They have short, broad heads with powerful jaw muscles and very large incisors, which they use to dig tunnels.
Size
Naked mole-rats are usually 3 inches (7.5 centimeters) long and weigh 1-1.5 ounces (28-42 grams). However, soldiers can weigh up to 2 ounces (57 grams), and the queen, who is the largest member of the colony, can weigh up to 2.5 ounces (71 grams).
Native Habitat
Naked mole-rats are found in eastern Africa, specifically in Ethiopia, Kenya, Dijbouti and Somalia. They live exclusively in underground burrows and tunnels in grassy, semi-arid regions.
Communication
They have no external ears and they have tiny eyes, which make them virtually blind. Their sense of smell is important, and they are also very sensitive to vibrations in the ground and the movement of air currents.
AND. WE. ARE. BACK. Welcome back, Herders to Season 5! We know it's been sometime since our last season, but we have been hard at work recording multiple seasons at once and we're ready for you all now!
Elephants are the largest land mammals on earth and have distinctly massive bodies, large ears, and long trunks. They use their trunks to pick up objects, trumpet warnings, greet other elephants, or suck up water for drinking or bathing, among other uses. Both male and female African elephants grow tusks and each individual can either be left- or right-tusked, and the one they use more is usually smaller because of wear and tear. Elephant tusks serve many purposes. These extended teeth can be used to protect the elephant's trunk, lift and move objects, gather food, and strip bark from trees. They can also be used for defense. During times of drought, elephants even use their tusks to dig holes to find water underground.
Two genetically different African species exist: the savanna elephant and the forest elephant, with a number of characteristics that differentiate them both. The African savanna elephant is the largest elephant species, while the Asian forest elephant and the African forest elephant are of a comparable, smaller size.
We have a special episode for everyone! Our special guest Dr. Mark Irwin was asked to join us to talk about the importance of Zookeeping and the technology and knowledge that is used to keep animals from the brink of extinction and the importance of Zoo's.
Here are some of the important websites you can look into!
www.zookeeping.com www.zoonewyork.org
Happy Halloween, Herders! On November 15, 1966, two young couples from Point Pleasant—Roger and Linda Scarberry, and Steve and Mary Mallette—told police they saw a large grey creature whose eyes "glowed red" when the car's headlights picked it up. They described it as a "large flying man with ten-foot wings", following their car while they were driving in an area outside of town known as "the TNT area", the site of a former World War II munitions plant.
During the next few days, other people reported similar sightings. Two volunteer firemen who saw it said it was a "large bird with red eyes". Mason County Sheriff George Johnson commented that he believed the sightings were due to an unusually large heron he termed a "shitepoke". Contractor Newell Partridge told Johnson that when he aimed a flashlight at a creature in a nearby field, its eyes glowed "like bicycle reflectors". Additionally, he blamed buzzing noises from his television set and the disappearance of his German Shepherd dog on the creature. Wildlife biologist Robert L. Smith at West Virginia University told reporters that descriptions and sightings all fit the sandhill crane, a large American crane almost as tall as a man with a seven-foot wingspan featuring circles of reddish coloring around the eyes. The bird may have wandered out of its migration route, and therefore was unrecognized at first because it was not native to this region.
Webbed feet and powerful tails, which act like rudders, make otters strong swimmers. Their nostrils and ears close to keep water out, and waterproof fur keeps them warm. They must carefully groom their fur and furry undercoat to keep them clean and sealed off to water, because they’re not covered in a fatty layer like other seagoing creatures. Otters have the densest fur of any animal—as many as a million hairs per square inch in places.
Otters also have particularly stinky poop, which even has its own name: spraints. It’s thought to get its special odor, which some scientists describe as smelling like violets, from the seafood diet otters eat.
Most otter species come ashore to give birth in dens, which sometimes have been used by other animals such as beavers. Sea otters are the exception, giving birth in the water. Baby otters, called pups or kittens, stay with their mothers until they’re up to a year old, or until she has another litter. River otters don’t breed until they’re at least five years old.
Welcome back Herders! The Portuguese man o’ war is a predatory species. It uses its feeding tentacles to sting and paralyze small fishes, pelagic crustaceans, and other invertebrates. The feeding tentacles may be up to 160 feet (50 m) long in some individuals! These tentacles deliver a powerful sting and are also used for defense against predation. Few species eat the Portuguese man o’ war, but some predators that specialize on stinging, gelatinous invertebrates (e.g., loggerhead sea turtles and ocean sunfish) are known to feed on this and other siphonophores.
Fireflies are primarily carnivorous. Larvae usually eat snails and worms.
Some species of fireflies feed on other fireflies—most notable is the
genus photuris, which mimics female flashes of photinus,
a closely related species, in order to attract and devour the males of
that species. But adult fireflies have almost never been seen feeding
on other species of bugs. Scientists aren’t sure what they eat. They may
feed on plant pollen and nectar, or they may eat nothing.
In a firefly’s tail, you’ll find two chemicals: luciferase and luciferin.
Luciferin is heat resistant, and it glows under the right conditions.
Luciferase is an enzyme that triggers light emission. ATP, a chemical
within the firefly’s body, converts to energy and initiates the glow.
All living things, not just fireflies, contain ATP.
Hellllllllllllllllllllllllo Herders! We bring you the next episode about Mantis Shrimp!!! The mantis shrimp is notorious for their striking force, and have the nickname ‘thumb splitter‘, due to the painful gashes they can cause if handled without care by humans. There are around 450 species of mantis shrimp worldwide, and their colors range from shades of brown to bright, green, red and blue. The most infamous species is the Peacock mantis shrimp (also known as harlequin mantis shrimp, painted mantis shrimp, or clown mantis shrimp), and is one of the larger, more colorful mantis shrimps commonly seen. They typically grow to around 10cms (4 inches) in length, but some have been recorded to be as large as 46cms (18 inches). The mantis shrimp’s shell (known as a ‘carapace’) covers only the rear part of the head and the first for segments of the thorax. While they are relatively common, they are not particularly well understood species as they are solitary and territorial sea creatures, spending most of their time hiding in rocks and burrowing in the sea bed.
Welcome back, Herders! Today is about Wolf Eels!!!!! Wolf-eels live in shallow water as deep as 740 feet (225 m). They swim by making deep S-shapes with their bodies, like a snake moving across the ground. The slender fish are as gray as a rain cloud, with large heads and dark spots over their backs. Males have thick jaws and a bulging forehead. Combined with their long, snaggly front teeth they look ferocious, but wolf-eels tend to be aggressive only to other wolf-eels. Wolf-eels mate for life and the pair takes special care of its eggs as they develop. Beginning around age seven, the female lays up to 10,000 eggs at a time, then coils around them and uses her body to shape the eggs into a neat sphere roughly the size of a grapefruit.
The koala is an iconic Australian animal. Often called the koala “bear,” this tree-climbing animal is a marsupial—a mammal with a pouch for the development of offspring. Though koalas look fuzzy, their hair is more like coarse wool of a sheep. They have two opposing thumbs on their hands, and both their feet and hands have rough pads and claws to grab onto branches. They have two toes fused together, on their feet, which they use to comb their fur. Koalas live in the eucalyptus forests of southeastern and eastern Australia. When not sleeping, they’re usually eating. They rely on the eucalyptus tree for both habitat and food. Koalas can eat more than a pound of eucalyptus leaves a day. Eucalyptus is toxic, so the koala’s digestive system has to work hard to digest it, breaking down the toxins and extracting limited nutrients.
Welcome back to episode 23! The okapi (/oʊˈkɑːpiː/; Okapia johnstoni), also known as the forest giraffe, Congolese giraffe, or zebra giraffe, is an artiodactyl mammal that is endemic to the northeast Democratic Republic of the Congo in central Africa. Although the okapi has striped markings reminiscent of zebras, it is most closely related to the giraffe. The okapi and the giraffe are the only living members of the family Giraffidae.
Welcome back, Herders to the next episode! Today we will be learning about the evasive and secretive creature known as the Red Panda or known as the Fire Fox! Red pandas live in the temperate forest zone of the Himalayan ecosystem between 2200 and 5000 metres. Their distribution is associated closely with temperate forests having bamboo thickets, which are the main diet of red pandas. However, red pandas have a carnivore-type digestive anatomy, specialized for digesting protein and fats (as is found in meat) and no modification for digesting fibres and carbohydrates – the main nutrients of their natural diet. In captivity, it is often not possible to supply enough palatable bamboo on which red pandas can survive. Historically, palatable captive diets were developed based less on natural feeding ecology than on ingredients used in feeding more omnivorous species (i.e. dogs, primates). Such diets have subsequently been proven inappropriate for optimal health of the red pandas.
We're back for Season 3 herders! We're so happy to be back with all new episodes for this season! We have so many amazing creatures coming up, but for todays episode we have the deadly Cassowary! Don't underestimate this creature. They're extremely fast, deadly and smart when it comes to an apex predator. They're the second heaviest bird in the world and they will make it known!
FINAL EPISODE UNTIL SEPTEMBER 5th 2022! DOUBLE FEATUREEEEEEEEE ALERT!!! HERDERS! It's time for our special episode with a urban legend animal and it's the terrifying Jersey Devil! Parents please be sure you listen to it before and see if you're kids can handle the episode! Today we dive into the spooky and creepy creature The Jersey Devil! As always, every 10th episode will be about a urban legend animal and we let you decide if they're real from the facts we give you.
Herders, did you know that Hyenas are not a dog or a cat? Hyenas are one of the weirdest creatures on this planet and possibly one of the most unique too.
Are you curious to what the facts are? Stick around and listen.
Welcome back Herders to episode 18: Giraffes! Sam and Tyler like to think Giraffes are pretty much a modern dinosaur. Giraffes are one of the most unique creatures on the planet and stick around and listen to the fun facts!
What do you call a group of Orcas singing? An Orcastra! Rim shot Welcome back Herders to a special episode about Orcas or as we all know them as "Killer Whales" What is an Orca? A dolphin or a whale? Come find out the tricky answer!
HERDERS ITS OCTOPI TIME! On todays episode we will be talking about the floppy and squishy little friend the dumbo octopus. Plop down in your chair, grab some popcorn and enjoy!
Moove on over Herders and come hear about the Cows with our Special Guest "The Gentle Barn"! Their main goal is to educate the world about the incredibleness of Cows. You can find them on Tiktok and Instagram.
Welcome back Herders! We bring you the fun an exciting episode of the cuddly Sloths, and their quick reaction time! (Just kidding) Come listen and enjoy!
Want to know what the fox says? Well come on in and sit down and listen to what he has to say! Just kidding, come listen to Sam and Tyler talk about one of the cuddliest creatures on the planet.
Sam and Tyler have a special episode for all of you Herders out there! On this episode Sam and Tyler talk to Bridget and Hamlet the famous TikTok Indian Ring Neck Parrot. Indian Ring Necks are incredible and diverse creatures and can mimic human voices! Come learn about how many words Hamlet and the other Parrots can say!
Warning: This episode does have some interruptions from Hamlet, he is a very talkative boy and wants the world to know.
Sam and Tyler are back for Season 2 of Have You Herd About Animals?! They are pandaing (Panda Pun) to you and giving the wonderful information the cute but dangerous Panda Bears of China! Come learn what they eat, when they sleep and what they do in their free time.
Sit back and relax!
Hey there fellow Herders! Sam and Tyler are back with a spooky episode! So parents beware it might be slightly scary for the younger crowd! We're going to talk about the legendary El Chupacabra! Listen to Sam and Tyler debate whether or not this mythical monster roams the world sucking the blood of Goats!
Sam and Tyler swoop in with a new episode about the mythical Harpy Eagle! The dazzling raptor that brings fear into cultures around the world and animals alike.
Come learn about one of the largest raptors on the planet and see what they like to hunt.
Sam and Tyler bring you a special episode about the animal that we hold near and dear to our hearts and that is the domesticated cat. This episode is in honor of Tyler's late Cat, Calcifer who passed away suddenly on February 14th. Come learn about the fun antics of those silly cats and enjoy.
Sam and Tyler bring a special episode with a special guest about Bobcats! Our special guest is from the Rustic Acres Wildcat Rescue! Come learn about Bobcats from an expert and learn some fun facts about them!
Drum up the beats to the bongos and no we're not talking about the drum! Sam and Tyler bring in the beat and give you an exciting episode about the Bongo Antelope!
Sam and Tyler shoot in with another episode about a crazy animal that can shoot bubbles right out of it's claws! We can't give you too much, because this episode is pretty short and we don't want to ruin it all here!
Sam and Tyler back at it again with another funky animal for everyone to love! Today we are talking about the mighty and magnificent Octopus, and its incredible hunting skills, camouflages and much more!
We're not telling you anymore. You'll have to listen.
Sam and Tyler take on the investigation of the Murder! Which is a herd of crows! If you guessed crows from the last episode, you are 100% correct and congratulations! Come learn about Corvus brachyrhynchos the American Crow! Come listen to Sam and Tyler ramble about the wonderous Crow and their magnificent habits and incredible intellect. Sit back, relax and enjoy.
This episode is about the Western Honey Bee! Sam and Tyler bring a fun, short and sweet episode for everyone about Bees! What else do we have to say? It's Bees. They're awesome.
Welcome to the first episode of "Have You Herd About Animals?" Black Bear (Ursus Americanus). This episode is appropriate for all ages and gives a fun insight on the Black Bear of North America and Asia! Tyler and Sam have a fun and informational take on these bears and how they inhabit the world. Please let us know what you think and enjoy!
Our trailer on "Have You Herd About Animals" and everything you need to know about the up and coming podcast! Don't mind our cover art, this is only temporary until we got our official one. We hope you enjoy.