Creatures of the night! The world is a different place in the dark, and a whole array of organisms have adapted to being most active outside of daytime hours. This episode, we?ll explore the regular traits that allow nocturnal animals to get by, we?ll discuss some of the ways nocturnal evolution has shaped living species, and we?ll investigate which ? if any ? of these traits we can identify in the fossil record.

In the news: snake hormones, Australian amphibians, ancient microbes, and baby dinosaurs.

Time markers: Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00 News: 00:07:25 Main discussion, Part 1: 00:39:15 Main discussion, Part 2: 01:14:30 Patron question: 02:03:45

Check out our website for this episode?s blog post and more: http://commondescentpodcast.com/

Join us on Patreon to support the podcast and enjoy bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast

Got a topic you want to hear about? Submit your episode request here: https://commondescentpodcast.com/request-a-topic/

Lots more ways to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/common_descent

The Intro and Outro music is ?On the Origin of Species? by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org

Musical Interludes are "Professor Umlaut" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

Welcome ... to Pok-É!

This year is the 30th anniversary of the Pokémon franchise, so we?re picking some of our favorite Legendary Pokémon and speculating upon how they ? or something like them ? might evolve in real life, pulling inspiration from species throughout our planet?s history!

This episode, we take on the super-ancient Pokémon of Hoenn. How could natural selection result in masters of the sea, land, and sky embroiled in an endless feud? Our creatures to create this time: Kyogre, Groudon, and Rayquaza.

Join the Common Descent Discord server for more Pok-É discussion! https://discord.gg/CwPBxdh9Ev

Join us on Patreon to support the podcast and enjoy bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast

More ways to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/common_descent

The Intro and Outro music is ?On the Origin of Species? by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org.

One of the benefits our Patrons can receive is a personalized mini-episode on an animal of their choice! Every now and then, we throw them together into a compilation for all to enjoy! 

As always, an enormous thanks to all of our wonderful Patrons!

Time markers: Basal Ornithopods for Aaron: 00:02:00 Orangutans for Justin: 00:22:30 Tardigrades for Jeff: 00:54:25 Trilobites for Timpaxew: 01:16:55 Rauisuchians for Ryan: 01:36:45 Ravens for Bogdraw: 01:56:15

Join us on Patreon to support the podcast and enjoy bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast

Got a topic you want to hear about? Submit your episode request here: https://commondescentpodcast.com/request-a-topic/

Lots more ways to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/common_descent

The Intro and Outro music is ?On the Origin of Species? by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org

Musical Interludes are "Professor Umlaut" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

Some bones are only skin deep! In many species of reptiles, mammals, and amphibians, bones called osteoderms develop within the skin, serving as body armor, additional muscular support, display features, or any number of other functions. This episode, we explore the extraordinary diversity of osteoderm anatomy, we take a tour through the many and varied osteoderms of Earth history, and we investigate a long list of hypothesized functions for these unusual bones.

In the news: reptile skin, dinosaur quills, dinosaur bites, and cannibal snakes.

Time markers: Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00 News: 00:06:25 Main discussion, Part 1: 00:46:35 Main discussion, Part 2: 01:26:35 Patron question: 02:24:05

Check out our website for this episode?s blog post and more: http://commondescentpodcast.com/

Join us on Patreon to support the podcast and enjoy bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast

Got a topic you want to hear about? Submit your episode request here: https://commondescentpodcast.com/request-a-topic/

Lots more ways to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/common_descent

The Intro and Outro music is ?On the Origin of Species? by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org

Musical Interludes are "Professor Umlaut" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

Welcome ... to Pok-É!

This year is the 30th anniversary of the Pokémon franchise, so we?re picking some of our favorite Legendary Pokémon and speculating upon how they ? or something like them ? might evolve in real life, pulling inspiration from species throughout our planet?s history!

This episode, we take a tour of the Paradox Pokémon. Where on the tree of life could we find a pair of dragons built for battle and all-terrain travel? Our creatures to create this time: Koraidon and Miraidon.

Join the Common Descent Discord server for more Pok-É discussion! https://discord.gg/CwPBxdh9Ev

Join us on Patreon to support the podcast and enjoy bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast

More ways to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/common_descent

The Intro and Outro music is ?On the Origin of Species? by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org.

Welcome ... to Pok-É!

This year is the 30th anniversary of the Pokémon franchise, so we?re picking some of our favorite Legendary Pokémon and speculating upon how they ? or something like them ? might evolve in real life, pulling inspiration from species throughout our planet?s history!

This episode, we grapple with the Order Pokémon. What biological explanations can we find for an ecological guardian of many, many faces? Our creature to create this time: Zygarde.

Join the Common Descent Discord server for more Pok-É discussion! https://discord.gg/CwPBxdh9Ev

Join us on Patreon to support the podcast and enjoy bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast

More ways to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/common_descent

The Intro and Outro music is ?On the Origin of Species? by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org.

In the mid-to-late 20th Century, dinosaurs received a major makeover in their scientific and popular image. This episode, Riley Black takes us through the timeline of the Dinosaur Renaissance. We discuss some of the big scientific milestones and the various players which brought dinosaurs into their modern era, and we?ll explore the early signs and lingering notes of this historic shift.

In the news: sleepy jellyfish, fast mammals, bird beaks, and dinosaur diets.

Find Riley in these places: https://rileyblack.net/ https://bsky.app/profile/restingdinoface.bsky.social https://us.macmillan.com/author/rileyblack

Time markers: Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00 News: 00:07:30 Main discussion, Part 1: 00:53:30 Main discussion, Part 2: 01:43:30 Patron question: 02:56:25

Check out our website for this episode?s blog post and more: http://commondescentpodcast.com/

Join us on Patreon to support the podcast and enjoy bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast

Got a topic you want to hear about? Submit your episode request here: https://commondescentpodcast.com/request-a-topic/

Lots more ways to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/common_descent

The Intro and Outro music is ?On the Origin of Species? by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org

Musical Interludes are "Professor Umlaut" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

Welcome ... to Pok-É!

This year is the 30th anniversary of the Pokémon franchise, so we?re picking some of our favorite Legendary Pokémon and speculating upon how they ? or something like them ? might evolve in real life, pulling inspiration from species throughout our planet?s history!

This episode, we confront the Renegade Pokémon. From what ancestors might we get a many-limbed monster from a parallel world? Our creature to create this time: Giratina.

Join the Common Descent Discord server for more Pok-É discussion! https://discord.gg/CwPBxdh9Ev

Join us on Patreon to support the podcast and enjoy bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast

More ways to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/common_descent

The Intro and Outro music is ?On the Origin of Species? by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org.

Welcome ... to Pok-É!

This year is the 30th anniversary of the Pokémon franchise, so we?re picking some of our favorite Legendary Pokémon and speculating upon how they ? or something like them ? might evolve in real life, pulling inspiration from species throughout our planet?s history!

This episode, we set our sights on the Diving Pokémon. How might evolution produce a sea-dwelling bird with a knack for stirring up storms? Our creature to create this time: Lugia.

Join the Common Descent Discord server for more Pok-É discussion! https://discord.gg/CwPBxdh9Ev

Join us on Patreon to support the podcast and enjoy bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast

More ways to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/common_descent

The Intro and Outro music is ?On the Origin of Species? by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org.

The Cenozoic Era was home to many unusual ancient mammals, but few so strange as the ?gorilla-horses,? the ungulates that swapped their hooves for claws, chalicotheres. This episode, we discuss the features that make these animals distinct and which confused paleontologists for decades, and we go over what is known ? and still unknown ? about their evolution and lifestyles.

In the news: Let?s Botanize, Prototaxites identity, and giant kangaroos.

Find Let?s Botanize here: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/ben-goulet-scott/lets-botanize/9781635869040/ Book preorder promo: https://www.letsbotanize.org/preorder-promo.

Time markers: Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00 News: 00:07:30 Main discussion, Part 1: 00:50:20 Main discussion, Part 2: 01:28:50 Patron question: 01:53:20

Check out our website for this episode?s blog post and more: http://commondescentpodcast.com/

Join us on Patreon to support the podcast and enjoy bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast

Got a topic you want to hear about? Submit your episode request here: https://commondescentpodcast.com/request-a-topic/

Lots more ways to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/common_descent

The Intro and Outro music is ?On the Origin of Species? by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org

Musical Interludes are "Professor Umlaut" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

All plants need water, but some take it to the extreme. This episode, Dr. Aly Baumgartner joins us to explore the many life strategies of plants that live in the water. We?ll discuss the adaptations that allow them to lead an aquatic lifestyle, their evolutionary history as seen through genes and fossils, and the benefits that keep leading plants back to water.

In the news: fish diversity, ammonite survivors, gut microbes, and hiding dinosaurs.

Time markers: Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00 News: 00:07:55 Main discussion, Part 1: 00:51:00 Main discussion, Part 2: 01:47:00 Patron question: 02:29:20

Check out our website for this episode?s blog post and more: http://commondescentpodcast.com/

Join us on Patreon to support the podcast and enjoy bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast

Got a topic you want to hear about? Submit your episode request here: https://commondescentpodcast.com/request-a-topic/

Lots more ways to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/common_descent

The Intro and Outro music is ?On the Origin of Species? by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org

Musical Interludes are "Professor Umlaut" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

From deep-sea trenches to your home garden, gastropods (snails and slugs) are among the most diverse and successful groups of animal life in Earth history. This episode, we?ll explore what makes these animals distinctive, we?ll touch on their extraordinary fossil record, and we?ll investigate the many evolutionary experiments gastropods have undergone in their anatomy and lifestyle.

In the news: squishable ants, false saber-tooths, bee burrows, and baby ankylosaurs

Time markers: Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00 News: 00:06:30 Main discussion, Part 1: 00:43:55 Main discussion, Part 2: 01:40:10 Patron question: 02:10:25

Check out our website for this episode?s blog post and more: http://commondescentpodcast.com/

Join us on Patreon to support the podcast and enjoy bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast

Got a topic you want to hear about? Submit your episode request here: https://commondescentpodcast.com/request-a-topic/

Lots more ways to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/common_descent

The Intro and Outro music is ?On the Origin of Species? by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org

Musical Interludes are "Professor Umlaut" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

Happy New Year!

Please enjoy our annual question-answering marathon, now longer than ever! Thank you so much to everyone who listens, shares, and supports the podcast. 

Check out our website blog posts and more: http://commondescentpodcast.com/

Join us on Patreon to support the podcast and enjoy bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast

Got a topic you want to hear about? Submit your episode request here: https://commondescentpodcast.com/request-a-topic/

Lots more ways to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/common_descent

The Intro and Outro music is ?On the Origin of Species? by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org

Of all the highly successful and capable flying insects in the world, few are as successful or capable as those in the order Diptera. This episode, we?re joined by special guest Brandon Strauss to discuss the distinctive anatomy and varied habits of flies, mosquitoes, and their many two-winged relatives. Then, we?ll peer into the past for a glimpse at the fossil record and dynamic evolutionary history of the group.

In the news: long-nosed crocs, river mosasaurs, stampeding sea turtles, and giant snakes

Find Brandon at punk_entomology on Instagram, Bluesky, and Twitch!

Time markers: Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00 News: 00:05:35 Main discussion, Part 1: 00:38:30 Main discussion, Part 2: 01:38:35 Patron question: 02:25:55

Check out our website for this episode?s blog post and more: http://commondescentpodcast.com/

Join us on Patreon to support the podcast and enjoy bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast

Got a topic you want to hear about? Submit your episode request here: https://commondescentpodcast.com/request-a-topic/

Lots more ways to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/common_descent

The Intro and Outro music is ?On the Origin of Species? by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org

Musical Interludes are "Professor Umlaut" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

Today, bony animals are some of the most diverse organisms on Earth, but it wasn?t always that way. This episode, we explore what features distinguish vertebrates from their closest relatives, and we dive into the abundant evidence from genetics, embryology, and the fossil record that gives us a glimpse at how our distant ancestors came to be.

In the news: swimming hands, early life, Dunkleosteus jaws, and Neanderthal noses

Time markers: Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00 News: 00:05:35 Main discussion, Part 1: 00:42:55 Main discussion, Part 2: 01:21:55 Patron question: 02:05:55

Check out our website for this episode?s blog post and more: http://commondescentpodcast.com/

Join us on Patreon to support the podcast and enjoy bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast

Got a topic you want to hear about? Submit your episode request here: https://commondescentpodcast.com/request-a-topic/

Lots more ways to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/common_descent

The Intro and Outro music is ?On the Origin of Species? by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org

Musical Interludes are "Professor Umlaut" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

Nearly 400 million years ago, an unusual group of fish gave rise to the first land-dwelling vertebrates. Since then, their descendants have repeatedly moved back into the water. This episode, we explore the many ways these species adapt to the challenges of turning a terrestrial body into one that can survive at sea, and we investigate some of the most famous and confusing cases from the fossil record.

In the news: post-extinction oceans, croc eggs, damaged dino tails, and meat-eating dung beetles.

Time markers: Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00 News: 00:05:45  Main discussion, Part 1: 00:40:15 Main discussion, Part 2: 01:31:35 Patron question: 02:30:30

Check out our website for this episode?s blog post and more: http://commondescentpodcast.com/

Join us on Patreon to support the podcast and enjoy bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast

Got a topic you want to hear about? Submit your episode request here: https://commondescentpodcast.com/request-a-topic/

Lots more ways to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/common_descent

The Intro and Outro music is ?On the Origin of Species? by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org

Musical Interludes are "Professor Umlaut" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

The dome-headed dinosaurs are some of the most iconic ancient reptiles, but they?re surprisingly unexplored compared to other dinos. This episode, we explore what makes these dinosaurs unique, what limits our understanding of them, and the many confounding mysteries that paleontologists have been scratching their heads over, including the question of what exactly they were doing with those thick heads.

In the news: the I Know Dino children?s book, giant reptile locomotion, and dinosaur hooves.

Time markers: Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00 News: 00:08:45  Main discussion, Part 1: 00:46:32 Main discussion, Part 2: 01:12:05 Patron question: 02:05:30

Check out our website for this episode?s blog post and more: http://commondescentpodcast.com/

Join us on Patreon to support the podcast and enjoy bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast

Got a topic you want to hear about? Submit your episode request here: https://commondescentpodcast.com/request-a-topic/

Lots more ways to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/common_descent

The Intro and Outro music is ?On the Origin of Species? by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org

Musical Interludes are "Professor Umlaut" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

In this special guest episode of Silver Screen Science, we're joined by Sabrina and Garret of I Know Dino to discuss the science and scientists of the newest installment in the Jurassic franchise: Jurassic World: Rebirth!

Find more Common Descent: http://commondescentpodcast.com/

Join Common Descent and I Know Dino on Patreon to support the podcast and enjoy bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast https://www.patreon.com/cw/iknowdino 

Lots more ways to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/common_descent

The Intro and Outro music is ?On the Origin of Species? by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org

Welcome ? to Cute-E!

During our Spook-E series, we speculate on the evolution of monsters from myth and popular media, but we leave out fiction?s more adorable creatures. In Cute-E, we choose cuddlier critters and discuss how they ? or something like them ? could evolve here on Earth, pulling inspiration from real-world species across our planet?s history. This year?s theme is Monsters of Nintendo.

This episode, we pluck precious partners from the soil. What could be the evolutionary background of tiny and colorful workers that blend the features of plants and animals? Our creatures to create this time: Pikmin.

Join the Common Descent Discord server for more Spook-E and Cute-E discussion! https://discord.gg/CwPBxdh9Ev

Join us on Patreon to support the podcast and enjoy bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast

More ways to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/common_descent

The Intro and Outro music is ?On the Origin of Species? by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org.

Generally speaking, it?s not a good idea to mess with ants. But several lineages of animals have evolved to be ant-eating specialists. This episode, we discuss anteaters, the suite of adaptations that allow them to focus on ant-eating, and the variety of other species that have evolved similar adaptations for the same purpose. We explore the evolutionary history of ant-eating mammals and even dinosaurs through the fossil record and genetic evidence.

In the news: butt-drags, ancient leeches, Neanderthal tracks, and spider genomes.

Time markers: Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00 News: 00:06:00 Main discussion, Part 1: 00:40:10 Main discussion, Part 2: 01:40:15 Patron question: 02:08:30

Check out our website for this episode?s blog post and more: http://commondescentpodcast.com/

Join us on Patreon to support the podcast and enjoy bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast

Got a topic you want to hear about? Submit your episode request here: https://commondescentpodcast.com/request-a-topic/

Lots more ways to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/common_descent

The Intro and Outro music is ?On the Origin of Species? by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org

Musical Interludes are "Professor Umlaut" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

Welcome ... to Spookulative Evolution.

Spook-E Season is back! All throughout October, we pick monsters from myth and media and speculate how they ? or something like them ? could evolve here on Earth, pulling inspiration from real-world species across our planet?s history. This year?s theme is Monsters of Nintendo!

This episode, we take the hunt across the stars. What biological explanation can we find for jellyfish-shaped parasites with a complex and terrifying life cycle? Our creatures to create this time: Metroids.

Join the Common Descent Discord server for more Spook-E discussion! https://discord.gg/CwPBxdh9Ev

Join us on Patreon to support the podcast and enjoy bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast

More ways to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/common_descent

The Intro and Outro music is ?On the Origin of Species? by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org.

Welcome ... to Spookulative Evolution.

Spook-E Season is back! All throughout October, we pick monsters from myth and media and speculate how they ? or something like them ? could evolve here on Earth, pulling inspiration from real-world species across our planet?s history. This year?s theme is Monsters of Nintendo!

This time, we?re sailing with the scourges of DK Isle. What circumstances might lead to the evolution of crocodile-faced humanoid pirates? Our creatures to create this time: Kremlings.

Join the Common Descent Discord server for more Spook-E discussion! https://discord.gg/CwPBxdh9Ev

Join us on Patreon to support the podcast and enjoy bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast

More ways to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/common_descent

The Intro and Outro music is ?On the Origin of Species? by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org.

Located in southeastern Alberta is a stretch of gorgeous badlands that are home to some of the world?s absolute best Late Cretaceous fossils. This episode, we explore how Dinosaur Provincial Park earned its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, we list off some of the famous dinosaurs who once lived there, and we discuss a fraction of the many fossil discoveries that have been made at the Park since the late 1800s.

In the news: Cretaceous crocs, baby pterosaurs, late megaraptorans, and early lizards.

Time markers: Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00 News: 00:06:25 Main discussion, Part 1: 00:47:45 Main discussion, Part 2: 01:08:35 Patron question: 01:47:00

Check out our website for this episode?s blog post and more: http://commondescentpodcast.com/

Join us on Patreon to support the podcast and enjoy bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast

Subscribe to Curiosity Box using our Affiliate Link: https://www.curiositybox.com/CommonDescent And get 25% off the first box with code descent25

Got a topic you want to hear about? Submit your episode request here: https://commondescentpodcast.com/request-a-topic/

Lots more ways to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/common_descent

The Intro and Outro music is ?On the Origin of Species? by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org

Musical Interludes are "Professor Umlaut" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

Welcome ... to Spookulative Evolution.

Spook-E Season is back! All throughout October, we pick monsters from myth and media and speculate how they ? or something like them ? could evolve here on Earth, pulling inspiration from real-world species across our planet?s history. This year?s theme is Monsters of Nintendo!

This episode, we take a trip to the Kingdom of Hyrule. How might nature develop an octopus-like monster with a penchant for projectiles? Our creatures to create this time: Ocotoroks.

Join the Common Descent Discord server for more Spook-E discussion! https://discord.gg/CwPBxdh9Ev

Join us on Patreon to support the podcast and enjoy bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast

More ways to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/common_descent

The Intro and Outro music is ?On the Origin of Species? by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org.

Welcome ... to Spookulative Evolution.

Spook-E Season is back! All throughout October, we pick monsters from myth and media and speculate how they ? or something like them ? could evolve here on Earth, pulling inspiration from real-world species across our planet?s history. This year?s theme is Monsters of Nintendo!

This episode, we begin with a baddie from the Mushroom Kingdom. What evolutionary path might generate a pipe-dwelling plant-like predator? Our creatures to create this time: Piranha Plants.

Join the Common Descent Discord server for more Spook-E discussion! https://discord.gg/CwPBxdh9Ev

Join us on Patreon to support the podcast and enjoy bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast

More ways to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/common_descent

The Intro and Outro music is ?On the Origin of Species? by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org.

The faces of vertebrate animals are often soft and full of teeth, but there is a common alternative. Birds, turtles, and many more groups have developed toothless snouts covered in a tough sheath. This episode, we?ll explore the defining features of beaks and their various functions. And we?ll take a tour through animal life past and present to investigate the reasons behind the repeated evolution of beaks among dinosaurs and beyond.

In the news: Life on Mars, ancient sharks, mammoth microbes, and ant-eaters.

Time markers: Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00 News: 00:07:00 Main discussion, Part 1: 00:42:40 Main discussion, Part 2: 01:38:25 Patron question: 02:21:50

Check out our website for this episode?s blog post and more: http://commondescentpodcast.com/

Join us on Patreon to support the podcast and enjoy bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast

Subscribe to Curiosity Box using our Affiliate Link: https://www.curiositybox.com/CommonDescent And get 25% off the first box with code descent25

Got a topic you want to hear about? Submit your episode request here: https://commondescentpodcast.com/request-a-topic/

Lots more ways to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/common_descent

The Intro and Outro music is ?On the Origin of Species? by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org

Musical Interludes are "Professor Umlaut" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

Dodos are probably the single most famous case of recent human-induced extinction. First documented in the late 1500s and extinct within a century, dodos have become a global reminder of the devastating potential of human activity. This episode, we review the brief history of human interactions with dodos, and we explore what recent research and fossil evidence has taught us about these birds and their closest relatives.

In the news: Cretaceous crocs, extra-spiky dinosaurs, turtles of the sea, and cave fish evolution.

Time markers: Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00 News: 00:05:45 Main discussion, Part 1: 00:33:10 Main discussion, Part 2: 01:06:00 Patron question: 01:56:50

Check out our website for this episode?s blog post and more: http://commondescentpodcast.com/

Join us on Patreon to support the podcast and enjoy bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast

Subscribe to Curiosity Box using our Affiliate Link: https://www.curiositybox.com/CommonDescent And get 25% off the first box with code descent25

Got a topic you want to hear about? Submit your episode request here: https://commondescentpodcast.com/request-a-topic/

Lots more ways to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/common_descent

The Intro and Outro music is ?On the Origin of Species? by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org

Musical Interludes are "Professor Umlaut" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

Forests are among the most widespread and diverse biomes on our planet. This episode, we?re joined by our favorite paleobotanist, Dr. Aly Baumgartner, to explore what defines a forest, how these habitats function, and how they differ around the globe. Then, we?ll take a trip into the past to discuss how paleontologists study ancient forests and how these biomes have changed over hundreds of millions of years.

In the news: ocean sediments, early penguins, island foxes, Canadian dragonflies, and ancient deer.

Time markers: Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00 News: 00:06:00 Main discussion, Part 1: 00:37:30 Main discussion, Part 2: 01:47:10 Patron question: 02:48:35

Check out our website for this episode?s blog post and more: http://commondescentpodcast.com/

Listen to more Plants with Aly on Leaf it to Us! https://commondescentpodcast.com/leaf-it-to-us/

Join us on Patreon to support the podcast and enjoy bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast

Subscribe to Curiosity Box using our Affiliate Link: https://www.curiositybox.com/CommonDescent And get 25% off the first box with code descent25

Got a topic you want to hear about? Submit your episode request here: https://commondescentpodcast.com/request-a-topic/

Lots more ways to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/common_descent

The Intro and Outro music is ?On the Origin of Species? by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org

Musical Interludes are "Professor Umlaut" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

Most vertebrate animals on land get around on all fours, but some of us have committed to two-legged locomotion. This episode, we explore the various ways animals have evolved bipedalism and the many benefits that come with it. We?ll also take a look at how we identify bipedal animals in the fossil record, and we?ll zoom in on the evolutionary story behind Earth history?s most successful bipeds.

In the news: potato origins, trilobite legs, bone worm burrows, and australopithecine sexes.

Time markers: Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00 News: 00:07:35 Main discussion, Part 1: 00:35:15 Main discussion, Part 2: 01:10:50 Patron question: 02:05:55

Check out our website for this episode?s blog post and more: http://commondescentpodcast.com/

Join us on Patreon to support the podcast and enjoy bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast

Subscribe to Curiosity Box using our Affiliate Link: https://www.curiositybox.com/CommonDescent And get 25% off the first box with code descent25

Got a topic you want to hear about? Submit your episode request here: https://commondescentpodcast.com/request-a-topic/

Lots more ways to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/common_descent

The Intro and Outro music is ?On the Origin of Species? by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org

Musical Interludes are "Professor Umlaut" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

Mutation. It is the key to our evolution. As our cells constantly divide and reproduce and replicate our DNA, errors and inconsistencies develop, leading to the incredible variation of life that drives evolutionary change. This episode, we explore the genetic mechanisms behind mutation and we discuss how scientists study mutations to understand the evolutionary history of life on Earth.

In the news: Neanderthal tools, caiman food, dancing dinosaurs, and ancient integument.

Time markers: Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00 News: 00:09:25 Main discussion, Part 1: 00:40:50 Main discussion, Part 2: 01:35:00 Patron question: 02:28:55

Check out our website for this episode?s blog post and more: http://commondescentpodcast.com/

Join us on Patreon to support the podcast and enjoy bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast

Got a topic you want to hear about? Submit your episode request here: https://commondescentpodcast.com/request-a-topic/

Lots more ways to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/common_descent

The Intro and Outro music is ?On the Origin of Species? by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org

Musical Interludes are "Professor Umlaut" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

On the outside, shrews might seem like standard tiny mammals, but their anatomy and lifestyle are highly specialized. This episode, with help from special guest Derek den Ouden, we explore the diverse habits of shrews, the anatomical features that set them apart, and how they thrive worldwide despite being perpetually on the brink of starvation. Then, we consider the extinct diversity of shrews in the fossil record.

In the news: stubborn bass, choking fish, tomato defenses, and some really old rocks.

Time markers: Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00 News: 00:09:35 Main discussion, Part 1: 00:45:25 Main discussion, Part 2: 01:40:50 Patron question: 02:12:35

Find Derek online at @DenoudenDerek

Check out our website for this episode?s blog post and more: http://commondescentpodcast.com/

Join us on Patreon to support the podcast and enjoy bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast

Check out our friends? new data management app, Cnidarity: https://cnidarity.com/

Got a topic you want to hear about? Submit your episode request here: https://commondescentpodcast.com/request-a-topic/

Lots more ways to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/common_descent

The Intro and Outro music is ?On the Origin of Species? by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org

Musical Interludes are "Professor Umlaut" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

Lizards are extremely good at becoming snake-shaped. A long body with small or absent limbs is a shape that has evolved dozens of times across nearly every major lineage of lizards. This episode, we explore the diversity of leglessness in lizards, we discuss which groups have done it and which groups have done it best, and we examine what?s known about the repeated evolution of this unexpected body shape.

In the news: giant dusky salamander, very early footprints, a Denisovan skull, a mammoth tusk boomerang, and night lizards.

Time markers: Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00 News: 00:06:25 Main discussion, Part 1: 00:41:50 Main discussion, Part 2: 01:33:55 Patron question: 02:16:35

Check out our website for this episode?s blog post and more: http://commondescentpodcast.com/

Join us on Patreon to support the podcast and enjoy bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast

Happy Disability Pride Month! AmeriDisability https://www.ameridisability.com/ National Disability Rights Network https://www.ndrn.org/

Got a topic you want to hear about? Submit your episode request here: https://commondescentpodcast.com/request-a-topic/

Lots more ways to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/common_descent

The Intro and Outro music is ?On the Origin of Species? by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org

Musical Interludes are "Professor Umlaut" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

Today?s crocs are iconic semi-aquatic predators, but their extended family tree features lots of land-dwelling cousins. This episode, we take a tour through croc evolutionary history and explore the many times these reptiles have taken to life on dry land. We?ll examine what features these terrestrial crocs shared, which ones they didn?t, and what their fossils tell us about how the shape of crocs has changed over time.

In the news: sauropod guts, Australian biomarkers, butterfly scales, and tropical archosaurs.

Time markers: Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00 News: 00:07:25 Main discussion, Part 1: 00:44:20 Main discussion, Part 2: 01:23:20 Patron question: 02:17:25

Check out our website for this episode?s blog post and more: http://commondescentpodcast.com/

Join us on Patreon to support the podcast and enjoy bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast

Got a topic you want to hear about? Submit your episode request here: https://commondescentpodcast.com/request-a-topic/

Lots more ways to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/common_descent

The Intro and Outro music is ?On the Origin of Species? by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org

Musical Interludes are "Professor Umlaut" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

For over 100 million years, North America and Asia have been connected over the Pacific Ocean through a region called Beringia. The comings and going of plants and animals across this connection have shaped ecosystems of the past and present. This episode, we explore the geologic history of the region and which ancient species have managed to live in and move through Beringia.

In the news: early sperm whales, BC plesiosaurs, megatooth shark food, and Arctic nesting birds.

Time markers: Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00 News: 00:09:10 Main discussion, Part 1: 00:35:25 Main discussion, Part 2: 01:02:15 Patron question: 01:40:40

Check out our website for this episode?s blog post and more: http://commondescentpodcast.com/

Join us on Patreon to support the podcast and enjoy bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast

Some LGBTQIA+ organizations in the southeast US: Trans Aid Nashville: https://www.transaidnashville.org/ Out Memphis: https://www.outmemphis.org/ Southerners on New Ground: https://southernersonnewground.org Shoutout to Vic Michaelis for these links: www.instagram.com/vicmmic/

Got a topic you want to hear about? Submit your episode request here: https://commondescentpodcast.com/request-a-topic/

Lots more ways to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/common_descent

The Intro and Outro music is ?On the Origin of Species? by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org

Musical Interludes are "Professor Umlaut" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

Take a deep breath and appreciate for a moment the organs that let you do it so efficiently. Lungs are an invaluable tool for life out of the water, and are therefore a favorite topic for paleontologists interested in early animals on land. This episode, we explore the diversity of modern lungs and the few but fascinating insights we have into the lungs of ancient animals, from dinosaurs to the first terrestrial vertebrates.

In the news: trilobite sizes, polar forests, early footprints, and cicadas.

Time markers: Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00 News: 00:05:50 Main discussion, Part 1: 00:31:30 Main discussion, Part 2: 01:21:35 Patron question: 02:05:35

Check out our website for this episode?s blog post and more: http://commondescentpodcast.com/

Listen to our new podcast, Leaf it to Us! https://linktr.ee/leafittouspod

Join us on Patreon to support the podcast and enjoy bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast

Got a topic you want to hear about? Submit your episode request here: https://commondescentpodcast.com/request-a-topic/

Lots more ways to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/common_descent

The Intro and Outro music is ?On the Origin of Species? by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org

Musical Interludes are "Professor Umlaut" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

Bears are among the most charismatic and impressive mammals. They have large bodies, very flexible lifestyles, and an extensive fossil record that includes some of the best-preserved and largest fossil mammals of all time. This episode, we explore what makes bears so distinctive and successful, and how their diversity has changed over time.

In the news: ancient alligators, rattlesnake venom, late land crocs, pterosaur tracks, and Caribbean crocodiles.

Time markers: Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00 News: 00:05:45 Main discussion, Part 1: 00:43:25 Main discussion, Part 2: 01:28:25 Patron question: 02:12:25

Check out our website for this episode?s blog post and more: http://commondescentpodcast.com/

Listen to our new podcast, Leaf it to Us! https://linktr.ee/leafittouspod

Join us on Patreon to support the podcast and enjoy bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast

Got a topic you want to hear about? Submit your episode request here: https://commondescentpodcast.com/request-a-topic/

Lots more ways to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/common_descent

The Intro and Outro music is ?On the Origin of Species? by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org

Musical Interludes are "Professor Umlaut" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

Just about every body of water on Earth, from oceans to puddles, is home to an ecosystem of tiny drifting organisms. This episode, we discuss what sorts of organisms we might expect to find in a swarm of plankton, we?ll explore how plankton is so fundamental to biological and geological systems on Earth, and we?ll take some time to lay out some of the many ways that ancient plankton are a crucial part of the fossil record.

In the news: climbing reptiles, croc extinctions, Ashfall rhinos, and ankylosaur tracks.

Time markers: Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00 News: 00:05:40 Main discussion, Part 1: 00:35:15 Main discussion, Part 2: 01:23:00 Patron question: 02:00:30

Check out our website for this episode?s blog post and more: http://commondescentpodcast.com/

Join us on Patreon to support the podcast and enjoy bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast

Listen to Will talk speculative evolution on the Nerd Trek Podcast https://open.spotify.com/episode/2NzdG8TMfwGLzpP8sKXHQA And listen to David talk de-extinction on the House of Pod https://open.spotify.com/show/3z6EgP0BzaHQoXzCtxQ32t

Support links: ACLU: https://www.aclu.org/

Got a topic you want to hear about? Submit your episode request here: https://commondescentpodcast.com/request-a-topic/

Lots more ways to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/common_descent

The Intro and Outro music is ?On the Origin of Species? by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org

Musical Interludes are "Professor Umlaut" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

Silver Screen Science is our series where we explore how science is portrayed on the big screen. This year, we?re focused on one recurring franchise: Planet of the Apes!

Finally, we visit the ongoing prequel franchise with the story of how it all got started: Rise of the Planet of the Apes.

Check out our website for blog posts and more: http://commondescentpodcast.com/

Join us on Patreon to support the podcast and enjoy bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast

Lots more ways to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/common_descent

The Intro and Outro music is ?On the Origin of Species? by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org.

With several thousand living species, ferns are the second most diverse vascular plants around today, after angiosperms. Ferns are also abundant and well-known in the fossil record. This episode, Aly joins us to explore the dizzying variety of ferns and their ferny-friends, past and present.

In the news: When the Earth Was Green, weird wasps, and ancient claws. And also dire wolves.

Time markers: Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00 News: 00:04:20 Main discussion, Part 1: 00:46:45 Main discussion, Part 2: 01:37:00 Patron question: 02:20:40

Check out our website for this episode?s blog post and more: http://commondescentpodcast.com/

Join us on Patreon to support the podcast and enjoy bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast

When the Earth Was Green: https://bookshop.org/p/books/when-the-earth-was-green-plants-animals-and-evolution-s-greatest-romance-riley-black/21356911    https://libro.fm/audiobooks/9781250354211-when-the-earth-was-green Find Riley at @restingdinoface.bsky.social And http://rileyblack.net/

Support links: Assigned Media: https://www.assignedmedia.org/

Got a topic you want to hear about? Submit your episode request here: https://commondescentpodcast.com/request-a-topic/

Lots more ways to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/common_descent

The Intro and Outro music is ?On the Origin of Species? by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org

Musical Interludes are "Professor Umlaut" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

Silver Screen Science is our series where we explore how science is portrayed on the big screen. This year, we?re focused on one recurring franchise: Planet of the Apes!

It?s the reboot of the original, a 21st-Century take on the concept ? Planet of the Apes (2001).

Check out our website for blog posts and more: http://commondescentpodcast.com/

Join us on Patreon to support the podcast and enjoy bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast

Lots more ways to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/common_descent

The Intro and Outro music is ?On the Origin of Species? by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org.

Silver Screen Science is our series where we explore how science is portrayed on the big screen. This year, we?re focused on one recurring franchise: Planet of the Apes!

This episode, we begin where it began, with the original movie about a world where simian society is turned upside-down ? Planet of the Apes (1968).

Check out our website for blog posts and more: http://commondescentpodcast.com/

Join us on Patreon to support the podcast and enjoy bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast

Lots more ways to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/common_descent

The Intro and Outro music is ?On the Origin of Species? by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org.

Evolution just loves a nice pair of oversized canines, especially on mammalian predators. Saber-toothed animals have shown up over and over again ? we even have some today ? but despite their similarities, not all of these toothy species were using their canines the same way. This episode, we explore the various shapes of functions of saber teeth and the disparate lineages that have sported them.

In the news: The Fossil Keeper?s Treasure, the size of megalodon, and vulture feathers.

Time markers: Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00 News: 00:07:00 Main discussion, Part 1: 00:44:30 Main discussion, Part 2: 01:28:30 Patron question: 02:27:30

Check out our website for this episode?s blog post and more: http://commondescentpodcast.com/

Join us on Patreon to support the podcast and enjoy bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast

The Fossil Keeper?s Treasure: https://www.edelweiss.plus/#sku=1917044267&g=4400 Find Amy online at @MaryAnningsRevenge

Support links: National Immigrant Justice Center: https://immigrantjustice.org Researcher Support Consortium: https://researchersupport.org/

Got a topic you want to hear about? Submit your episode request here: https://commondescentpodcast.com/request-a-topic/

Lots more ways to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/common_descent

The Intro and Outro music is ?On the Origin of Species? by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org

Musical Interludes are "Professor Umlaut" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

Our high-level Patreon supporters get to request a topic for their very own mini-episode! For the sixth time, we?ve put the latest bunch together for everyone to enjoy!

Thank you as always to our incredible Patrons of all levels for keeping the podcast going!

Intro: 00:00:00 Ambulocetus for Ambulocetus ? 00:01:45 Abelisaurs for Quinn ? 00:18:30 Capybaras for Melissa ? 00:41:22 Pelicans for Johnathan ? 01:02:05 Pikas for Hana ? 01:31:45 Wooly rhinos for Eric ? 01:51:25

Check out our website for blog posts and more: http://commondescentpodcast.com/

Join us on Patreon to support the podcast and enjoy bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast

Got a topic you want to hear about? Submit your episode request here: https://commondescentpodcast.com/request-a-topic/

Lots more ways to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/common_descent

The Intro and Outro music is ?On the Origin of Species? by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org.

Musical Interludes are "Professor Umlaut" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Leave a carcass or a log or a pile of poop out in the wild long enough and it will break down into its component parts. Decomposers are an often-overlooked but essential component of ecosystems past and present. This episode, we explore the varied processes of decomposition and how scientists study decomposers and use that information. We?ll also discuss the importance of decomposition to the fossil record, as well as how we can identify signs of decomposers from the distant past.

In the news: temnospondyl extinction, hot crocs, foraging birds, narwhal tusks, and giant flying squirrels.

Time markers: Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00 News: 00:06:55 Main discussion, Part 1: 00:44:45 Main discussion, Part 2: 01:28:05 Patron question: 02:12:30

Check out our website for this episode?s blog post and more: http://commondescentpodcast.com/

Join us on Patreon to support the podcast and enjoy bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast

Got a topic you want to hear about? Submit your episode request here: https://commondescentpodcast.com/request-a-topic/

Lots more ways to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/common_descent

The Intro and Outro music is ?On the Origin of Species? by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org

Musical Interludes are "Professor Umlaut" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

After you?ve listened to the Leaf it to Us pilot episode, enjoy this follow-up discussion where Nora, Aly, and David share their thoughts about that first episode and the upcoming season of the new podcast.

You can contact us ? and find more from Common Descent ? here: https://linktr.ee/common_descent

The Intro and Outro music is ?Late Bloomer? by Devours. Find more from Devours at http://devours.bandcamp.com

Enjoy this special preview of the upcoming podcast Leaf it to Us, hosted by Nora Spurling and Dr. Aly Baumgartner. In this pilot episode, they discuss the fascinating phenomenon of sex-changing trees!

The first season of Leaf it to Us is in the works, and we?re excited to hear your feedback for this pilot episode. Please reach out to us and let us know what you think!

You can contact us and find more from Common Descent here: https://linktr.ee/common_descent

The Intro and Outro music is ?Late Bloomer? by Devours. Find more from Devours at http://devours.bandcamp.com

When vertebrates first moved onto land, they gave rise to a variety of amphibious tetrapods. The most diverse and successful of these were temnospondyls, which were some of the most important species in early land and freshwater environments. This episode, we?ll explore temnospondyls? evolutionary history, their ecological variety, and their mysterious connection to modern amphibians.

In the news: domesticating dogs, early birds, color evolution, and changing seeds.

Time markers: Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00 News: 00:07:35 Main discussion, Part 1: 00:32:30 Main discussion, Part 2: 00:53:15 Patron question: 01:32:30

Resources: Resources for Researchers and Scholars Under Threat in the US: https://www.nationalacademies.org/chr/committee-on-human-rights Erin in the Morning: https://www.erininthemorning.com/  

Fill out our Listener Survey here: https://forms.gle/CSoZaCbGN2DsRLTR6

Check out our website for this episode?s blog post and more: http://commondescentpodcast.com/

Join us on Patreon to support the podcast and enjoy bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast

Got a topic you want to hear about? Submit your episode request here: https://commondescentpodcast.com/request-a-topic/

Lots more ways to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/common_descent

The Intro and Outro music is ?On the Origin of Species? by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org

Musical Interludes are "Professor Umlaut" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

E. D. Cope is one of the most recognizable and notorious names in paleontology history. He did some of the most important early work in vertebrate paleontology, he was one half of the dueling duo in the infamous Bone Wars, he named some of the most famous fossil animals, and he was profoundly irresponsible and unethical with his science. This episode, we?re joined by Astrid Lundberg to explore the life and legacy of Edward Cope, investigating such questions as: How did he get his start? What lasting contributions did he make to paleontology? And what was wrong with this guy?

In the news: giant small pterosaurs, plesiosaur skin, bat teeth, and African isotopes.

Time markers: Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00 News: 00:05:50 Main discussion, Part 1: 00:44:15 Main discussion, Part 2: 01:36:10 Patron question: 02:26:30

Find Astrid as OddPride on TikTok and BlueSky and Astrid_Lundberg on Instagram and YouTube. And you can support her at www.patreon.com/OddPride

Resources: California Fire Foundation: https://www.cafirefoundation.org/ TransLifeline: https://translifeline.org/

Fill out our Listener Survey here: https://forms.gle/CSoZaCbGN2DsRLTR6

Check out our website for this episode?s blog post and more: http://commondescentpodcast.com/

Join us on Patreon to support the podcast and enjoy bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast

Got a topic you want to hear about? Submit your episode request here: https://commondescentpodcast.com/request-a-topic/

Lots more ways to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/common_descent

The Intro and Outro music is ?On the Origin of Species? by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org

Musical Interludes are "Professor Umlaut" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

The evolution of mineralized tissues is responsible not only for the incredible success and diversity of vertebrate animals, but also for their extraordinarily informative fossil record. This episode, we explore the detailed anatomy of bones and their deep evolutionary history, we touch on some of the ways they?re important for paleontology, and we take some time to discuss the secrets that can be found inside of ancient bones.

In the news: croc vs pterosaur, hominin diets, ears and gills, and reptile food.

Time markers: Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00 News: 00:08:45 Main discussion, Part 1: 00:41:00 Main discussion, Part 2: 01:26:00 Patron question: 02:12:45

Check out our website for this episode?s blog post and more: http://commondescentpodcast.com/

Join us on Patreon to support the podcast and enjoy bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast

Check out our new series, Briks with Bask! https://youtu.be/5JQEDeNwVS0

Fill out our Listener Survey here: https://forms.gle/8h1gBtTRhgun55BZ6

Listen to us on Gaming With Science: https://www.gamingwithscience.net/e/s2e01-holotype-paleontology/

Rewatch our 8-Year Anniversary Livestream: https://www.youtube.com/live/N7ZJFNazP6E

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Lots more ways to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/common_descent

The Intro and Outro music is ?On the Origin of Species? by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org

You might know them as ghost sharks, rat fish, or spook fish. Chimaeras are close cousins of sharks and rays, equipped with distinctive and unusual features in their fins, teeth, and reproductive structures. In today?s oceans, chimaeras are rare and easy to miss, but their extended family includes some of the most diverse and iconic fish of the Paleozoic seas. In this episode, we?ll explore the traits that set chimaeras apart, we?ll take a tour through their ancient relatives, and we?ll investigate what their most famous cousins were doing with their strange spiral rows of teeth.

In the news: Baltic herrings, Cambrian arms race, pterosaur tails, and early dinosaurs.

Time markers: Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00 News: 00:06:35 Main discussion, Part 1: 00:40:25 Main discussion, Part 2: 01:16:45 Patron question: 02:20:00

Check out our website for this episode?s blog post and more: http://commondescentpodcast.com/

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Got a topic you want to hear about? Submit your episode request here: https://commondescentpodcast.com/request-a-topic/

Lots more ways to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/common_descent

The Intro and Outro music is ?On the Origin of Species? by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org

Musical Interludes are "Professor Umlaut" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0