Weird Species

For this episode of "Weird Species", we slow things down a bit: Dr. Irina Ruf, head of the mammalogy section at Senckenberg, talks about her favorite species, the two-toed sloth. A creature as laid-back as it is fascinating, it spends its days hanging from trees in the rainforests of South America and clambers down once per week to relieve itself. So what does researching an animal that barely does anything look like? And what can we perhaps learn from these very relaxed animals? Follow Senckenberg on Facebook [https://de-de.facebook.com/SenckenbergWorld] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/senckenbergworld/] TikTok [https://vm.tiktok.com/ZSVyFhy8/] X [https://twitter.com/senckenberg] YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/user/senckenbergfrankfurt]

Plants might not run around, bark at us or seem very active in general, but they are complex organisms with needs, goals, and ways to achieve them. In this episode of "Weird Species", Prof. Dr. Julia Sigwart talks to Dr. Liam Langan about the fascinating strategies that plants use, especially his favorite species Populus tremula, or quaking aspen. How do plants develop over time to adapt to their environment? And what kinds of models do scientists like Liam use to better understand these changes in ecosystems? Follow Senckenberg on Facebook [https://de-de.facebook.com/SenckenbergWorld] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/senckenbergworld/] TikTok [https://vm.tiktok.com/ZSVyFhy8/] X [https://twitter.com/senckenberg] YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/user/senckenbergfrankfurt]

Almost 40 % of insects and about 25 % of all known animal species worldwide are beetles – the fact left british-indian biologist J. B. S. Haldane to remark that "God has an inordinate fondness for beetles." In this episode of "Weird Species", Prof. Dr. Julia Sigwart talks to Dr. Marianna Simões about what makes these tiny creatures so special. Marianna also introduces us to her favorite species, Dorynota pugionata: a member of the subfamily Cassidinae that over time has come up with ingenious adaptations, the most spectacular among them a fecal shield built with their telescopic anus. Follow Senckenberg on Facebook [https://de-de.facebook.com/SenckenbergWorld] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/senckenbergworld/] TikTok [https://vm.tiktok.com/ZSVyFhy8/] X [https://twitter.com/senckenberg] YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/user/senckenbergfrankfurt]

In the first episode of the new Senckenberg podcast "Weird Species", our host Prof. Dr. Julia Sigwart talks to Dr. Brendon Boudinot, head of Entomology II at Senckenberg, about all things ants. Brendon shares insights from his research all over the globe and explains what makes our tiny friends such amazing creatures. The two scientists also tackle some other essential questions: Which 1998 animated kids movie is better: "A Bug's Life" or "Antz"? Can you make a delicious steak out of leafcutter ants? And how does an insect expert deal with an ant infestation in his house? Follow Senckenberg on Facebook [https://de-de.facebook.com/SenckenbergWorld] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/senckenbergworld/] TikTok [https://vm.tiktok.com/ZSVyFhy8/] X [https://twitter.com/senckenberg] YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/user/senckenbergfrankfurt]

Welcome to "Weird Species," an original podcast by the Senckenberg Society for Nature Research. Join Prof. Dr. Julia Sigwart as she guides you through the fascinating world of the species on our planet. Whether you prefer them super cute or pretty icky, whether you can find them in your neighborhood or on a remote island, we've got you covered. Each episode features conversations with scientists from various fields, where Julia quizzes them on their favorite species.