Steamer ducks are big, mostly flightless, famously aggressive ducks in South America. An amazing example of evolution in action, because some supposedly flying steamer ducks can't fly, and some flightless ones apparently can. Charles Darwin would be fascinated.

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Show notes, with photos, video and links to lots more information, are available at thewildepisode.com

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Music

Opening & Closing Themes: Running Waters and Acoustic Meditation by Audionautix (Jason Shaw), from audionautix.com. CC BY 3.0.

Modified versions of: Feather by Gurdonark, CC BY 4

The Reticulated Python: not only the longest snake in the world, but also the only one you could reasonably call a man-eater. A snake that kills by constriction - but how does constriction actually work?

You can support the show - keep it going, keep it growing - and get additional content by subscribing at The Wild Episode Substack. Become a paid subscriber to get access to occasional bonus episodes. Even a free sign-up there will get you regular content celebrating the wonders and curiosities of the Animal Kingdom.

Show notes, with photos, video and links to lots more information, are available at thewildepisode.com

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Music

Opening & Closing Themes: Running Waters and Acoustic Meditation by Audionautix (Jason Shaw), from audionautix.com. CC BY 3.0.

Modified versions of: Everywhere and The Past by Lee Rosevere, CC BY 4.0; Echo by Philipp Weigl, CC BY 4.0; The Companionship of Isolation and Shrouded Supermoon by Brylie Christopher Oxley, CC BY 4.0

The Barrel Amphipod is a tiny terror for certain animals that share its open ocean habitat ...

You can support the show - keep it going, keep it growing - and get additional content by subscribing at The Wild Episode Substack. Become a paid subscriber to get access to occasional bonus episodes. Even a free sign-up there will get you regular content celebrating the wonders and curiosities of the Animal Kingdom.

Show notes, with photos, video and links to lots more information, are available at thewildepisode.com

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Music

Opening & Closing Themes: Running Waters and Acoustic Meditation by Audionautix (Jason Shaw), from audionautix.com. CC BY 3.0.

Eclipsed by Fear by Aldous Ichnite, CC BY 4.0, The Big Drop, Find a Peaceful Place and The Ganzfeld Expriement by ROZKOL, CC BY 4.0

Salps are the strangest, most extraordinary of your reasonably close relatives in the Animal Kingdom ... some of the most extraordinary animals on Earth, in fact ... fellow chordates, yet so very, very different ...

You can support the show - keep it going, keep it growing - and get additional content by subscribing at The Wild Episode Substack. Become a paid subscriber to get access to occasional bonus episodes. Even a free sign-up there will get you regular content celebrating the wonders and curiosities of the Animal Kingdom.

Show notes, with photos, video and links to lots more information, are available at thewildepisode.com

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Music

Opening & Closing Themes: Running Waters and Acoustic Meditation by Audionautix (Jason Shaw), from audionautix.com. CC BY 3.0.

Astral Longing, Tea, World is Yourz and Elevate by 1000 Handz, CC BY 4.0

The Grey Seal is a very big predator - but also the victim of a strange killer that was, for a long time, a bit of a mystery ...

You can support the show - keep it going, keep it growing - and get additional content by subscribing at The Wild Episode Substack. Become a paid subscriber to get access to occasional bonus episodes. Even a free sign-up there will get you regular content celebrating the wonders and curiosities of the Animal Kingdom.

Show notes, with photos, video and links to lots more information, are available at thewildepisode.com

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Music

Opening & Closing Themes: Running Waters and Acoustic Meditation by Audionautix (Jason Shaw), from audionautix.com. CC BY 3.0.

Perhaps It Was Not Properly Manufactured, Cut to Rip Torn and Last Night I Dreamt I Saw True Love In Your Eyes by Chris Zabriskie, CC BY 4.0

Moniliformis moniliformis is an example of one of the strangest groups of animals in the world: the parasitic Acanthocephalans, or the Thorny-Headed Worms ...

You can support the show - keep it going, keep it growing - and get additional content by subscribing at The Wild Episode Substack. Become a paid subscriber to get access to occasional bonus episodes. Even a free sign-up there will get you regular content celebrating the wonders and curiosities of the Animal Kingdom.

Show notes, with photos, video and links to lots more information, are available at thewildepisode.com

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Music

Opening & Closing Themes: Running Waters and Acoustic Meditation by Audionautix (Jason Shaw), from audionautix.com. CC BY 3.0.

Soundwork LXVII, Soundwork LXX and Soundwork LXXVII by Jon Shuemaker, CC BY 4.0

The Kākāpō is the world's most extraordinary parrot - remarkable in even more ways than most people realise ...

You can support the show - keep it going, keep it growing - and get additional content by subscribing at The Wild Episode Substack. Become a paid subscriber to get access to occasional bonus episodes. Even a free sign-up there will get you regular content celebrating the wonders and curiosities of the Animal Kingdom.

Show notes, with photos, video and links to lots more information, are available at thewildepisode.com

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Music

Opening & Closing Themes: Running Waters and Acoustic Meditation by Audionautix (Jason Shaw), from audionautix.com. CC BY 3.0.

Fath Mo Bhuartha, De Bharr na gCnoc (Over the Hills), The Silent Grove and Reservoir Sunset (Remastered) by Axletree, CC BY 4.0

Kākāpō recordings are from the Department of Conservation (NZ) here. CC BY 4.0

The Paradise Flying Snake is one of the most surprising 'fliers' in the Animal Kingdom. How does it do it? And why is the answer to that question different than for all other gliding animals?

You can support the show - keep it going, keep it growing - and get additional content by subscribing at The Wild Episode Substack. Become a paid subscriber to get access to occasional bonus episodes. Even a free sign-up there will get you regular content celebrating the wonders and curiosities of the Animal Kingdom.

Show notes, with photos, video and links to lots more information, are available at thewildepisode.com

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Music

Opening & Closing Themes: Running Waters and Acoustic Meditation by Audionautix (Jason Shaw), from audionautix.com. CC BY 3.0.

Find a Peaceful Place and Ganzfeld Experiment by ROZKOL. CC BY 4.0.