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
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2:27:35
Episode 219 - Beringia
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
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1:48:37
Episode 218 - Lungs
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
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2:15:11
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2:15:11
Episode 217 - Bears
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
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2:23:51
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2:23:51
Episode 216 - Plankton
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
Join David and Will as they explore the paleontologists’ perspective on various topics in life and earth history.
Each episode features a main discussion on a topic requested by the listeners, presented as a lighthearted and educational conversation about fossils, evolution, deep time, and more.
Before the main discussion, each episode also includes a news segment, covering recent research related to paleontology and evolution.
Each episode ends with the answer to a question submitted by subscribers on Patreon.
New episodes with new topics every fortnight!
Netherlands