Best Beast

Flies that steal pre-wrapped gifts, ants that steal babies and make them into slaves, and octopus that could totally squeeze through that keyhole in a bank heist- these are the best animal burglars!Our guest host this episode is biologist and science communicator Dillon Jones, also known as Dillon the Biologist! Follow his Instagram for fun videos and commentary  @dillonthebiologistContent Warning- Some language and descriptions of animal violenceOur Animal Candidates:Scorpion FlyOctopusForktailed DrongoSlave-making antBolitoglossa SalamanderSkuaLet’s learn more!Scorpionfly Natural History | BUG UNDER GLASSScorpionflies and Hangingflies:  Gift, Males, Steal, and Species - JRank ArticlesFor lack of good footage of an Octopus completing a bank heist, here is a video of an Octopus walking on land.The Incredible octopus that can walk on dry land | The Hunt - BBC - YouTubeDrongo Bird Tricks Meerkats | Africa | BBC Earth - YouTubeNew Slave-making Ant Discovered in North America (entomologytoday.org)Is this the face of a criminal?A giant palm salamander, Bolitoglossa dofleini, in Guatemala | Smithsonian Photo Contest | Smithsonian MagazineSouth Polar Skua | Audubon Field GuideAntarctica’s Milk-Stealing, Grudge-Holding Seabirds | WBUR's The Wild LifeWant to vote for your favorite? Or nominate another animal entirely? Subscribe to our instagram @bestbeast_podcast or facebook @bestbeastpodcast

Are fish good at pulling weeds? Can crabs grow their breakfast on their hairy arms? And just how good are ants at talking to fungus? The answers may surprise you. Here are animals with the best green thumbs!Our guest host this episode is entomologist and researcher Emily Luna.Our Animal Candidates:Eastern Grey  SquirrelLeafcutter AntAmbrosia BeetleDamsel FishYeti CrabLeaf SheepIntrigued by ants and aphids? Learn more on our Best Friends episode!Best FriendsLet’s learn more!Millions Of Trees Are Planted Every Year By Squirrels Who Forgot Where They Buried Their Nuts Leafcutter Ants are Farmers Who Grow Fungi | Office for Science and SocietyAmbrosia beetles: the tiny farmers you’ve never heard of - Entomology Graduate Student Association at University of California, RiversideDamselfish farmers domesticated mysid shrimp – oceanbitesYeti Crabs grow bacteria on their hairy claws - Scientific American Blog NetworkAdorable "Leaf Sheep" Sea Slugs Look like Cartoon Lambs The 'sheep' that can photosynthesise - BBC TravelWant to vote for your favorite? Or nominate another animal entirely? Subscribe to our instagram @bestbeast_podcast or facebook @bestbeastpodcast

Fancy feathers, pebble dresses, and coral sunhats- animals have found many ways to be fashionable. Here are nature's most impressive fashionistas!Our guest host this episode is ecologist and nature storyteller Jaclyn Aliperti. Check out her work here!https://www.instagram.com/jaclynaliperti/https://www.jaclynaliperti.com/What to hear more of Jaclyn's insights? Check out one of her previous episodes!Least Deserved Negative ReputationBest ArchitectBest NoseContent warning: Mild languageOur Animal Candidates:PeacockOrchid MantisCaddisflyDecorator CrabPenguinsCamouflaged LooperLet’s learn more!A peacock's tail: how Darwin arrived at his theory of sexual selectionBeautiful Huntresses: Scientists Explain Why Mantises Evolved To Resemble Orchids Why Do These Deadly Insects Look Like Flowers? - YouTubeCaddisfly larvae (order Trichoptera) | LIFE IN FRESHWATERArtist Hubert Duprat Collaborates with Caddisfly Larvae as They Build Aquatic Cocoons from Gold and PearlsDecorator Crabs Make High Fashion at Low Tide | Deep Look - YouTubeBlack and White, the Perfect Combination | Penguins InternationalThe awkward state of penguin molting | Deep Sea NewsLady Gaga Wears Pink Feathered Valentino Couture Gown to Venice Film Festivalemperor penguin teenager - GoogleCamouflaged Looper Caterpillar - YouTubeCrafty Caterpillar Puts Flowers on Back for Camouflage » TwistedSifterWant to vote for your favorite? Or nominate another animal entirely? Subscribe to our instagram @bestbeast_podcast or facebook @bestbeastpodcast

Jumping- not reserved only for frogs and kangaroos! Many animals have impressive jumps, from spiders, to sharks, to . . . beans? Which beast is the best jumper?Our guest is Alex Mcinturf, Post-Doctoral researcher at the Big Fish Lab at Oregon State University. Read about some of her amazing work with Basking Sharks here.https://alexandramcinturf.squarespace.com Check out Big Fish's work on their instagram Big Fish Lab (@big_fish_lab) • InstagramContent warning- Mild LanguageOur animal candidates-Mexican Jumping BeanBasking SharkFrog HopperFlying SnakeMako SharkJumping SpiderLet's Learn More!Why Did the Mexican Jumping Bean Jump? | Deep Look - YouTubePeaceful basking sharks can leap just as powerfully as great whites | New ScientistFroghopper insects leap to new heights | NatureJumping Hoppers in SLOW MOTION! - YouTube (Adrien at Ant Labs has been a guest on our podcast before and produces lots of amazing slow motion insect videos)The Amazing Paradise Flying Snake | Wildest Islands Of Indonesia - YouTubeSpilling The Secret To A Mako Shark's Speed (forbes.com)500-pound mako shark jumping toward boat prompts evasive maneuver | Men's Journal Spider With Three Super Powers | The Hunt | BBC Earth - YouTubePersonalities of jumping spiders determine how they hunt | Daily Mail OnlineWant to vote for your favorite? Or nominate another animal entirely? Subscribe to our instagram @bestbeast_podcast or facebook @bestbeastpodcast

In honor of April the 1st we are discussing cryptids! From Bigfoot, to Krakens, to deadly farting bison, these are some fake animals that have some real ridiculous history.Our guest host this episode is narrative director and lover of the weird,  Kyu Saiewitz. You can find Kyu's previous episode with us here!Most Terrifying Murderer Content warning- Mild LanguageOur animal candidates-BigfootJersey DevilDragonLoch Ness MonsterKrakenBonasusLet's Learn More!BigfootThe Jersey DevilPliny the Elder's DragonsGiant Squid equals AwesomesauceGiant Squid footagePliny the Elder's BonasusWant to vote for your favorite? Or nominate another animal entirely? Subscribe to our instagram @bestbeast_podcast or facebook @bestbeastpodcast

Penises that solve mazes, mimic flowers, and even sing?? These are some of the best penises in the animal kingdom.Our guest this episode is reproduction expert and science educator Mollie Samocha. You can check out her previous Best Beast episode here-Best Hair (buzzsprout.com)And if you're in LA, go check out the Natural History Museum!Natural History Museum (nhm.org)Content warning: Descriptions of penises, mild language, and innuendo.Our animal candidates-FlatwormTortoiseEchidnaLesser Water BoatmanLeopard SlugArgentine Lake DuckLet's Learn More!Meet the penis-fencing flatworm | The Mating Game – BBC - YouTubeThe Terrifying Sex Organs of Male Turtles (gizmodo.com)Scientists unravel mystery of echidnas' bizarre 4-headed penis | Live ScienceBug's Penis Makes Loudest Animal Sound | WIREDHow loud is YOUR penis?! The waterboatman and his mighty member! - YouTubeMating Leopard Slugs - YouTubeDance of the Mating Leopard Slugs - The Infinite SpiderBallistic Penises and Corkscrew Vaginas: The Sexual Battles of Ducks | Discover MagazineSexual competition among ducks wreaks havoc on penis size | NatureWant to vote for your favorite? Or nominate another animal entirely? Subscribe to our instagram @bestbeast_podcast or facebook @bestbeastpodcast

Body freezing temperatures, boiling lakes, and poop mountains- these animals live in the absolute worst neighborhoods!Our guest host this episode is storyteller Lauren Freedman. Here are some other episodes she recorded with us!Best ButtBest FriendsContent warning: Descriptions of animal violence and mild languageOur animal candidates-Scaly Foot GastropodWood FrogAntarctic MidgeGomantong CaveJerboaLesser FlamingoLet's Learn More!Scaly-foot Snails ~ MarineBio Conservation SocietyThe Iron Snail – More Than A DodoOur Best Tongue episode where you can hear how snails use their tongues to throw deadly harpoons! For real! Best Tongue- Best Beast Frogsicles: Frozen But Still Alive - YouTubeHow Antarctica’s Only Native Insect Survives the Freezing Temperatures | Smithsonian MagazineFilming Inside a Cave Full of Cockroaches | Eden: Untamed Planet | BBC Earth - YouTubeJERBOA - Hopping Desert Rodent, Cute But Deadly!! - YouTubeThe Deadly Lake Where 75 Percent of the World's Lesser Flamingos Are BornThe Flamingo Factory at Lake Natron - YouTubeThis Alkaline African Lake Turns Animals into Stone | Science | Smithsonian MagazineWant to vote for your favorite? Or nominate another animal entirely? Subscribe to our instagram @bestbeast_podcast or facebook @bestbeastpodcast

We are a little late for Veteran's Day, but we wanted to spread the love to the millions of animals that have sacrificed and worked alongside humans in our wars for thousands of years. From drunk horses to professional sea lions, these are the best war animals. Animals don't choose to go to war, but it's undeniable that their contributions have shaped the development of human society. Our guest host this episode is vet tech and equine expert, Elizabeth Turner.This is our LAST episode of 2021! Make sure you are subscribed to the podcast as well as our Instagram and Facebook so you don't miss the first episode of 2022!Content warning: Descriptions of  violence and mild languageOur animal honorees-ElephantsDogsSea LionsHorsesHoming PigeonsCatsLet's Learn More!War elephants: The original heavy armor fought into the 1950s - SandboxxA Brief History of Dogs in Warfare | Military.comUS Navy sea lions show off their protection skills during maritime exercise - YouTubeHvaldimir's story - YouTubeThe Four-Legged Marine Who Became a Korean War Hero - HISTORYThe Incredible Carrier Pigeons of the First World War | Imperial War Museums (iwm.org.uk)Why cats were the perfect companions in the trenches of WWI - We Are The MightyWar Culture - Animals of war | Military History Matters (military-history.org)Want to vote for your favorite? Or nominate another animal entirely? Subscribe to our instagram @bestbeast_podcast or facebook @bestbeastpodcast

Caterpillars who dress like snakes, snakes who dress like spiders, and spiders who dress like ants!  And what is this baby bird dressed as?? The animal world is full of mimicry, but these cosplayers are the best of the best!Our guest host this episode is evolutionary biologist and herpetology enthusiast, JP Lawrence. Give him a follow on instagram to see some of his gorgeous wildlife photography!JP Lawrence (@jplawrencephoto) • Instagram photos and videos Find JP's previous episode here Best TongueContent warning: Mild languageOur animal candidates:Cinereous MournerIranian Spider-tailed ViperRed Weaver Ant Mimicking JumperEastern Tiger Swallowtail CaterpillarWonderpusOwl ButterflyLet’s learn more!Cinereous Mourner - YouTubeThe attack of a spider tailed viper is filmed for the first time - YouTubeA Weaver Ant's Disguise | Wild Sri Lanka - YouTubeThe Impostor - Kerengga Ant-Like Jumper | Myrmaplata plataleoides | Ant Mimics - YouTubeTiger Swallowtail Caterpillar Defense - YouTubeTiger Swallowtail Junior (Family Papilionidae) - Field Station (uwm.edu)Wonderpus- I admit I had trouble finding video of the wonderpus doing its impressions since it is not as well known as the mimic. So what follows is articles and videos that cover both!Absurd Creature of the Week: The Octopus That Does Incredible Impressions of Fish and Snakes | WIREDWonderpus and Mimic Octopus Facts: Fascinating Mollusks - OwlcationHorned Katydid vs Owl Butterfly Caterpillar | MONSTER BUG WARS - YouTubeOwl Butterfly chrysalis perfectly mimics snake head - YouTubeEye knew it! Markings on butterfly wings really DO mimic a predator's gazeIt's ok to be Smart: Evolution- What is Impossible in Evolution? - YouTubeWant to vote for your favorite? Or nominate another animal entirely? Subscribe to our instagram @bestbeast_podcast or facebook @bestbeastpodcast

Cannibalism, impalement, dismemberment, and zombification. The animal kingdom is full of interesting ways to be murdered. Our guest host this episode is narrative director and horror aficionado, Kyu Saiewitz.Content warning: Language and some pretty darn creepy animal behaviorsOur animal candidates:Loggerhead ShrikeViper FishGustav the CrocodileMeerkatsAssassin Bug (Acanthaspis petax)Jewel WaspLet’s learn more!Shrikes Have an Absolutely Brutal Way of Killing Large Prey | AudubonButchering Bird | World's Deadliest - YouTubeWeird and Wonderful: A big mouth is an advantage for the toothy viperfish - YouTubeFact Check: This is not Gustave, the mammoth man-eating croc of Africa’s wetlandsGustave: The Notorious Giant Crocodile Rumored To Have Killed Over 300 PeopleBaby-Murdering Meerkat Alpha Females Enslave Subordinates As Wet NursesAbsurd Creature of the Week: The Ferocious Bug That Sucks Prey Dry and Wears Their Corpses | WIREDThe emergence of this jewel wasp at Chester Zoo is NOT for the faint-hearted - YouTubeWant to vote for your favorite? Or nominate another animal entirely? Subscribe to our instagram @bestbeast_podcast or facebook @bestbeastpodcast

Have you ever given directions with a dance? Said hello with bumpy skin? How about packed a fully detailed human description into a single shriek?  These are the best animal languages!Our guest host this episode is lawyer and linguist, John Stokes. Content warning: Mild languageOur animal candidates:Nim Chimpsky (Great Apes)Humpback WhaleAfrican Gray ParrotGunnison's Prairie DogCuttlefishHoney BeeLet’s learn more!The Chimp That Learned Sign Language : NPRHumpback Whale Song of the Summer (nationalgeographic.com)'Alex & Me': The Hidden World Of Animal Minds : NPRCatch the Wave: Decoding the Prairie Dog’s Contagious Jump-Yip - Scientific American BlogPrairie Dog Chatter: The Science Behind a New LanguageCuttlefish wear their thoughts on their skin (nature.com)The Waggle Dance of the Honeybee - YouTubeWant to vote for your favorite? Or nominate another animal entirely? Subscribe to our instagram @bestbeast_podcast or facebook @bestbeastpodcast

Migrating eyeballs, psychopath larvae, and mysteriously absent gonads- these are the best metamorphoses!Our guest host this episode is professor, documentary filmmaker, and macro photographer Audrey Kali. Check out her instagram full of insect photos @audrey.kaliCheck out her documentary trailer here:www.farmandredmoon.comContent warning: Mild languageOur Animal CandidatesFlounderImmortal JellyfishLooper Twig MothEuropean EelGreen LacewingPeriodical CicadasLet's Learn More!Flatfish PicturesAnother fabulous flatfish pictureThe Mysterious Origin of the Wandering Eye | ScienceBlogsScience of the immortal jellyfish, Earth's longest living animal - BBC Science Focus MagazineThe Family Geometridae (Moths, Inchworms, and Loopers)Audrey's image of Looper Twig CaterpillarWhere Do Eels Come From? | The New YorkerAudrey's image of Green LacewingAudrey's image of Green Lacewing eggsAudrey's image of Green Lacewing Larvae hatchingBrood X Periodical Cicadas Emerge In 15 States : NPRWhy do U.S. cicadas lie dormant for over a decade? Their life cycle, explained. (nationalgeographic.com)Want to vote for your favorite? Or nominate another animal entirely? Subscribe to our instagram @bestbeast_podcast or facebook @bestbeastpodcast

Sexy manatees, friendly fat birds, and salamanders with boomerang faces- these are some of the beautiful animals that have gone extinct. Buckle up for the worst extinction stories!Our guest host this episode is Creative Director of the Discovery Cube, Quincy Stokes. If you're in Sothern California, pay them a visit! Homepage - Discovery CubeContent warning: Descriptions of  violence/sex and mild languageOur animal candidates:Stellar Sea CowDire WolfPyrenean IbexDiplocaulusDodoPassenger PigeonsLet’s learn more!What Happened to Steller's Sea Cows? - The AtlanticDire wolves went extinct 13,000 years ago but thanks to new genetic analysis their true story can now be told (theconversation.com)Fresh effort to clone extinct animal - BBC NewsDiplocaulus - Facts and Pictures (newdinosaurs.com)BBC - Earth - How humanity first killed the dodo, then lost it as wellWhy the Passenger Pigeon Went Extinct | AudubonWant to vote for your favorite? Or nominate another animal entirely? Subscribe to our instagram @bestbeast_podcast or facebook @bestbeastpodcast

Do we really need squish-faced dogs? Or fancy pigeons? And why are scientists mushing together spider and goat DNA? Get ready to vote for the worst manmade animal!Our guest this week is actress and dog sitter Joan Kubicek. She once voiced a sassy horseshoe crab puppet for Nat Geo WILD.  Aminals: Horseshoe Crab on VimeoContent warning: Mild languageOur animal candidates:Domesticated Silk MothSpider GoatsElephantsAngora RabbitsFancy PigeonsBulldogs (and other BOAS dogs)Let's Learn More!Silk — Collective Fashion JusticeRare Spider Silk on Exhibit at AMNH - YouTubeThe goats with spider genes and silk in their milk - BBC NewsGoing Tuskless | African Wildlife Foundation (awf.org)Series on Wool: Angora, Can It Ever Be Ethical? (the-sustainable-fashion-collective.com)Record Breaking Rabbits: Angora Bunnies Get Blow-Dried - YouTubeBrave Military Pigeon's War Medal To Fetch Thousands At Auction (forces.net)Meet the English Pouter Pigeon - Backyard Poultry (iamcountryside.com) (link provided for images, not for the sentiments of the article)Grand National Pigeon Show champions (today.com) (link provided for images, not for the sentiments of the article)What Unethical Breeding Has Done To Bulldogs - Puppy LeaksX-ray of pug at the vet goes viral with internet divided over whether it's adorable or terrifying | London Evening Standard | Evening StandardWant to vote for your favorite? Or nominate another animal entirely? Subscribe to our instagram @bestbeast_podcast or facebook @bestbeastpodcast

Noses that grip, noses that store, and noses that see! Reconsider everything you thought you knew about noses and help us decide whose nose is best!Our guest host this episode is ecologist and nature storyteller Jaclyn Aliperti. Check out her recent work here!https://www.instagram.com/jaclynaliperti/https://www.jaclynaliperti.com/ What to hear more of Jaclyn's insights? Check out one of her previous episodes!Least Deserved Negative ReputationBest ArchitectContent warning: Mild languageOur Animal Candidates:Elephant SealSilk mothSaigaStar-nosed MoleSawfishAfrican ElephantLet’s learn more!Elephant Seals | Life in the Freezer | BBC Earth - YouTubeHow silkmoths could defeat terrorism and drug smuggling - BBC FutureSaigas are Straight Out of Star Wars - YouTubeTrue Facts About The Star Nosed Mole (with Ze Frank) | Earth Unplugged - YouTubeLongcomb Sawfish - Georgia AquariumSecrets of an elephants's trunk and tusks - BBC - YouTubeWant to vote for your favorite? Or nominate another animal entirely? Subscribe to our instagram @bestbeast_podcast or facebook @bestbeastpodcast

Oh the things you can do with just your own poop! Feed yourself and your family, build your house, or maybe even balance an entire ecosystem.Our guest host this episode is primatologist and educator Emily Patton. Check out  Orangutan Foundation International here! Official Orangutan Foundation International SiteContent warning: Mild languageOur Animal Candidates:Black LarkWhite RhinoParrotfishBess BeetleWhalesDung BeetleLet’s learn more!Why Black Larks Build Poop Fortresses | AudubonRhinos Use Poop Piles Like a Social Network (nationalgeographic.com)Tough Teeth and Parrotfish Poop | Smithsonian Ocean (si.edu)True Facts About The Dung Beetle - YouTubeSciencespeak: Whale Pump (nationalgeographic.com)How antibiotic-filled poop helps ‘bessbug’ beetles stay healthy | Berkeley NewsThe story of guano, the poop of sea birds and bats, and how it shaped human societyGuano Mania - 99% Invisible (99percentinvisible.org)Want to vote for your favorite? Or nominate another animal entirely? Subscribe to our instagram @bestbeast_podcast or facebook @bestbeastpodcast

Farting Morse code? Security door rear ends? Bum breathing turtles? Surely, these are the best animal butts.Our guest host this episode is filmmaker and voice actress Lauren Freedman.http://thelaurenfreedman.com/about/ If you like her sense of humor you can check out the other episodes we have recorded with her here!Best Friends (buzzsprout.com)Least Deserved Positive Reputation (buzzsprout.com)Content warning: Descriptions of animal sex and mild languageOur Animal Candidates:HerringHoneypot AntChinese Hourglass Trapdoor SpiderMandrillWombatFitzroy River TurtleLet’s learn more!By a wonderful coincidence, one of our favorite youtube channels "It's OK to be Smart" also discussed butts this week! A Brief (Scientific) History of Butts - YouTubeRigby’s Encyclopaedia of the Herring FARTING - Rigby’s Encyclopaedia of the Herring (herripedia.com)Honey Ant Adaptations | National Geographic SocietyEmpire of the Desert Ants – BBC (2011) | Natural History Nature Documentary (naturedocumentaries.org)The Chinese Hourglass Spider (Cyclocosmia latusicosta) (amazinglife.bio)TIL: Why Do These Monkeys Have Big, Colorful Butts? | Today I Learned - YouTubeWombats' deadly bums: how they use their 'skull-crushing' rumps to fight, play and flirt | Animal behaviour | The GuardianOrphan Wombat Preparing for the Wild | BBC Earth - YouTubeProtecting the “bum-breathing turtles” of the Fitzroy River - Greening Australia - Greening AustraliaWant to vote for your favorite? Or nominate another animal entirely? Subscribe to our instagram @bestbeast_podcast or facebook @bestbeastpodcast

Brains wrapped in tongue helmets, self-cannibalizing nervous systems, and hive minds! These are the weirdest animal brains!Our guest this episode is neuroscientist and science writer Alison Caldwell.Check out her amazing youtube channel if you are excited about brains!Neuro Transmissions - YouTubeFind her on Instagram @neurotransmissionsHer book, Brains Explained, is being released on June 22nd, 2021. Order it here!Brains Explained | Book by Alison Caldwell, Micah Caldwell | Official Publisher Page | Simon & Schuster (simonandschuster.com)Content warning: Mild languageOur Animal Candidates:Comb JellyDolphinsWoodpeckerSea SquirtOctopusAntsLet's learn more!Absurd Creatures | Comb Jellies Are Ready to Rave - YouTubeWhy Don’t Woodpeckers Get Concussions? - YouTubeThe Distributed Mind: Octopus Neurology - YouTubeIn an ant's world, the smaller you are the harder it is to see obstacles (theconversation.com)Want to see images of our animals or nominate your own candidate?  Find as at our Instagram or Facebook!@bestbeast_podcast • Instagram photos and videosBest Beast Podcast | Facebook

Rock-throwing monkeys, gift-giving spiders, and sexy gurgling camels- these are the best animal flirts!Our guest host this episode is documentary producer Victoria Armayor @victoria_aj. You can see some of her work here:Years of Living Dangerouslyhttps://www.amazon.com/Years-Living-Dangerously-Season-2/dp/B01M311WUZRoad to 9/11 https://tv.apple.com/us/show/road-to-911/umc.cmc.4iy7ixlkxol8phs1k2ejv1za7Rewinding a RiverVideo spotlight: Rewinding a River | Trout UnlimitedContent warning: Descriptions of animal violence and mild languageOur animal candidates:Paper NautilusArabian CamelCapuchin MonkeysNursery Web SpidersPeacock SpiderLyre BirdLet’s learn more!Get to Know the Paper Nautilus - Ocean ConservancyAustralian animal mating rituals - camel seduction in the outback - BBC wildlife - YouTubeCAPUCHIN MONKEYS FLIRT BY THROWING STONES - YouTubeMale nursery web spider (Pisaura mirabilis) offering prey to female - YouTubePeacock Spider Mating Dance - YouTubePeacock Spider "Stayin' Alive" - YouTubeA short film Damon and Cassandra made with a puppet peacock spider- Aminals: Peacock SpiderLyrebird: The Best Songbird Ever! - YouTubeWant to vote for your favorite? Or nominate another animal entirely? Subscribe to our instagram @bestbeast_podcast or facebook @bestbeastpodcast

Glamorous insect curls, noisy spines, and  deadly toupees- this is the best animal hair!Our guest host this episode is Mollie Samocha, an educator at the Los Angeles Zoo and expert in animal reproduction. Follow her on Instagram @mollieswildlifeContent warning: Descriptions of animal sex and mild languageOur animal candidates:SlothPlanthopper NymphBeeSea OtterPorcupineWooly SlugLet’s learn more!See some adorable Planthopper NymphsThe Planthopper Nymph's Dazzling Style of Protection (treehugger.com)Learn more about the Monterey Bay aquarium's surrogate Sea Otter programSea otter rescue and research | Stories | Monterey Bay AquariumA prehensile tailed porcupine- one of the cutest species for surePrehensile-tailed Porcupine Quilliam Enjoys a Snack - YouTubeThe bird that imitates wooly slugs, the Cinerous MournerA Baby Bird Behaves Like a Caterpillar - YouTubeHAIRY BIRD OR CATERPILLAR? - YouTubeWant to vote for your favorite? Or nominate another animal entirely? Subscribe to our instagram @bestbeast_podcast or facebook @bestbeastpodcast