Animal Atlas

An exploration of the life inside tropical rainforests. We ask what defines a rainforest? Where are rainforests located? What animals live there? Along the way we meet the giant anteater, the capybara, the bush dog, sloths, tapirs, and jaguars, too.

An in depth exploration of New World monkeys. First, we explore the New World—what is the “New World’? We look at how the flora, fauna, and monkeys of the Americas differ from their “Old World” counterparts. Along the way, we climb through the trees with spider monkeys, woolly monkeys, tamarins, and howler monkeys, just to name a few.

A panoramic survey of the ruminants, from giraffes to deer to cattle to antelopes to goats and sheep. We divvy the ungulates into groups based on the number of toes they have, and ask them directly, “why do you chew your cud?” And hey, what is “cud”? We look at how the cud-chewers differ from their grazing, herbivorous cousins, and how a four-chambered stomach can turn a green lawn into a hearty meal.

All about tigers: the various species and how they differ in terms of size, habitat, location, and diet. We meet animals brave enough to live in tiger territory, and compare tigers to the rest of the members of the cat family. We find out how a tiger hunts and how its stripes aid in the process.

A panoramic look at invertebrates and insects. First, a basic overview of how invertebrates and vertebrates are different, beyond the obvious prefix, “-in.” Then, we delve into the world of the largest group of animals. We ask how an exoskeleton differs from a skeleton made of bone. We find out who the arthropods are and what cold-blooded means in the “In” world.

A rollicking and informative romp through the world of those scary “S” creatures: spiders, snakes, scorpions and sharks. We take a closer look at the two arachnids, the fish, and the reptile on the list.

We’re social. Are other animals social, too? Do some animals live together, play together, and need each other to survive and thrive? You bet! We’ll meet a few kinds of animals that live the social life, and others that live a very different solitary life.

Carnivores come in a variety of shapes and sizes. In this episode, we’ll look at carnivores who either live in or simply feed in the water. We’ll meet the enormous whale shark, bald eagle, jaguar, and playful otter, to name a few.

What makes a bird special? What doesn’t? Flight, feathers, beaks, bills, webbed feet, unique diets, a range of sizes, and incredible habitats make birds one of the most various and fascinating kinds of animals the world over.

Why do we love monkeys? Well, they make funny faces, live in trees, have dexterous hands, and an athletic manner of moving through the branches. But mainly, they’re a heckuva lot of fun. From the Old World to the New World, this is one rollicking ride with the monkeys.

A close look at three behemoths: the elephant, rhino, and hippo. All are enormous and all are related—in more ways than one.

How is color used in the animal kingdom? Certainly to attract, but also to conceal. What about color as a signifier of rank? Ask the silverback gorilla about that one. Yes, through all the colors of the rainbow and from spots to stripes, we’ll reveal the myriad fashions and intents of the animal world.

The human world sure spreads a lot of rumors about the animal world—of which we are a part, of course.

Animals may seem to change in only one way—they grow up and grow old. But animals also evolve and adapt, though this process can take many generations. In this episode, we’ll reveal some of the most incredible adaptations in the animal world.