titanoboa

It was the largest snake that ever lived! In this episode we learn about Titanoboa, the HUGE constrictor that lived in the swamps of what is now, Columbia. Dinosaur George answers several questions submitted by the listeners, and then gives his opinions of numerous "Who Would Win" battles! 

00:00:00 - Brown snakes may have reached Guam, but once there how do they reach between tree branches? New research shows how these tiny snakes would rather go up than across.

00:19:26 - Drinks bridge the gap between sobriety and drunkenness. Patrick sups a Naked Grape pinto grigrio. Ben kicks back some guava nectar from Egypt. And Ryan has a Jashimi cocktail invented by Jacopo Falleni.

00:24:45 - Ben and Ryan argue over comparisons to other movies while Patrick laments the plot twist seen in the trailer for Robot & Frank, the subject of this week's Trailer Trash Talk.

00:37:28 - The same mine that gave us Titanoboa has also given us a very large, round, and flat turtle called Puentemys mushaisaensis. Was the shape a way to avoid swallowing or was it a better way to thermoregulate back in the day? We honestly don't know but we're sure as shooting going to talk about it.

00:48:42 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like reptiles, you think they're slimy but really they aren't. Patrick has a question from Kyle P. about tracking all the fossils paleontologists manage to find. Ryan has a very poetic e-mail from Sonny C. And Ben promotes the Brachiolope Media Network forum by giving us the results of the most favorite Paleopal poll!

Discuss this episode and other podcasts from the Brachiolope Media Network on our forum!

Music for this week's show provided by:

Up Above My Head - The Wood Brothers

Belly Full of Wine - Eureka Gold

Frank - Matt & Kim

Turtle Power - Partners in Kryme

00:00:00 - Jason Head joins us to talk about Titanoboa, the largest snake ever found and subject a new documentary starring Dr. Head himself. Part 1 tackles the initial discovery and piecing together of the biology of the snake. We actually recommend watching the documentary (or play the game) first, but you're a smart person, you'll figure it out regardless.

00:27:29 - Some snakes function better in the water, some scientists podcast better with a drink. Charlie tries his hand at cider, Patrick calls back to an old-faithful Pinot Noir, and Ryan compliments his recently acquired Biere De Mars from Jolly Pumpkin.

00:31:28 - Trailer Trash Talk tangents into board game territory, i.e. anything to avoid talking about how bad Battleship looks.

00:43:50 - Part 2 of our interview with Dr. Jason Head finishes the story of The Infamous Biting of John Bloch, as well as discussing the paleoecological significance of this awesome find. We also ask about the process of having a documentary made about your work. All in all, a good time is had.

01:02:10 - PaleoPOWs are a lot like fossil snakes, easily lost to the rigors of time. Charlie has an iTunes review from an underaged fluffyraptor decrying his lack of ability to donate. We come up with an alternate, more collegiate use for the money. Speaking of money, Eric C. decides to set up a recurring donation, and Patrick is quick with the praise. And finally, Ryan has a question from Kyle H. concerning which scientific topic the guys would most like to see animated.

Thanks for listening and be sure to check out the Brachiolope Media Network for more great science podcasts!

Music for this week's show provided by:

Crawling Snake King - The Doors

Johnny Appleseed - Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros

The Battle of Who Could Care Less - Ben Folds Five

So Long - Guster