Mongabay.com: Covert Creatures: The Clandestine Lives of Seahorses

By Laurel Neme, special to mongabay.comNovember 15, 2011  This interview originally aired on January 17, 2011. It was transcribed by Dustin Circe. Seahorses are strange looking creatures, with a horse’s head on top of a kangaroo’s pouched belly, bulging, swiveling chameleon eyes, a prehensile monkey tail, color-changing armor and a royal crown, all shrunk down to…

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The WildLife: The Secret Life of Seahorses, Helen Scales

Helen Scales, author of Poseidon’s Steed: The Story of Seahorses from Myth to Reality, reveals the unusual anatomy and strange sex lives of seahorses. She tells “The WildLife” host Laurel Neme that seahorses live mysterious lives, tucked away out of sight on the seafloor, and provides insights into their strange characteristics, including: kangaroo-like pouches for the males to…

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The WildLife: Sounds of Orca Whales, Ari Daniel Shapiro

  Ari Daniel Shapiro, a wildlife biologist and radio contributor, shares his research on the vocalizations of killer whales. He reveals to “The WildLife” host Laurel Neme a number of interesting facts about the sounds of killer whales. Did you know they use both high and low frequencies in the same vocalization? He’ll also divulge what it’s…

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The WildLife: Biology of Coral Reefs, Kristian Teleki

Kristian Teleki, SeaWeb’s Vice President for Science Initiatives and former Director of the International Coral Reef Action Network (ICRAN), reveals some of the mysteries of corals. He tells “The WildLife” host Laurel Neme about the biology and uses of corals and how much we still don’t know. He also discusses the threats to coral reefs and what…

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The WildLife: World Without Fish, Mark Kurlansky (and Talia)

Bestselling author Mark Kurlansky discusses his new book, WORLD WITHOUT FISH (Workman, 2011). He tells “The WildLife” host Laurel Neme how the health and future of fish and their habitats affect us all. He also provides tips on how anyone can make a difference. Mark’s 10-year-old daughter and fishing companion, Talia Kurlansky, vetted each chapter and helped her dad make sure that…

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The Wildlife: Aquarium Trade in Hawaii, Rene Umberger

  Rene Umberger, dive master and activist, discusses the marine aquarium trade in Hawaii and its impact. She tells “The WildLife” host Laurel Neme that every year, over 30 million fish are plucked from their coral reef homes for use in the aquarium hobby, with over 1,500 species targeted. Nearly all, 98 percent, of these saltwater aquarium animals are…

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Coral Reef CSI

The international Coral Reef CSI program is now under the auspices of the Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL).  Designed in 2006, the Coral Reef CSI program trains authorities to use forensic science strategies underwater. It has worked in thirteen countries and trained over 300 marine protected area resource managers, enforcement officers, academics, and litigators in underwater evidence collection.…

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First Federal Prosecution in Florida for Striking & Killing Manatee with Boat

  Boats speeding through manatee zone are a not uncommon occurrence. Unfortunately, it’s also a major threat to endangered manatees, as noted on my “The WildLife” radio show on December 6, 2010 when Craig Pittman, author of MANATEE INSANITY, talked about threats to these gangly creatures. These gentle giants of tropical waters have a number of things going against…

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The WildLife: Whale Poop (and Whales), Joe Roman

Joe Roman, Assistant Professor at the University of Vermont’s Rubenstein School for the Environment and Natural Resources and author of the book Whale, discusses whale dung and its importance to the ecosystem. He tells “The WildLife” host Laurel Neme that, contrary to most other marine species, whales feed at the ocean depths but defecate near to the…

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