E341 - Episode 227 - Beaks

The faces of vertebrate animals are often soft and full of teeth, but there is a common alternative. Birds, turtles, and many more groups have developed toothless snouts covered in a tough sheath. This episode, we’ll explore the defining features of beaks and their various functions. And we’ll take a tour through animal life past and present to investigate the reasons behind the repeated evolution of beaks among dinosaurs and beyond.

In the news: Life on Mars, ancient sharks, mammoth microbes, and ant-eaters.

Time markers:
Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00
News: 00:07:00
Main discussion, Part...