{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/638fae9eebaaed00108c0d80/65b7582f97e2d200164cf147?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"Simocyon, the Short-Snouted Dog","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/638fae9eebaaed00108c0d80/1706514197201-6eef513fdde576c0f46006acf2a00b33.jpeg?height=200","description":"<p>(image source: <a href=\"https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/the-other-pandas-thumb\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/the-other-pandas-thumb</a>)</p><p><br></p><p>Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Lexi Ryan discuss <em>Simocyon</em>, a creature that looks like a cougar and whose name says it’s a dog but is more closely related to red pandas. That’s a running joke on this show, I swear. “It looks like a baboon, eats like a llama, but its closest relatives are actually… cuttlefish.” From the Early Pliocene, this 7-foot carnivoran mammal is from a previously wide-ranging family of predators who all went extinct except for that little teddy bear who helps Chinese-Canadian girls go through puberty or something. I dunno, I only saw that film once. Just kidding, it’s my favorite movie of all time.</p><p><br></p><p>Want to further support the show? Sign up to our Patreon for exclusive bonus content at <a href=\"https://www.patreon.com/matthewdonald?fan_landing=true\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Patreon.com/MatthewDonald</a>. Also, you can get links to follow Matthew Donald and purchase his books at <a href=\"https://linktr.ee/matthewdonald\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://linktr.ee/matthewdonald</a>.</p>","author_name":"Matthew Donald"}