The Benefits of Sociality

2min Snip

00:00

Play full episode

Summary

Transcript

Episode notes

Ellen Skeleton wants to know why have so many mammals evolved to cooperate or stay in large groups as opposed to other animals. She says sociality is really common in a lot of species that we see, that we attribute a lot of high cognitive function to. But like the hula is spreading communicative diseases, it's too many of us and bad things can be passed around very easily.

Mammals: you’re one. Your dog is one. So are giant rats. What do we have in common? Nipples. The incredible Southern Illinois University professor, researcher, science communicator and mammalogist Dr. Danielle N. Lee joins to chat about everything from nature’s parenting styles to hairy bellies, milk glands, nip counts, how a meteor paved the way for our existence, her favorite mammals and the mysteries of the platypus. An episode years in the making, Alie barely keeps her cool as Dr. Lee gives insight and perspective on what it means to be a human and a mammal. Also, we chat about Black Mammalogists week Sept. 13-19 and the important pivots that changed her career path.

Follow Dr. Danielle N. Lee at Twitter.com/DNLee5 or Instagram.com/DNLee5

September 13-19 is Black Mammalogists Week! https://blackmammalogists.com/

A donation went to semsuccess.org

Follow SEM Link at Twitter.com/semlink

For more links: alieward.com/ologies/mammalogy

Transcripts & bleeped episodes at: alieward.com/ologies-extras

Become a patron of Ologies for as little as a buck a month: www.Patreon.com/ologies

OlogiesMerch.com has hats, shirts, pins, totes and uh...bikinis? Hi. Yes.

Follow twitter.com/ologies or instagram.com/ologies

Follow twitter.com/AlieWard or instagram.com/AlieWard

Sound editing by Jarrett Sleeper of MindJam Media & Steven Ray Morris

Theme song by Nick Thorburn