How Weasels Got Skinny

[@Devin_Stromgren]

Thus are the origins of Buck, the little mink that lives in my house every winter, massacres all the mice that try to move in, and bumps my ankle to ask for dog food when prey gets scarce.

[@nunyabiznes33]

I have to make do with hissing furballs. Congrats on the long boi.

[@luckydal2059]

Please tell Buck I said hello when you see him next

[@Devin_Stromgren]

@@luckydal2059 He's a wild animal, that won't be till November at the earliest. He never shows up until there's snow on the ground.

[@Wooper160atThePond]

You're so lucky

[@kellydalstok8900]

Another example of an animal domesticating itself.

[@PonyusTheWolfdude]

I'm looking forward to "How Wolverine got Swole" and "Origins of Wet Otters"!

[@Aurora-oe2qp]

Ooooh, an episode on wolverines would be so fun!!

[@EmpressoftheLoneIslands]

Yes, please name the episodes exactly these.

[@Victorsixsixsix]

How bout origins of wet beaver? (Haha)

[@thethiccfrog1595]

Yes!!!!

[@CrazyDavy22]

Hilarious!

[@melvinshine9841]

Don't let the cuteness fool you, all mustelids are some kind of crazy, not just honey badgers and wolverines.

[@whythelongface64]

Ferrets kill rabbits by scaring them to death as they can't bite into their air pipe. And weasels are... Weird to say the least

[@MimesAgainstHunmanity]

I remember reading somewhere that of all the various mustelids, ferrets are the only ones that have been "domesticated".

[@albatross4920]

They're onmicidal

[@galvaton10000]

If only these long girls and boys weren't psychopaths

[@melvinshine9841]

@@whythelongface64 Fishers are one of those insane mustelids nobody seems to talk about. I already knew they will actively go after porcupines, which they kill by repeatedly biting them in the face, but apparently they've been documented killing bobcats and lynx. A lynx is around 20-30 pounds, a big fisher is like 8 pounds.

[@matthiasmorse5263]

"skinnymorph," "musclimorph," and "aquamorph": three of the most adorable and hilarious scientific classifications for the most adorable and hilarious mammals on earth.

[@MimesAgainstHunmanity]

Right up there with the thagomizer

[@DavidMcGuizz]

Don't forgot Aquamorph! All three are amazing haha

[@MimesAgainstHunmanity]

@@DavidMcGuizz Wasn't that the movie with Jason Mamoa? No wait, an Aquamorph video is something I would actually WANT to watch.

[@matthiasmorse5263]

@@DavidMcGuizz you are incredibly correct and i am editing my comment to reflect that lol

[@ianism3]

yah... but they're just nicknames - intended as a shorthand to designate the different types in this group - not official scientific terms

[@qtip9903]

Can you do an episode on pangolins? I’m curious on how they got their scales

[@djtdawg87]

Oh yes that would be a great episode.

[@jcortese3300]

I'd love to see something on the development of all sorts of keratin things that stick out of skin: scales, hair, nails, feathers ...

[@MimesAgainstHunmanity]

I would like to see that video as well.

[@Kuwagumo]

I would like it as well

[@scottsbarbarossalogic3665]

I, too, wish to see a video on the real like Pokémon

[@MimesAgainstHunmanity]

For a while there I thought eons would weasel out of doing a mustelid video. I otter give them more credit. This was a great video and gave me a lot to mink about.

[@amandawilcox9638]

Andrew: 'Liking' your post because it must have taken some work. Terrible jokes, but I'll stop badgering you for now! 🥺🙋‍♀️

[@garethdean6382]

That was a stoatally terrible post. I don't knmow how you're sable to put so many weasel words in on reply.

[@kieranh2005]

🙄👍

[@MimesAgainstHunmanity]

@@garethdean6382 Nice

[@MimesAgainstHunmanity]

@@amandawilcox9638 HAHAHAHAHA!!!

[@FosterBaba]

I love how a single fossil can mess up a whole theorized timeline lol. It’s like watching live science updates

[@pepesylvia848]

If it's just theory then yeah, facts tend to jumble it up. You're writing a story you've never read based on other stories you've read by the same author. You might get close once in a while, but finding a page of the actual book will always require adjusting your made up one.

[@danmortenson5274]

That's likely because the "accepted theory" might itself be based on one fossil. And the rest of its edifice was supplied by human wishey thinking, feeling, er shooting lasers out of our eyes type stuff... witness the continuing self-deception of the ROTpubicans (oops, was I that rude?)... All this to say that sometimes things just collapse.

[@pepesylvia848]

@@danmortenson5274 This reminds me of the way we just ignore the humanoid fossils in Greece and the middle east which mess with our "humans originated in Africa lol" theory.

[@pepesylvia848]

@@danmortenson5274 And what is a ROTpublican? What does ROT stand for?

[@mimisezlol]

@@pepesylvia848 there's also a lot of confusion regarding which bipedal hominins eventually lead to the whole genus _homo_. Is it Lucy and the Australopithecines? Or is it Ardi and the rest of the Ardipithecines? Still being debated

[@veggieboyultimate]

It’s like one mustelid decided to fit through a small hole and came out all long and skinny, like you see in cartoons.

[@sieltan5618]

thi-this is my hole!! it was made for me!!!

[@sirBrouwer]

It also works for cats that is how a cat becomes a harmonica. But there it's done with the help of a pesky mouse.

[@robmartin525]

Or maybe he was just small to begin with, but whilst he was climbing a tree someone tied his tail around an anvil :D

[@gardenhead92]

@@sieltan5618 I got that reference

[@dankpepe2110]

@@sieltan5618 i see, you're an Ito fan as well.

[@salt-emoji]

It is truly saddening just the sheer number of things we'll never know existed.. but also just mind boggling, considering how many different species we've discovered from the fossil record already.

[@AnOtterNamedMoMo]

So when are we getting a video about otters? Cause... I need that in my life.

[@MimesAgainstHunmanity]

It otter be any day now.... :-D

[@Caine_42]

Watch heavens disign team xd

[@Im-Not-a-Dog]

I figure they _otter_ be putting that out any day now.

[@garethdean6382]

You just did. Weasels are teeny land otters.

[@arturolopez450]

Whenever your ready to make it

[@Evan-rj9xy]

I will never get used to not hearing Steve's name at the end of these videos. I hope they're doing well

[@DFloyd84]

Steve sent a weasel to do a ferret's job. Didn't end well.

[@mangoface7914]

SAME :((

[@sunrisings292]

My little cousin is sitll asking me "hey! where's Steve!?" She wants to kmow....

[@BertGrink]

I also think of Steve! every time i reach the end credits.

[@NotAMuse]

I missed it, what happened to Steve?

[@bellahawthorn4575]

I like to imagine you guys hanging around writing this episode, and you’re all like “yeah, this is going well, I think we’re almost done” and then someone just stops and goes “hold on, new weasel just dropped”

[@bxb77777]

I can't stop saying awww while looking at these ancient long babies 🥺

[@26DoctorUnaffected11]

They be like: i murder dee bear

[@Rhyolite-hyena]

@ꅏꍟꍏꌚꍟ꒒ yes you are!~

[@dean9824]

Now this is the kind of recognition I want after months of hitting the gym

[@TragoudistrosMPH]

Musclimorph or skinnymorph? :P

[@aqibulislam1483]

congrats bro

[@dorian4646]

Mantap bro

[@Nathanyel]

@@TragoudistrosMPH Lipomorph.

[@adiposerex5150]

It is not exercise, it’s the FOOD.

[@adamgrogory]

2:05 Hodari Nundu art? Truly this channel is the greatest

[@martink9701]

Indeed it is

[@SuperTonyony]

“Homer, stop trying to weasel out of it!” “But Marge, weaseling out of things is what separates us from the animals....except the weasels!”

[@PerfectlyNormalBeast]

There's a KZbin channel called Mink Man It's cool to watch well trained animals do what they're built for

[@lyreparadox]

lol, happy to know I'm not the only crossover viewer from Joseph Carter the Mink Man.

[@calamityjean1525]

Yeah, I watch him too.

[@Greentrees60]

Me too!

[@Joe__M]

It’s not often that videos include new discoveries that are found DURING the writing of the video. Great thought to have it in there!

[@sundrop2363]

Y’know, this came out at the right time. I just got out of the hospital from a dog attack and watching this actually helped calm me down

[@amandawilcox9638]

I hope you're doing well!🙋‍♀️

[@sundrop2363]

@@amandawilcox9638 I am, just in a lot of pain. No stitches thankfully tho, I hate needles ghdnkfks

[@stefanostokatlidis4861]

You can insult placental carnivoran mammals as much as you want now. Both dogs in the weasels. They like to bite and attack all the time.

[@mboatrightED300]

@@sundrop2363 you got of better than I did last year, then. Get well!

[@BadassMusicRadio]

You'll be alright. been there before bitten on the face once

[@letolethe5878]

I'd love to hear about armadillos! Also would love to hear how/why humans and other animals developed altruism!

[@hoary_bat]

Do you mean albinism?

[@jr2904]

@@hoary_bat no, I think they mean altruistic behavior. While humans are always great, we still are altruistic, elephants are known to have that as well

[@hoary_bat]

@@jr2904 ahhh yeah that sounds interesting too

[@Lord.Kiltridge]

I would have thought it impossible for a palaeontologist to get ahead of herself.

[@danmortenson5274]

You need a mathematician, for that. Or a cosmologist. Economitions make a good try, but they're always catching up...

[@omarrizo5816]

My ferret and I sitting here watching a video on their cousins, woot!

[@c.renmark1880]

Also watching with my ferret!

[@sirBrouwer]

@山モﾑ丂モﾚ But they are both mustelids and will mostly likely share a ancestral mustelid.

[@sirBrouwer]

@ШEАSЕLi did not say that they are the same. I said they share a common ancestor. With your own example the homo sapiens and erectus are not the same but we do have a common ancestor with them

[@kevincotterell3644]

@ШEАSЕL like who gives a toss?

[@wolfshanze5980]

@ШEАSЕL the difference between a ferret and a weasel is a tad closer than a mosquitoe and a human, don't you think? When you have to use completely nonsensical arguments to try and justify a point, you don't sound smart, you sound like an idiot arguing for the point of arguing. The OP never said they were identical, he said they were related and sorry to burst your bubble, but they are related... they're both mustelids. But you go on with your human and mosquitoe comparison... you just sound idiotic trying to prove a point with that... id stop while you're behind if I were you.

[@matthiasmorse5263]

the real skinny legends 😔🙏

[@dianagibbs3550]

Would love to see an episode or a website or something that acts as a road map through the tree of life. Like, show us the branches eon by eon. If a website, you could put links to videos about each era or branch so we could explore the video library that way.

[@Milther2]

Yes, I want to know when from where each of these types of animals split apart from

[@whatwhale5888]

Yess same

[@trentonmeyer461]

Hey eons could you do a special about the sturgeon it's a fish that first appeared 200 million years ago and has branched into many fresh and saltwater species and they was supper successful in there respective habits but when humans started industry fishing them a lot of species became vulnerable and endangered or threatened, if you guys can make a video of the sturgeon it would really make me happy because then the sturgeon can hopefully get more support that they need

[@xpglr]

Support for the sturgeon!

[@Gamepro2112]

You mentioned an otter episode coming at a later day. Hopefully soon, that sounds like a video I’d love to watch.

[@PantheraRex]

Can you do a video about South American Ungulates, like Toxodon and Macrauchenia? I've read their classification as a monophyletic group is debatable

[@pawbead]

i love these videos so much , ancient animals are currently a hyperfixation of mine and i'm so happy a video came out today !!

[@robmartin525]

The real question is "Why do weasels go pop?"

[@garethdean6382]

Because they like it. Stoats prefer soda, ferrets, cola and badgers energy drinks.

[@kCoco5737]

seriously

[@brucelee3388]

At the risk of being serious - the 'weasel' in this case was a tailors tool - a padded roll that was used to press seams in sleeves and trouser legs, so named because it was long and flexible. The 'Pop' was slang for 'hocking' your tools of trade to stay alive when there were no jobs or customers were slow paying.

[@epauletshark3793]

This is one of the most adorable episodes of PBS eons yet.

[@Radi0ActivSquid]

Every video this channel puts out makes me smile.

[@CerebrumMortum]

I love it that data being published "while we were writing this story" gets pushed in, and she's not afraid to say "new data, we had to adjust" It's something SO MISSING and NEEDED and today's public discourse. Just the ability to say 'there is new information, we had to change'.

[@jahmanoog461]

Good episode. Intense animals. The time-line seems reasonably theorized. Thanks for summarizing the known evidence, Shouout to the crew, the maps and photos are appreciated.

[@cassiopeaknack]

I’d love to see an episode about the aquamorphs!

[@adamthompson4072]

Skinnymorphs, musclimorphs, aquamorphs... don't tell me scientists aren't creative!

[@penart8079]

I enjoy these so much. The background music also is always on point which creates such a unique mood

[@dinohall2595]

Last time I was this early, _Corumictis wolsani_ wasn't extinct.

[@keepmovingforward5576]

What The Heck

[@deetlebee]

Possibly the cutest episode of Eons yet.

[@20firebird]

i’d love to see a video about why long, tube-like bodies are so common across the animal kingdom. i don’t know if it’s an actual pattern or not, but i notice it is common - annelids, several other sorts of worm, several lizards, snakes, eels, caecilians, and of course, weasels - and that’s not even an exhaustive list.

[@animalpeeps]

This was so relaxing to watch 😌 I love thinking and trying to comprehend the length of time all this evolution takes. It's so mind blowing each time I try!

[@lucasinglez7976]

Great video! They really are adorable. Missed the mention on south american representatives of this family. There are 6 species distributed through distinct habitats in this continent, including one of the largest, the amazonian giant river otter (Pteronura brasiliensis), or Ariranha. Looking forward to a video on their aquatic adaptations.

[@natashamarteleto2966]

Great observation!!

[@jimc.goodfellas]

This is something I have ALWAYS wanted to know about

[@jordenpenitch1532]

Yes man

[@SuperBC1975]

"How Weasels Got Skinny" Weasel Watchers.

[@MimesAgainstHunmanity]

You were weighting for that one, weren't you?

[@kCoco5737]

@@MimesAgainstHunmanity hahha

[@jannahmiers7056]

So is it just me, or is the paleo-art of Corumictis one of the cutest things ever?

[@HappyTotoro123]

I would like to know how cacti evolved, might be a cool episode

[@calebk9111]

This is an excellent idea

[@samanvayasrivastava559]

I love this channel. You guys are doing a massive public service by encouraging so many minds both young and old to be interested and intrigued by such quality content. I wish you all will continue your work forever, sending all the love I can to all individuals involved in this channel.

[@TheInselaffen]

I think I might be a Skinnymorph. I look like Calvin grew up into Hobbes body plan.

[@chrishuppe2734]

I am not hugely into palaeontology, but after I found this channel because of SciShow, I am subscriber and a regular viewer and I really love your videos so thank you.

[@lucysci]

Kinda SNAKE, but IT'S A MAMMAL Really SUS guy

[@cosolezzo4129]

Amogus

[@antonioraresmihaila8340]

SUS

[@animalsnaturetv9752]

Oh no SNAKE MAMMAL

[@LucaDeflorian222]

Furry snake

[@antoniosemeraro1911]

@@antonioraresmihaila8340 SUSSY BAKA 😳

[@MimesAgainstHunmanity]

This is great. I think not long ago I wrote in the comments on another video asking if they could do a video on early mustelids, and here we are. Now I would love to see one on how sealions went back to the water.

[@geoffzuo9831]

Now I want a vid on mongoses and their relatives.

[@aick]

Mustelidae have been a lifelong passion of ours, and we couldn't cut it in biology. Thanks a bunch for other, smarter people and great programs like this on PBS throughout our life.

[@JV-ko6ov]

Saw a longtailed weasel once, it was inside of town when i lived in the mountains coming out of a gopher hole 3 minks came right infront of while I was fishing once, 2 babies were playing 10 feet from me and mom was kinda freaking out.

[@jaredbrown2443]

So, what you're saying is that I need to evolve over thousands of years in order to get skinny? Guess I'd better get started then. The sooner the better.

[@Tzo19996]

The artwork on this channel is amazing

[@JamesPhieffer]

You otter do an episode on aqua-morphs next. 😂

[@bennichols561]

Weasily distinguished, stotally different.

[@cthursday289]

A topic that I’ve never though of, but now must watch and know!

[@BallPythons1000]

Please put all your videos in a playlist!

[@epauletshark3793]

I did that, I am still binging every episode, again.

[@BallPythons1000]

@@epauletshark3793 thank you so much for replying to this comment all those months ago. I have been sleeping great, while listening to your playlist

[@MrClassicmetal]

Interestingly although the skinnymorphs are built to be tunnel hunters, they can still really move and their stamina is very impressive! Who here has seen that clip of a stote chasing and catching a much larger rabbit in that David Attenborough BBC documentary?

[@lerneanlion]

Will there be episodes about the giant fishes like Xiphactinus and Leedsichthys? I wanted to know how this channel will present them.

[@ZombieBowling]

I love how y'all adapted mid-episode to the new science. ,\m/

[@khilorn]

Can I request an otter episode now? 😁

[@Asaelus]

Would love a video of African Mingoose! How did they become so good at catching snakes? Why did they evolve stripes, etc?

[@sunrisings292]

This is an adorable episode. And Kallie looks great.

[@elizabethbaker1399]

Can you talk about how cooking started? I know they found out cooked stuff required less energy and was super helpful but what made them decide to put the stuff over a fire in the first place?

[@alaskatheakita7217]

I would love to see a episode on hippo evaluation

[@funchable212]

So many cute pics it’s insane

[@dudepool7530]

Whoever wrote this is a click-baiting weasel XD

[@swimdownx6365]

Doesn't the biology female ferrets completely turn the store gender power dynamics and pressure. In it's head

[@sammykat2hb]

Oh my gosh, that Oaxacagale is the cutest paleoart I've ever seen

[@xubluetree86]

Coffee + new video + easy morning. A perfect way to start the day :)

[@dudepool7530]

lmao, I just had a late dinner watching this. Time zones are fun!

[@forthrightgambitia1032]

You should really do an episode on the paranthropus genus some day. Such an interesting topic in human evolution and how it confused paleontologists.

[@Leen7293]

It's my birthday. An Eons video is an amazing gift.

[@orwellboy1958]

Happy birthday. I hope you have or have had a great day.

[@mortified776]

Happy birthday!

[@amandawilcox9638]

Happy Birthday, Leen!

[@Dissolved_Salt]

Great vid as always!

[@007GoldenLion]

This is some weird diet advice.

[@nickibarra00]

just found this channel and its my favorite channel now im like 3 videos deep

[@MaddoxLightning]

Thanks as always for voicing recognition for indigenous peoples and lands!

[@wilberator9608]

Weasles and mole rats prove that mammals are better than burrowing insects, and could replace them completely if we had the chance. They also make bugs look much less creepy in comparison.

[@loopernoodling]

Like the new animation for plate tectonics over the ages. I hope you keep it - I always found the old one a bit confusing.

[@ProfessorUmbreon]

I love PBS Eons! I watch this show so much! This show has inspired me in so many ways, I hope it lasts for a very long time! And seriously, 'Musclimorphs'?! That is too funny! :)

[@theuncleshuckleshow2913]

I'd love to see something about manta rays and why they're so different from other fish

[@benburgess9428]

When I was building my Eagle Scout Project, a Badger came out of it’s burrow, laid it’s head on it’s paws, and watched us work.

[@JesusMartinez-rr2ry]

Weasels are a really neat animal to talk about their evolutionary history.

[@Saje3D]

And also not to mention a peculiar cousin that developed a chemical weapon and really adopted none of the aforementioned body types. Not particularly aggressive, nor fearful, I’d say skunks are a very interesting member of the family so easily overlooked. Was sleeping rough in my youth and woke up with a family of skunks sleeping on me. I decided the smartest thing to do was to go back to sleep. I’m honestly not sure if I’ve ever been safer.

[@tinamclaughlin1991]

I love Ferrets! They are so playful and mischievous!

[@matthewwelsh294]

I was born in Oregon and been to John Day. A fun place with tons of fossils!!

[@jakobraahauge7299]

A shame that we got to see so little of Kelly - just, "WOW!" We social mammals sure are blessed - beauty in our eyes has been matured for billions eyes! Looking great, Kelly! Loads of love from Denmark ❤️🤗

[@1jimmarch]

There is nothing on this Earth funnier than a wrestling match between a pet ferret and a house cat.

[@tekgerios3413]

Can you do an episode on how Orchidaceae and Asteraceae came the most diverse families of plants? And when, how, and why the first humans domesticated plants for ornamental purposes?

[@JojobaNutOil]

gotta catch em all!

[@dlyfofbenny]

Watching this channel is such a delight!

[@InfectedChris]

No matter what, I'm always fascinated by how our biomes have changed and seeing the constant evolution of animals to "find their niche" and outdo predator species.

[@DrSlosh]

Why do people dislike videos like these?

[@ojashpratap7263]

Most of the dislike are from creationists

[@stax6092]

Ferrets are super intelligent too, my brother had one for a while and it took a lot of trial and error to figure out how to keep it in it's cage at night so we could all sleep.

[@UndercoverXeno]

Awesome video!! Mustelids are the coolest

[@OneNationUnderGod.]

I always find it interesting that millions of years ago CO2 levels were as high & higher than today, global temperatures were as high & higher than today yet there weren't any Chevy Suburbans or cow farts? Makes me question how big of a role we're actually playing in today's CO2 levels & global temperatures?!?

[@epicnooo]

never clicked a vid faster in my life

[@TheDinosaurus99]

Great episode guys love the details. Don't forget the evolutionary history of pinnipeds and tyrannosauirds and seabirds thanks

[@ActuariallySpeaking]

we talk a lot about fossils, but not a lot about how they form. any plans to do an episode on fossils? how they form, how long they take to form, the youngest known fossils, different types of fossils, etc.

[@IvorMektin1701]

Lady with an Ermine is my favorite painting

[@exoboi6974]

Watching a new Eon's video the same day I first played bloodborne