Liz Langley

I felt so lucky to get to interview the University of Washington's Adam Summers, not only a brillian 'fish guy,' but a consultant on Finding Nemo - what an awesome job! And what awesome fish! Learn about his background and technique in Amazing See-Through Fish on National Geographic' s Weird & Wild blog.

Just when you think you've seen all the cutest pets on the web, up pops a viral video of the jerboa, a desert rodent that looks more anime than animal. You can see the video and read all about the little cutie on 5 Jerboa Facts: Explaining the Cute Jumping Rodent , a NatGeo post from February (Yes, I'm still playing blog catch-up! But that means I'm busy and busy is great).

Got a nice email from NBC's Steve Harvey Show - they do a segment called "Is it weird?" where ask experts if their peculiarities are, well, really  weird. They're are looking for people who do weird things with their pets (sing duets? dress them up as holiday decorations? let them drive?) for their April 29 show. If that sounds like YOU, email Jessica Smedick at jessica.smedick@steveharveytv.com and maybe you'll get on TV! One caveat: they've already got enough dogs, so you and your weird cat, bird, fish, ocelot, elephant, hedgehog, etcetera, check into it! Below is a clip from the bedroom edition of "Is It Weird?" so you can see what it's like - a fun but also thoughtful and informative (and hopefully the folks at the Steve Harvey show are reading our awesome NatGeo  Weird & Wild  blog!)

Your Weird Animal Questions Answered: Is Your Dog Part Coyote?     I was so pleased to find an answer for a NatGeo reader who thought his dog might be half coyote! Many vets will do a DNA test but not necessarily one that will identify coyote DNA, but after some research I found a place that will. Check out the link to the Weird & Wild blog to find out more! :)

   The brick roads in Orlando are picturesque but every time I drive down one in my rattle trap car I feel like the dice in the Pop-o-Matic of a Trouble game. Today it was worse as I ended up not just on a brick street but behind a garbage truck, going bump-pop-stop-start-bump-pop-stop-start, on one of those ten minute trips that turn into half hour ruminations on what you’re doing with your life. But just as I saw an opportunity to make a getaway, something escaped from one of the garbage cans:  a Mylar balloon with a picture of Muppet drummer Animal on it.  Some days you just really need to see something escape from the dumpster and fly away so  you know it can be done.  I know a lot of people would say The Universe put me behind that truck so I could see that uplifting, Muppet-ry when I needed to, to which I say The Universe could just have easily put me on a free two-week Alaskan cruise, which makes you realize exactly how lazy The Universe actually is. Nonet