FASTER THAN A FORMULA ONE RACE CAR...
MORE THRUST THAN A SPACE SHUTTLE'S ROCKETS...
AND MANEUVERS THAT PUT FIGHTER JETS TO SHAME...
THE FASTEST ANIMALS ON THE PLANET
USE SPEED TO KILL.
HIGH-SPEED CAMERAS AND STATE-OF-THE-ART CGI
UNCOVER HOW THEY DO IT.
IN THE UNDERWATER WORLD OF THE BLACK LAGOON,
EVOLUTION HAS CREATED
A STAGGERING VARIETY OF WAYS TO KILL.
FREAKISH ASSASSINS ARE POISED TO STRIKE,
USING SPEARS, BULLETS, AND ALIEN JAWS.
A WORLD OF ACTION IS HIDING
IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE.
A BIZARRE NETHERWORLD BETWEEN OCEAN AND RIVER,
LAGOONS ARE FOUND FROM THE AMAZON TO AFRICA,
AND EVERYWHERE IN BETWEEN.
EVEN THE LANDSCAPE SEEMS TO HAVE A LIFE OF ITS OWN,
BRINGING CONSTANT TURMOIL TO THIS SEEMINGLY PEACEFUL PLACE.
THE CREATURES HERE EVOLVED TO COPE WITH CHANGE,
LIVING IN A WORLD WHERE DEATH IS THE ONLY CERTAINTY.
THE MOON IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TIDAL CHANGES
THAT CREATE THIS TWO-FACED LAGOON.
PULLING TIDES IN AND OUT TWICE A DAY...
RELENTLESSLY.
DAGGERS PUSH THROUGH THE SAND--
THE DEADLY WELCOME MAT TO A SPROUTING MANGROVE FOREST.
UNDERNEATH THE WATER,
MANGROVE ROOTS CREATE A MAZE IDEAL FOR FISH NURSERIES.
THEY COME HERE FOR PROTECTION,
BUT OTHERS ARE HERE TO HUNT.
THE SHADY MANGROVES CRAWL AND CREEP WITH LIFE,
SEEMINGLY SAFE FROM THE HORRORS THAT LURK UNDERWATER.
BUT IN THE BLACK LAGOON, NOWHERE IS SAFE.
THIS ARCHERFISH IS A SHARPSHOOTER.
THE MANGROVE MAZE IS ITS PRIME HUNTING GROUND,
AND TO HUNT HERE SUCCESSFULLY
HE'S HAD TO EVOLVE SOME CREATIVE WAYS TO KILL...
TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE COVER THAT THE MANGROVE ROOTS PROVIDE,
HE TARGETS PREY COMPLETELY OUT OF HIS WATERY REALM...
LIKE THIS COCKROACH,
CLUELESS HE'S BEING STALKED.
A LETHAL LEAP SEALS HIS FATE.
A POWERFUL TAIL
PROPELS THE ARCHERFISH INTO MID AIR...
SO FAST,
THE INSECTS DON'T HAVE TIME TO EVEN ATTEMPT AN ESCAPE.
THIS INCREDIBLE BURST OF SPEED
CAN ONLY WORK HAND IN HAND WITH EXCEPTIONAL CAMOUFLAGE.
ITS WHITE BODY AND BLACK SPOTS
BLEND PERFECTLY INTO THE DAPPLED SHADE OF THE MANGROVES,
WHILE ITS SLIM BODY HAS A SMALL SURFACE AREA
AND IS DIFFICULT TO DETECT FROM ABOVE.
FOR THE SIX-LEGGED CREEPY CRAWLIES ON THE TOPSIDE,
THE HUNTER IS PRACTICALLY INVISIBLE.
BUT IT'S NOT ONLY CAMOUFLAGE
THAT MAKES IT A GREAT HUNTER.
SOUND AND SMELL DON'T CROSS THE AIR-WATER INTERFACE,
SO THESE FISH MUST DEPEND ON THEIR VISION
TO FIND AND ACCURATELY GRAB THEIR PREY.
THE ARCHERFISH'S EYES
ARE POSITIONED CLOSE TO THEIR MOUTHS,
GIVING THEM FANTASTIC BINOCULAR VISION.
THEY SEE COLORS DIFFERENTLY
IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THEIR EYES.
THEY HAVE VISUAL PIGMENTS TUNED TO THE MURKY BROWNISH WATERS
IN THE UPPER PART OF THEIR EYE THAT LOOKS DOWNWARDS,
AND NORMAL COLOR VISION, MUCH LIKE HUMANS',
IN THE PART OF THE EYE THAT LOOKS UP
AND TOWARDS POTENTIAL TARGETS.
IF YOU THOUGHT JUMPING WAS IMPRESSIVE,
YOU AIN'T SEEN NOTHING YET.
WHEN JUMPING DOESN'T CUT IT,
THE ARCHERFISH TURNS INTO A SUBMARINE WATER PISTOL
AND CAN SPIT OUT A STRONG AND ACCURATE JET OF WATER
TO DISLODGE INSECTS FROM THEIR LOFTY PERCH.
WITH THEIR TONGUE AGAINST THE GROOVE
ON THE ROOF OF THEIR MOUTH,
THEY FORM A TUBE
AND FORCE WATER OUT BY SNAPPING SHUT THEIR GILLS.
THEY CAN DIRECT THE JET OF WATER WITH THE TIP OF THEIR TONGUE,
EVEN TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION
THE ARC OF THE WATER BULLET DUE TO GRAVITY.
READY, AIM, AND FIRE.
THESE MANGROVE MARKSMEN OFTEN FORM SHOOTING PARTIES
AND WILL STEAL EACH OTHER'S PREY.
THE ARCHERFISH IS ONE OF A KIND.
NO OTHER FISH ON THE PLANET USES A JET OF WATER TO HUNT.
BULL'S-EYE.
BEYOND THE DARK ALLEYWAYS OF THE MANGROVE,
IN THE LEAFY SUBURBS OF THE LAGOON,
A BLUE SWIMMING CRAB HAS JUST FINISHED MATING.
WITH THE HELP OF SWIMMING PADDLES,
HE'S NOW ON A SEARCH FOR FOOD.
BUT WITH NO PLACE TO HIDE,
HE'S AN EASY TARGET FOR PREDATORS.
AND IT'S THE SKY ABOVE HIM HE NEEDS TO WORRY ABOUT.
OUT OF NOWHERE, AN AERIAL ASSASSIN STRIKES.
THE SWIMMER CRAB HAS MADE A LUCKY ESCAPE...
FOR NOW.
THIS AFRICAN FISH EAGLE,
COUSIN TO THE AMERICAN BALD EAGLE,
STAKES HER CLAIM TO A HALF A SQUARE MILE
OF THE BLACK LAGOON'S SHORELINE--
PRIME HUNTING GROUND.
THE TIDE IS MOVING OUT,
LEAVING THE FISH AND CRUSTACEANS
WITH FEWER PLACES TO HIDE.
IT'S HER TIME TO HUNT.
MONKEYS ASIDE,
HER SPECTACULAR VISION ALLOWS THE FISH EAGLE
TO PINPOINT PREY OVER A MILE AWAY,
EVEN BENEATH THE LAGOON'S SURFACE.
IT IS BELIEVED
THAT EAGLES CAN SEE FIVE TIMES FURTHER THAN HUMANS,
THANKS TO RETINAS THAT ARE DENSELY COATED
WITH LIGHT-DETECTING CELLS CALLED CONES.
THEY ALSO HAVE A MUCH DEEPER FOVEA--
A CONE-RICH STRUCTURE IN THE BACK OF THE EYE
THAT PROVIDES EXTRA MAGNIFICATION.
SHE MAY BE CALLED A FISH EAGLE,
BUT THIS OPPORTUNISTIC PREDATOR
WILL EAT ALMOST ANYTHING THAT CATCHES HER EYE.
SHE SEES SOMETHING.
SHE'S GOT TO BE QUICK.
IF HER PREY SPOTS HER BEFORE SHE CAN CATCH IT,
IT'LL SWIM TO THE UNREACHABLE DEPTHS OF THE BLACK LAGOON.
A POWERFUL 8-FOOT WINGSPAN
IS THE ENGINE DRIVING THE LIGHTWEIGHT FRAME.
A DEADLY COMBINATION.
THE EAGLE'S TEN PRIMARY FEATHERS ARE STIFF AND OVERLAP
TO PROVIDE RESISTANCE AGAINST THE AIR AS THEY BEAT DOWNWARDS,
PROVIDING MAXIMUM LIFT.
LARGE WING MUSCLES
ACCOUNT FOR HALF OF THE EAGLE'S TOTAL BODY WEIGHT.
THEY ENSURE A POWERFUL DOWNWARD STROKE,
GUARANTEEING A SPEEDY TAKEOFF.
TO COMPENSATE,
HOLLOW BONES MEAN THE FISH EAGLE WEIGHS VERY LITTLE FOR ITS SIZE,
RESULTING IN MAXIMUM FLIGHT EFFICIENCY.
WITH PERFECT BALANCE AND CONTROL,
THE EAGLE CLOSES IN ON HER PREY.
TAKING INTO ACCOUNT
THE REFRACTION OF LIGHT IN WATER,
SHE CALCULATES OPTIMUM SPEED, HEIGHT,
AND DISTANCE TO IMPACT.
A TEXTBOOK STRIKE.
THE FISH EAGLE'S POWERFUL FOOT
GRIPS THE SWIMMING CRAB WITH MORE FORCE
THAN TEN TIMES THAT OF AN ADULT HUMAN'S GRIP,
WHILE TWO-INCH LONG TALONS
IMPALE THE CRAB'S PROTECTIVE ARMOR.
IF HER EYES ARE THE SCOPE ON A RIFLE,
HER FEET ARE THE DEATH-DELIVERING BULLET.
AS NIGHT FALLS OVER THE LAGOON,
THE CREATURES HERE ARE HELD RANSOM TO THE INCOMING TIDE
AND THE DANGERS IT BRINGS.
AND WITH THE LIGHT DISAPPEARING,
THE BLACK LAGOON BECOMES AN EVEN WEIRDER PLACE.
A LONE PREDATORY FISH IS ON THE HUNT...
WHILE ALL MANNER OF BIZARRE CREATURES
WORK THE MURKY DEPTHS.
AN OPPORTUNISTIC CRAB SNAPS UP A CARELESS FISH...
WHILE OTHERS HAVE TO SIT AND WAIT.
BUT ONE OF THE BLACK LAGOON'S WEIRDEST INHABITANTS
IS ON THE PROWL.
THIS ALIEN-LIKE CREATURE MAY BE A DAINTY SWIMMER,
BUT IT'S AN EVEN BETTER KILLER.
THE MANTIS SHRIMP IS NEITHER MANTIS NOR SHRIMP.
IT GETS ITS NAME FROM ITS LOOKS
AND IS A TRULY UNIQUE CREATURE...
WITH A SINISTER REPUTATION.
LIKE A DARK-ALLEY THUG,
IT SCUTTLES ALONG THE SANDY BOTTOM,
ITS SENSES ALERT.
NOT ONLY DOES HE HAVE SHARP EYES;
HE'S EQUIPPED WITH RAZOR-SHARP SPEARS FOR ARMS.
THE SPEARER'S APPENDAGES ARE LIKE FOLDED DAGGERS
WITH SHARP SPIKES ON EACH END.
BARBS ON THE ENDS OF EACH SPEAR
ENSURE THE PREY HAS LITTLE CHANCE OF ESCAPING.
THE EXTENSOR MUSCLE TENSES,
BUT A LATCH HOLDS THE SPEAR IN PLACE.
WHEN THE LATCH IS RELEASED,
THE SUDDEN FORCE OF MUSCULAR ENERGY
UNFOLDS THE ARM,
WHICH TRAVELS AT 21 FEET A SECOND,
ON A DIRECT ROUTE TO STABBING ITS PREY.
BUT HE'S NOT IN SEARCH OF PREY TONIGHT.
HE'S LOOKING FOR THE PERFECT SPOT
TO SET UP AN AMBUSH ATTACK.
THE MANTIS SHRIMP USES ITS THREE PAIRS OF THORACIC LEGS
TO DIG A SMALL DEPRESSION IN THE SAND,
THE START OF A MUCH LARGER BURROW.
SPINNING MAY HELP IN THE EXCAVATING PROCESS,
BUT IT'S ALSO A DISPLAY OF AGGRESSION
AGAINST POTENTIAL PREDATORS.
HE'S IN A VULNERABLE POSITION WHILE DIGGING,
SO BEING ON HIGH ALERT IS PART OF THE JOB.
THE LAGOON'S BIGGER RESIDENTS ARE ON THE HUNT.
THESE FISH MIGHT HAVE THE MANTIS FOR DINNER,
BUT SECURE IN HIS BURROW AND NOW READY TO HUNT,
HE CAN WAIT FOR BREAKFAST.
A NEW DAY BRINGS WITH IT A WHOLE NEW MENU
FOR THE LAGOON'S HUNTERS.
THE MANTIS SHRIMP CLEARS HIS BURROW OF LOOSE SAND,
PREPARING FOR THE DAYTIME SHIFT.
HIS BURROW CAN REACH UP TO 6 FEET DEEP
AND IS A FEW INCHES WIDE.
HE'LL ANCHOR HIMSELF IN THE ENTRANCE
AS HE WAITS FOR DISTRACTED PREY TO PASS BY HIS LETHAL SPEARS.
FISH ARE ALL AROUND HIM,
BUT THE MANTIS SHRIMP NEEDS TO ASSESS WHAT'S PREY
AND WHAT'S A PREDATOR.
THE MANTIS SHRIMP
IS CONSIDERED TO HAVE THE MOST COMPLEX EYES
IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM.
THE EYE IS MADE UP OF THREE SEPARATE PARTS
THAT WORK TOGETHER,
MEANING THE MANTIS SHRIMP HAS TRINOCULAR VISION.
THE TOP AND BOTTOM SECTIONS
WORK MUCH LIKE A PAIR OF HUMAN'S EYES DO,
BUT IT'S THE MIDDLE BAND OF PHOTORECEPTORS
THAT GIVE THEM SUPER POWERS.
IT ALLOWS THEM TO DETECT INFRARED, ULTRAVIOLET,
AND POLARIZED LIGHT.
HE'LL ACCURATELY JUDGE THE DISTANCE OF HIS PREY
BEFORE ATTEMPTING AN ATTACK.
IT'S A GOOD TIME TO BE HUNTING.
THE BLACK LAGOON IS A TRAP FOR NUTRIENTS AND ALGAE,
ATTRACTING COUNTLESS FISH
AND THE PREDATORS THAT FOLLOW THEM.
THE MANTIS SHRIMP IS READY AND WAITING.
ALL HE NEEDS IS A FISH TO SWIM INTO STABBING RANGE.
ONE LAST DISTANCE CALCULATION.
IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE,
LIGHTNING-QUICK DAGGERS SHOOT OUT AND STAB THE FISH.
THE BARBS HOOK IN,
SECURING THE MANTIS SHRIMP'S GRIP.
THE SEGMENTED APPENDAGES PULL THE FISH TOWARDS ITS KILLER.
THEY'RE THE PERFECT FISHING ROD FOR THE PERFECT PREDATOR.
THE FISH PUTS UP A FIGHT
AS IT GETS PULLED IN BY THE SPEARS.
JUST WHEN THE MANTIS SHRIMP THINKS HE'S SEALED THE DEAL,
THE INJURED FISH MAKES A SPEEDY ESCAPE.
BUT IT'S NOT SPEEDY ENOUGH.
ONE LAST LUNGE SECURES HIS HARD-EARNED PRIZE.
SUPERSONIC SPEARS, TALONS, AND WATER PISTOLS ASIDE,
MANY LAGOON PREDATORS
USE A MORE CONVENTIONAL TOOL TO KILL:
THEIR JAWS.
BUT HOW THEY USE THEIR JAWS IS A WHOLE NEW CLASS OF BIZARRE...
DEADLY BIZARRE.
IN THIS CONSTANTLY SHIFTING ENVIRONMENT
RULED BY THE TIDAL CHANGES,
NOT EVERYTHING IS WHAT IT APPEARS TO BE.
CREATURES OF THE BLACK LAGOON ARE MASTERS OF ILLUSION.
THE COWLED NUDIBRANCH CREEPS ALONG THE LAGOON BED,
RESEMBLING DEBRIS.
BUT ONE LAGOON RESIDENT TAKES STEALTH TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL.
IT'S THE WEIRD COUSIN OF THE SEAHORSE.
THE TRUMPETFISH HAS A FREAKISHLY LONG SNOUT AND BODY.
SHE CAN CHANGE COLOR TO MIMIC THE ROCKS AROUND HER.
BUT HER BEST DISGUISE IS IN THE WAY SHE MOVES.
ALTHOUGH IN PLAIN SIGHT,
THIS GLASSFISH DOESN'T SEEM TO KNOW SHE'S THERE.
BUT THERE'S COMPETITION.
THE TRUMPETFISH NEEDS TO MAKE A MOVE FAST.
SHE'S A WEAK SWIMMER, SO SHE HAS ANOTHER GAME PLAN.
SLOWLY EDGING CLOSER TO THE GLASSFISH,
SHE CONCEALS HERSELF AS A HARMLESS DRIFTER.
THE GLASSFISH SWIMS DIRECTLY INTO THE DEADLY TRAP.
THE TRUMPETFISH'S DECEPTIVELY SMALL MOUTH
EXPANDS AT SUCH A RAPID SPEED
THAT HER VICTIMS DON'T STAND A CHANCE.
SHE ONLY HAS A FEW TEETH,
BUT WHY CHEW WHEN YOU CAN SUCK?
500 MILLION YEARS AGO,
FISH DIDN'T EVEN HAVE JAWS.
WATER AND FOOD WAS SIMPLY MOVED INTO THE MOUTH
AND STRAINED THROUGH FILTER BARS,
WHICH LATER BECAME THE GILLS.
AROUND 420 MILLION YEARS AGO,
THE BONES OF THE FIRST AND LATER SECOND GILL ARCHES
BECAME THE JAWS.
SCALES AROUND THE MOUTH BECAME TEETH.
FOR THE NEXT 200 MILLION YEARS,
LARGE PREY WAS GRABBED WITH A SIMPLE SNAP.
THEN THE GAME CHANGED.
IN SOME FISH, THE FACE AND JAWBONES SEPARATED,
ALLOWING THE MOUTH TO EXPAND.
THE GAPE AND SUCK WAS BORN.
THE GAPE AND SUCK PROVED SUCH AN EFFECTIVE FEEDING STRATEGY,
THAT THE MAJORITY OF FISH ALIVE TODAY
HAVE THIS JAW DESIGN.
THIS GROUPER IS ONE OF THEM.
A SYSTEM OF MUSCLES AND LEVERS
PULL THE LOWER JAW DOWN AND OPEN,
WHILE THE UPPER JAW IS PUSHED FORWARD AND OUT.
THE GAPE OPENS THE THROAT,
AND THEN THE GILL COVERS FLARE OUT.
THIS CREATES A PRESSURE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN THE INSIDE AND THE OUTSIDE OF THE MOUTH
AND A FORMIDABLE VACUUM IS FORMED...
IN LESS THAN 0.2 SECONDS.
THE FISH LITERALLY INHALE THEIR PREY...
FASTER THAN THE EYE CAN SEE.
IT'S ALL OVER IN MILLISECONDS.
BUT THIS GROUPER IS NOT THE ONLY GAPE AND SUCK PREDATOR
WORKING THIS FISH-EAT-FISH NEIGHBORHOOD.
BENEATH THE SAND, AN ASSASSIN LURKS.
FEW HUNTERS IN THE LAGOON
CAN RIVAL THE CROCODILE FISH'S CAMOUFLAGE.
EVEN HIS EYEBALLS ARE CONCEALED BY FLAPS OF SKIN.
THEY FUNCTION TO BREAK UP THE CONSPICUOUS BLACK EYEBALLS
STARING OUT FROM ABOVE THE SAND.
EVOLUTIONARY PRESSURES HAVE SQUASHED THIS FISH FLAT,
SO IT'S EASY TO KEEP A VERY LOW PROFILE.
A MOONFISH
SEARCHES FOR MICROSCOPIC ZOOPLANKTON TO EAT.
IT'S VIGILANT FOR POSSIBLE DANGERS ABOVE AND AROUND,
BUT NOT BELOW.
JUST LIKE THE CROCODILE HE'S NAMED AFTER,
HE REMAINS UNDETECTED...
UNTIL HE ERUPTS FROM BELOW...
AT A COOL 30 MILES PER HOUR.
HIS STRIKE RATE IS IMPRESSIVE.
ONLY THE LUCKY FEW GET AWAY...
LIKE THIS SHRIMP.
BUT IN THE LAGOON,
THERE'S ALWAYS ANOTHER KILLER NEARBY.
AND THIS ONE DOESN'T BOTHER BEING DISCREET.
THE LIONFISH'S IMPOSING PECTORAL FINS AND SHOWY STRIPES
SEND A CLEAR MESSAGE OF WARNING
TO ANYTHING THAT CONSIDERS MESSING WITH HIM.
HE'S A FORMIDABLE PREDATOR AND A SKILLED SUCTION FEEDER...
AND IS ALSO DEADLY TO ANYTHING THAT WANTS TO EAT HIM.
HIDDEN IN THEIR DORSAL FINS ARE SPIKES THAT INJECT VENOM
INTO ANY PREDATOR CRAZY ENOUGH TO ATTEMPT AN ATTACK.
BUT THE LIONFISH ALSO HAS A VERY RARE HUNTING STRATEGY.
LIKE THE WILD CAT HE'S NAMED AFTER,
HE DOESN'T HUNT ALONE.
WORKING TOGETHER AS A PACK,
THEY ACTIVELY SEARCH OUT THEIR PREY.
THIS ROCKY OUTCROP LOOKS LIKE A GOOD PLACE TO START.
PERFECT.
A NURSERY SHOAL SEEKING SHELTER IN THE ROCKS.
THE LIONFISH MOVE IN.
THEIR SKILL IS USING THEIR FAR-REACHING FINS
TO HERD THEIR PREY.
THIS NURSERY SHOAL IS SURROUNDED.
WITH EACH DESPERATE TURN,
THERE'S ANOTHER HUNTER STALKING THEM.
EVENTUALLY THERE'S NO HOPE OF A GETAWAY.
WITH THE SHOAL TRAPPED, THEY ALL SHARE IN THE BOUNTY,
PICKING THEM OFF ONE BY ONE.
SKULKING IN THE SHADOWS,
A SECRETIVE SERPENTINE HUNTER
TAKES EXTRAVAGANT JAWS TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL--
JAWS SO BIZARRE
THEY WERE INCORPORATED
INTO HOLLYWOOD'S EXTRATERRESTRIAL CREATURE
IN THE BLOCKBUSTER "ALIEN."
THE SNOWFLAKE EEL IS A MEMBER OF THE FISH FAMILY.
BUT WITH NO PECTORAL OR PELVIC FINS,
IT LOOKS MORE SNAKE THAN FISH.
HE'S COVERED IN A LAYER OF MUCUS,
WHICH HELPS HIM SQUASH HIS LONG BODY INTO TINY SPACES,
MAKING HIM A PROFICIENT AMBUSH PREDATOR.
BUT ADAPTATIONS TO SQUEEZING INTO TIGHT SPACES
HAVE CONSEQUENCES.
HE'S NO GAPE AND SUCKER.
HIS HEAD IS TOO NARROW
TO CREATE ENOUGH SUCTION TO DRAW PREY IN.
HE'S GOT SOMETHING ALTOGETHER DIFFERENT
HIDDEN BEHIND THAT GHOULISH GRIN.
HE PICKS UP A SCENT.
AN ARMY CRAB.
HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO GET VERY CLOSE
TO UNLEASH HIS WEAPONS.
RATHER THAN RELY ON HIS WEAK EYESIGHT,
HE FOLLOWS HIS NOSE.
REPOSITIONING HIMSELF DOWN CURRENT OF HIS TARGET,
HE SETS UP AN AMBUSH.
LURKING IN THE SHADOWS, HE WAITS.
THE CRAB IS CLOSE.
THE EEL BREAKS COVER AND EDGES CLOSER.
THE SNOWFLAKE EEL JAW IS ARMED WITH SHARP, PIERCING TEETH
THAT CURVE BACKWARDS TOWARDS ITS THROAT
TO PREVENT PREY FROM BREAKING FREE.
WHEN THE EEL HAS ITS PREY SECURED,
IT UNLEASHES THE DEATH BLOW
THAT INSPIRED RIDLEY SCOTT'S "ALIEN"...
A SECOND SET OF JAWS,
LOCATED BEHIND THE EEL'S SKULL,
LUNGE FORWARD AT HIGH VELOCITY.
THESE PHARYNGEAL JAWS CLUTCH THE PREY
AND PULL IT DOWN INTO THE THROAT FOR SWALLOWING WHOLE.
ONCE CAUGHT IN THE DOUBLE JAW GRIP,
THE CRAB CAN STRUGGLE ALL IT WANTS.
ESCAPE IS NOT AN OPTION.
IT WILL SPEND ITS DYING MINUTES DEEP IN THE EEL'S THROAT.
ANOTHER CRAB MANAGES TO EVADE THE EEL'S ATTENTION...
ONLY TO BE TAKEN OUT
BY A BIGGER, MORE VICIOUS PREDATOR.
SHE IS THE LAGOON'S TRUE MISTRESS OF ILLUSION...
CHANGING COLOR AT WILL.
BLACK A SECOND AGO;
NOW BRIGHT YELLOW.
A MYSTERIOUS MUTANT
WITH A LARGE DOUGHNUT-SHAPED BRAIN
AND THREE HEARTS PUMPING BLUE-GREEN BLOOD.
SHE'S A CUTTLEFISH.
DESPITE HER NAME, SHE'S NO FISH.
THE CUTTLEFISH IS A MOLLUSK-- A SPINELESS SOFT-BODIED ANIMAL.
EXTREMELY INTELLIGENT,
THEY TOP THE LIST OF BIGGEST BRAIN-TO-BODY RATIO
OF ALL INVERTEBRATES.
AND SHE'S PUT HER SMARTS TO DEADLY USE.
HER COLOR-CHANGING SKILLS ARE SO EFFECTIVE,
THEY PUT THE CHAMELEON TO SHAME.
SHE ASSESSES THE TERRAIN,
THEN MORPHS TO MATCH THE COLOR, CONTRAST,
AND EVEN TEXTURE OF HER SURROUNDINGS.
THE SECRET LIES IN MILLIONS OF TINY ORGANS THAT COVER HER SKIN.
THESE CHROMATOPHORES HAVE PIGMENTED SACS
THAT CAN DISPLAY RED, YELLOW, AND BROWN COLOR.
LIKE HIGH-DEFINITION COLOR TV,
SHE COMBINES THESE BASIC COLORS
TO FORM MORE COMPLEX SHADES AND PATTERNS.
TO MAKE HER CAMOUFLAGE EVEN MORE CONVINCING,
SHE TAKES IT TO A THIRD DIMENSION.
BANDS OF MUSCLE CONTRACT AROUND THESE PIGMENT CELLS,
FORCING THE CELLS' LIQUID CONTENT UPWARDS
TO CREATE LITTLE NODES, BUMPS, OR SPIKES ON THE SKIN.
WITH THIS ARSENAL OF CAMO AT HER DISPOSAL,
SHE SETTLES DOWN TO SET UP THE AMBUSH.
WEARING A GORGEOUS MATCHING OUTFIT,
SHE BURIES HERSELF IN A CLOAK OF BROKEN SHELLS.
IT'S AN ASTONISHING DISAPPEARING ACT.
ONLY HER EYES REMAIN UNMASKED.
SURPRISINGLY, SHE IS COLOR-BLIND.
BUT UNLIKE US,
SHE CAN DETECT SUBTLE CHANGES IN POLARIZED LIGHT,
WHICH ENHANCES HER PERCEPTION OF CONTRAST.
HER DISTINCT W-SHAPED PUPIL
CONTROLS THE AMOUNT OF LIGHT ENTERING THE EYE.
IF HER VICTIM COMES CLOSE ENOUGH,
SHE HAS EIGHT STICKY ARMS THAT CAN GRAB IT.
BUT IF IT'S NOT WITHIN REACH,
SHE UNLEASHES TWO EXTRAORDINARY TENTACLES
HIDDEN IN POUCHES UNDER HER EYES.
SHE TAKES AIM...
AND FIRES.
WITH PERFECT PRECISION, TWO TENTACLES EXPLODE OUT,
THE CLUB-SHAPED ENDS ARMED WITH SUCTION CUPS.
SHE LASSOS HER PREY
AND REELS IT IN WITH ASTOUNDING SPEED.
A VORACIOUS HUNTER, SHE LOVES TO FEAST.
IN A FRACTION OF A SECOND,
HER TENTACLES DELIVER HER PRIZE TO HER MOUTH.
BENEATH THE EIGHT FRENZIED ARMS,
MULTIPLE ACTIONS ARE TAKING PLACE ALL AT ONCE.
THE CUTTLEFISH STRIKES
BY UNLEASHING FEEDING TENTACLES FROM POCKETS BELOW ITS EYES.
THEY HAND THE VICTIM OVER TO ITS PARROT-BEAK SHAPED MOUTH,
WHICH DELIVERS A VICIOUS TOXIC BITE.
PARALYZING NEUROTOXINS ARE RELEASED INTO THE PREY,
AND A SCRAPING TONGUE,
LAYERED WITH HUNDREDS OF TINY TEETH-LIKE RIDGES,
GRINDS THE PREY TO SHREDS.
SHE SETTLES DOWN IN THE SAND TO ENJOY HER CATCH.
THE RISING TIDE BRINGS WITH IT
A PULSATING PREDATOR.
BUT IT'S NOT ALONE.
JELLYFISH INVADE THE ESTUARY.
THEY'RE WEAK SWIMMERS,
SO THEY HAVE TO GO WHEREVER THE CURRENT TAKES THEM.
A QUIVERING MASS OF 95% WATER, 3% SALT, AND 2% PROTEIN,
THEY HAVE NO EYES, NO BRAIN,
AND NO SUPPORTING SKELETAL SYSTEM.
YET THEY ARE ONE OF THE OLDEST MULTI-CELLULAR ANIMALS
KNOWN TO MAN.
THAT'S GIVEN THEM PLENTY OF TIME
TO PERFECT THE ART OF CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL WARFARE.
JELLYFISH CAN'T CHASE THEIR PREY,
BUT THEY DON'T HAVE TO.
THIS FISH CAME SEEKING SHELTER.
AS THE TENTACLES MAKE CONTACT,
A STINGING BATTALION LAUNCHES.
CLUSTERS OF STINGING CAPSULES IN THEIR HUNDREDS
ADMINISTER LETHAL INJECTIONS VIA HARPOON-SHAPED NEEDLES
CALLED NEMATOCYSTS,
WHICH ARE DISCHARGED INTO THE HAPLESS VICTIM'S BODY
ALL AT ONCE.
IT'S THE SPEEDIEST KILLER OF THEM ALL,
UNLEASHING ITS VENOM IN 700 NANOSECONDS.
THAT'S 0.0000007 SECONDS.
THAT'S FAST.
THE VIRULENT POISON ATTACKS THE HEART,
NERVOUS SYSTEM, AND SKIN CELLS...
AND QUICKLY PARALYZES THE FISH.
IT HOISTS IT INTO ITS BODY CAVITY TO DIGEST.
IT CAN'T FLOAT WHILE CARRYING LARGE AMOUNTS OF FOOD.
AND THEN...DINNER'S OVER.
THE JELLIES EXIT THE LAGOON THE SAME WAY THEY CAME IN--
THIS TIME A LITTLE LESS GRACEFULLY.
A FORCE GREATER THAN ANY OF THE LAGOON'S RESIDENTS
IS AT WORK.
NOTHING IS PERMANENT.
AS THE TIDE DRAWS BACK TO THE OCEAN,
THE RECEDING WATERS CREATE A POWERFUL SUCTION.
THE SAFER DEEP LAGOON WATERS ARE GONE.
FOR OPPORTUNISTIC OCEAN PREDATORS,
IT'S THE CUE TO INVADE THE STRONGHOLD
OF THE NOW COMPROMISED LAGOON.
ENTER THE BIG GUNS.
HUMPBACK DOLPHINS.
THEY'RE ONE OF THE OCEAN'S APEX PREDATORS,
BUT RIGHT NOW
THEY'RE HEADING RIGHT INTO THE HEART OF THE BLACK LAGOON.
THIS IS NO PLAYFUL EXCURSION.
THESE DOLPHINS ARE HERE ON DEADLY SERIOUS BUSINESS.
THEIR TARGET?
KINGFISH.
THIS HUNT CAN ONLY WORK
WITH SHALLOW WATERS, A SMART TEAM,
AND SOME SERIOUSLY DARING MOVES.
THE LOW TIDE HAS ALSO EXPOSED SANDBANKS--
IDEAL CONDITIONS FOR HERDING FISH.
RAPID CLICKING NOISES BOUNCE OFF THE FISH
AND ECHO BACK TO THE DOLPHINS.
THE DOLPHINS CAN TELL THE SIZE, SHAPE,
AND SPEED OF THEIR PREY
FROM HUNDREDS OF YARDS AWAY.
THE DOLPHINS WORK IN UNISON
TO CORRAL THE KINGFISH INTO THE SHALLOWS
AGAINST THE SAND BANKS AND BEACHES.
STILL, KINGFISH ARE ONE OF THE FASTEST SWIMMERS
IN THE LAGOON.
BUT THEY CAN'T RUN OR RIDE A BICYCLE,
AND THE DOLPHINS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS.
CHARGING AT FULL SPEED,
THEY SWIM TOWARDS AND ONTO THE BEACH.
THEIR POWERFUL TAILS DRIVE THEM FORWARD.
THE SPEED OF THEIR FORWARD THRUST
CREATES A SMALL BOW WAVE,
WHICH FORCES THE FISH ONTO THE SHORE.
A FISH OUT OF WATER IS MUCH EASIER TO CATCH.
STRAND FEEDING IS A UNIQUE BEHAVIOR
RARELY CAUGHT ON FILM.
FOR A BRIEF BUT DANGEROUS TIME,
THE DOLPHINS ARE STRANDED OUT OF WATER.
BUT WHEN YOU NEED TO EAT 33 POUNDS OF FISH A DAY,
IT'S WORTH THE RISK.
HARD SLAPS OF THEIR POWERFUL TAILFINS
ALSO HELP TO CHASE THE FISH CLOSER TO SHORE.
THEN, AS QUICKLY AS IT STARTED, IT'S ALL OVER.
THE SCHOOL OF SURVIVING KINGFISH
FOLLOWS THE TIDE OUT TO THE OPEN OCEAN.
THE LAGOON WAS THEIR KINDERGARTEN,
BUT THEY'RE NOW BIG ENOUGH
TO HEAD OUT TO LARGER HUNTING GROUNDS.
BUT SURVIVING THE LAGOON WAS JUST THE BEGINNING.
JUST BEYOND THE ENTRANCE,
ANOTHER OF THE OCEAN'S DEADLIEST PREDATORS
IS PLYING HIS TRADE.
THIS ONE IS HUNTING ALONE.
BUT AS HE'LL SOON FIND OUT,
HE'S NOT THE ONLY LONE HUNTER DOWN HERE.
HE SINKS 60 FEET DOWN TO THE KINGFISH SHOAL.
HIS EXPERT AIM HAS HIT THE MARK,
BUT IF HE'S GOING TO KEEP HIS SPOILS,
HE NEEDS TO GET THE FISH OUT OF THE WATER...
FAST.
THE STRUGGLING KINGFISH EMITS RAPID, IRREGULAR PULSING SOUNDS
AT A LOW FREQUENCY
THAT QUICKLY ATTRACTS ANOTHER LONE HUNTER:
THE BULL SHARK.
THE BULL SHARK'S HIGHLY SPECIALIZED HEARING
CAN PICK UP ON THE INJURED FISH FROM OVER A MILE AWAY.
PREFERRING WARM SHALLOW WATERS,
INCLUDING LAGOONS,
THIS ELUSIVE SHARK HAS RARELY BEEN OBSERVED HUNTING.
SHE HOMES IN ON THE KINGFISH LIKE A TORPEDO.
SHE'S NOT ABOVE FEEDING ON STOLEN GOODS.
BUT THE DISTRESS CALL OF THE STRICKEN KINGFISH
ALERTS OTHER PREDATORS TO THE CRIME SCENE.
THE SHARKS ARE UNLIKELY TO ATTACK A HUMAN,
BUT THEY ARE INTERESTED IN A FREE LUNCH.
THE DIVER IS IN NO REAL DANGER,
BUT HE ABANDONS HIS HUNT.
HE PREFERS TO HUNT ALONE.
LEFTOVER SCRAPS ATTRACT A SHOAL OF SMALL FISH,
WHICH IN TURN ATTRACT BIGGER FISH.
ONE SMALL STOLEN MEAL
IS FAST BECOMING A FEAST,
AND EVERYONE'S INVITED.
BLACKTIPS.
THESE FAST PURSUIT PREDATORS
QUICKLY WHIP THEMSELVES UP INTO A FEEDING FRENZY--
A RARE EVENT
CAUSED BY A SUPER-NORMAL STIMULUS IN THE WATER.
THE STRESS OF THE SPEARED KINGFISH
WAS THE CATALYST FOR THIS FISH-EAT-FISH CHAIN REACTION.
PART DOMINANCE DISPLAY,
PART NEED TO FEED,
THE FRENZIED SHARKS DON'T STOP
UNTIL THEY'VE DRIVEN EVERY OTHER CREATURE
OUT OF THEIR REALM.
ON THE SURFACE, THE BLACK LAGOON LOOKS QUIET...
PEACEFUL EVEN.
BUT UNDERNEATH,
IN THIS NETHERWORLD BETWEEN OCEAN AND RIVER,
DEATH COMES IN AN EXTRAORDINARY,
EVEN WONDROUS,
VARIETY OF WAYS.