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 FOREST'S DARK UNDERWORLD,
THERE'S A LOT MORE HAPPENING THAN MEETS THE EYE.
BEHIND EVERY TREE, DEATH COULD BE LURKING.
AND WHEN DISASTER STRIKES,
IT TAKES THE EXPRESS.
A WORLD OF ACTION IS HIDING...
IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE.
ACROSS ALL THE WORLD'S RAINFORESTS,
THE VIEW FROM ABOVE SEEMS SERENE, QUIET.
BUT BELOW IS A WORLD RARELY SEEN BY MAN...
A WORLD OF SHADOWS AND MIST...
A WORLD WHERE THREATS ARE HIDDEN IN DISGUISE...
INHABITED BY CREATURES
THAT MOVE SILENTLY ACROSS THE FOREST FLOOR...
HIDING BEHIND TREES...
OR SAILING THROUGH THE AIR...
LYING IN AMBUSH UNTIL THE TIME IS RIGHT.
ONE OF THE PLANET'S MOST EFFICIENT HUNTERS
IS ON THE MOVE.
THE FOREST COBRA.
AFRICA'S LARGEST.
SOME GROW TO BE 10 FEET LONG.
AND NOW IT'S HUNGRY.
THE COBRA, LIKE MOST SNAKES, DOESN'T SEE VERY WELL.
BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE TO.
USING ITS FORKED TONGUE
IN COMBINATION WITH SENSORY PITS IN THE ROOF OF ITS MOUTH,
IT CAN SENSE THE TELLTALE CHEMICAL SIGNALS OF ITS PREY.
AN EASTERN OLIVE TOAD,
ABOUT FOUR INCHES LONG.
WHEN IT'S TIME TO STRIKE,
THE FOREST COBRA IS LIGHTNING-FAST.
BUT FOR NOW,
SILENCE AND STEALTH ARE ITS MOST FORMIDABLE WEAPONS.
IT ACTUALLY TASTES THE SMELL OF ITS PREY
WITH ITS DARTING TONGUE.
IT KNOWS DINNER IS NEARBY,
BUT IT CAN'T BE SURE EXACTLY WHERE IT IS.
SO IT WAITS FOR THE TOAD TO MAKE A MISTAKE.
THIS AMPHIBIAN IS A MASTER OF DISGUISE
AND CAN HIDE IN PLAIN SIGHT.
SUDDENLY IT BOLTS.
THE SUDDEN MOVEMENT HAS GIVEN AWAY THE GAME.
BURSTS OF SPEED VERSUS RELENTLESS STALKING.
THIS TOAD'S LEGS ARE ABOUT HALF ITS BODY LENGTH.
POWERFUL THIGH MUSCLES ACT LIKE SPRINGS,
RELEASING BURSTS OF ENERGY
THAT ENABLES THE TOAD TO HOP AND EVEN RUN AT TOP SPEED.
FINALLY IT REACHES THE WATER.
COBRAS CAN'T SWIM...
CAN THEY?
IT'S A 7-FOOT FOREST COBRA VERSUS A 4-INCH TOAD--
BOTH EXCELLENT SWIMMERS
AND BLINDINGLY FAST WHEN THEY NEED TO BE.
BUT THE TOAD IS CORNERED...
BY A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PREDATOR.
IN THE SHADOWY UNDERWORLD OF THE TROPICAL RAINFOREST,
IF THE COBRA DOESN'T GET YOU,
THE AFRICAN BULLFROG PROBABLY WILL.
THE SNAKE'S GOTTEN A RAW DEAL THIS TIME,
CHEATED OF ITS DINNER BY ANOTHER FEARSOME PREDATOR.
EVEN A COBRA WOULD THINK TWICE
ABOUT TAKING ON AN AFRICAN BULLFROG.
DESPITE ITS APPEARANCE,
ITS IMMENSE BULK IS NOT OBESITY.
THE AFRICAN BULLFROG IS A POWERHOUSE OF MUSCLE.
MUSCULAR HIND LEGS AND LONG FEET
PUSH THE BULLFROG OFF THE GROUND.
AT OVER 4 POUNDS,
IT SAILS THROUGH THE AIR LIKE A CANNONBALL.
THE WIDE MOUTH WITH BONY PROJECTIONS,
OR ODONTOIDS, ON THE LOWER JAW
ACTS LIKE A GIN TRAP DOES TO SECURE PREY.
ITS STRIKE IS AS FAST AS IT IS POWERFUL.
BUT WHERE DID THE BULLFROGS COME FROM?
REWIND BACK TIME ONE WEEK,
AND THIS RAINSTORM HOLDS THE ANSWER.
IT'S EXACTLY WHAT THE BULLFROGS WERE WAITING FOR...
FOR 10 LONG MONTHS.
FOR MOST CREATURES HERE,
THE RAIN PUTS A DAMPER ON THINGS.
IT'S A DEVELOPMENT TO BE TOLERATED.
THE NORMAL ROUTINES GRIND TO A HALT.
FOR OTHERS, IT'S A CHANCE FOR REBIRTH...
BECAUSE BELOW THIS UNDERWORLD
IS ANOTHER UNDERWORLD.
AND FROM THAT REGION ARISE THE UNDEAD.
THESE AFRICAN BULLFROGS
HAVE SPENT MOST OF THE LAST YEAR IN A SUBTERRANEAN CHAMBER,
WAITING THERE IN A STATE OF DORMANCY
FOR CONDITIONS ABOVE GROUND TO IMPROVE.
THEY FORM A COCOON FROM OLD SKIN CELLS
AND SLOW OR SHUT DOWN MOST OF THEIR BIOLOGICAL PROCESSES...
UNTIL THE RAINWATER SEEPS INTO THEIR UNDERGROUND SHELTER,
AWAKENING THEM.
THE STORM SUMMONS HUNDREDS, EVEN THOUSANDS OF THEM
FROM THE DEPTHS.
FREEDOM.
BETTER THAN A SHARP STICK IN THE EYE.
AFTER ALL THOSE MONTHS UNDERGROUND IN A SKIN-SUIT,
THERE ARE ONLY TWO THINGS ON THESE GIANT AMPHIBIANS' MINDS:
FOOD AND MATING.
BUT BEFORE THEY CAN GET DOWN TO EITHER,
THERE'S THE LITTLE MATTER OF ESTABLISHING THE PECKING ORDER.
WITH A BODY LIKE A SUMO WRESTLER'S,
THE AFRICAN BULLFROG IS NOT TO BE TRIFLED WITH,
EVEN BY ANOTHER AFRICAN BULLFROG.
THE FIELD OF BATTLE IS A SHALLOW POOL.
LARGER MALES STAKE OUT A POSITION IN THE CENTER,
WAITING FOR A YOUNG TURK TO MAKE HIS PLAY.
THERE'S A LOT AT STAKE HERE.
WINNER TAKES ALL.
LOSERS DON'T GET TO MATE.
THERE'S ONLY ROOM IN THIS TOWN FOR ONE OF US.
THE LEGS MAKE UP A QUARTER OF ITS BODY MASS,
PROPELLING THE MASSIVE MALE BULLFROGS FORWARD
LIKE A BATTERING RAM.
THE ODONTOIDS IN THE LOWER JAW ARE THE SHARP END OF THE ATTACK,
CAPABLE OF INFLICTING SERIOUS DAMAGE.
THESE BATTLES OFTEN LEAVE THE LOSERS
SEVERELY INJURED OR DEAD.
THIS BIG BOY IS THE VICTOR,
WITH SOLE RIGHTS TO ALL THE FEMALES IN HIS TERRITORY.
THE BULLFROG FEMALES ARE HALF HIS SIZE--
UNUSUAL FOR AN AMPHIBIAN.
BUT SOMEHOW THEY MAKE IT WORK.
ONCE HE'S MATED,
THE MALE HEADS OUT IN SEARCH OF A GOOD MEAL.
AFRICAN BULLFROGS WILL EAT
ALMOST ANYTHING THEY CAN STICK IN THEIR IMMENSE MOUTHS:
INSECTS, RODENTS, REPTILES, BIRDS, AND OTHER AMPHIBIANS,
LIKE THIS UNFORTUNATE TOAD--
THE SAME ONE STALKED BY THE COBRA.
DESPITE HIS BULK, THIS IS A VERY QUICK HUNTER.
HE HAS TO BE.
MR. TOAD IS PRETTY SPEEDY HIMSELF.
NICE TRY, BUT NO TOAD.
WITH LEGS APPROXIMATELY 45% OF ITS BODY LENGTH,
TOADS CAN JUMP AROUND 8 INCHES--
A DECENT LEAP CONSIDERING THEIR TINY SIZE.
BUT WHAT OF ITS HUNTER, THE BULLFROG?
BULLFROG'S LEGS MAKE UP 60% OF ITS TOTAL BODY LENGTH,
AND ITS JUMP CAN REACH A STAGGERING LENGTH
OF 10 TIMES ITS BODY LENGTH.
THAT'S ALMOST THREE YARDS.
THE ENTIRE JUMP,
FROM PREPARATION TO LEAP,
LASTS ONLY ONE FIFTH OF A SECOND.
THE TOAD WAS LUCKY TO ESCAPE,
BUT WITH THE UNDERGROWTH CRAWLING WITH BULLFROGS,
HOW LONG WILL ITS LUCK HOLD OUT?
AFRICAN BULLFROGS ARE PATIENT AND PERSISTENT.
THIS ONE IS WAITING IN AMBUSH,
DEAD STILL.
HE CAN ALMOST TASTE HIS DINNER NOW.
NOW, THAT'S QUICK.
THE BULLFROG'S SHARP ODONTOIDS
QUICKLY CRUSH THE LIFE FROM HIS HAPLESS PREY.
HE'S A MASTER KILLER DOWN HERE IN THE DARK UNDERWORLD...
BUT NOT THE ONLY ONE.
IT'S ONE OF THE LARGEST AND MOST FEARSOME OF ITS KIND,
WITH A LEG SPAN OF 6 INCHES.
ONE OF THE MOST PAINFUL BITES OF ANY PREDATOR,
CONTAINING A POTENT VENOM.
ITS STRIKE IS SO FAST, YOU'LL MISS IT IF YOU BLINK.
THE ORANGE BABOON TARANTULA,
ONE OF THE MOST AGGRESSIVE TARANTULA SPECIES OUT THERE.
THE ORANGE BABOON TARANTULA SETS UP SHOP IN A BURROW.
IT'S NOT JUST A HOME;
IT'S A TRAP.
SHE LAYS SILK THREADS AT THE DOOR
TO DETECT THE SMALLEST VIBRATIONS
FROM POTENTIAL VICTIMS.
THEY WON'T ENTANGLE AN INTRUDER, LIKE MANY SPIDER WEBS DO.
THEY'RE JUST AN EARLY WARNING SYSTEM
THAT SOMETHING HAS ENTERED THE TARANTULA'S SPACE.
THE TINY HAIRS ON HER BODY AND APPENDAGES
ARE ALSO EXTREMELY SENSITIVE
AND CAN DETECT THE SLIGHTEST MOVEMENT IN THE AIR.
THE BURROW IS COMPLETE.
JUST IN TIME FOR THE DAY'S FIRST CUSTOMER:
A YELLOW-WINGED LOCUST,
OR GRASSHOPPER...
ABOUT 2 INCHES LONG,
JUST BROWSING AMONG THE SWEET GREENERY.
BUT THIS BUG ISN'T AS DEFENSELESS AS IT LOOKS.
THE LOCUST IS FAMOUS FOR ITS STANDING LONG JUMP--
20 TIMES THEIR BODY LENGTH.
THAT'S LIKE A HUMAN JUMPING 100 FEET.
HOW DOES IT DO IT?
THINK OF A LOCUST AS A LIVING CATAPULT.
IT PRESSES ITS FEMUR DOWN REALLY HARD AND REALLY FAST,
COMPRESSING THE TIBIA.
WHEN IT SUDDENLY RELEASES THE PRESSURE,
IT'S LIKE LETTING GO OF A STRETCHED RUBBER BAND.
THE LOCUST'S EXTRAORDINARY JUMP IS AN EXCELLENT TALENT
AND ONE THIS INSECT WILL NEED VERY SOON...
BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST THE TARANTULA
IT'S GOT TO WORRY ABOUT.
THE GECKO ISN'T MUCH BIGGER THAN ITS QUARRY,
BUT A JUICY LOCUST IS TOO GOOD TO PASS UP.
THIS TINY LIZARD HAS A NUMBER OF TRICKS UP ITS SLEEVE.
GECKOS HAVE A REMARKABLE ADAPTATION
THAT ALLOWS THEM TO STICK TO SURFACES
WITHOUT USING AN ADHESIVE OF ANY KIND.
EACH TOE CONTAINS HUNDREDS OF FLAP-LIKE RIDGES
CALLED LAMELLAE.
ON EACH RIDGE ARE MILLIONS OF HAIRS
10 TIMES THINNER THAN A HUMAN'S.
EACH HAIR DIVIDES INTO EVEN SMALLER HAIRS
THAT ARE SO TINY,
THEY INTERACT WITH THE MOLECULES OF THE CLIMBING SURFACE.
HANDY FOR CLIMBING UP GLASS,
BUT ALSO FOR NEGOTIATING ANY OBSTACLE
IN THE NATURAL WORLD.
THEY'RE CAPABLE OF STARTLING BURSTS OF ACCELERATION.
THEY CAN COVER THREE FEET IN A SECOND,
WHICH IS PRETTY AMAZING FOR AN ANIMAL JUST TWO INCHES LONG.
BUT THE LOCUST KNOWS WHAT'S AFOOT.
SADLY, THE GECKO HAS MADE A SERIOUS ERROR.
AND AS SO OFTEN IN THE UNDERWORLD,
THE HUNTER BECOMES TOAST.
THE GECKO IS QUICK, BUT NOT QUICK ENOUGH.
WITH EIGHT LEGS,
THE SPIDER IS ABLE TO HOLD IT IN PLACE
UNTIL IT CAN DELIVER THE KILL STRIKE.
LIKE A SWITCHBLADE,
THE FANGS EXTEND OUTWARD TO BITE.
MUSCLES AROUND THE VENOM GLANDS CONTRACT,
FORCING THE PARALYZING VENOM
THROUGH THE HUGE HOLLOW FANGS.
JOB DONE,
THE DYING GECKO WILL BE STORED IN THE BACK OF THE BURROW
FOR LATER CONSUMPTION.
FRESH OFF ITS FRUSTRATING EXPERIENCE
WITH THE EASTERN OLIVE TOAD,
THE FOREST COBRA IS STILL ON THE HUNT.
SUNSET'S APPROACHING.
THE COBRA DECIDES TO EXPLORE AN ABANDONED TRAIN TUNNEL.
IT CAN HEAR THE CHIRPING OF DINNER IN THE DISTANCE.
BATS.
SO ADAPTABLE, THEY CAN MAKE A HOME ALMOST ANYWHERE.
IT'S TIME TO LEAVE THE CAVE TO FORAGE FOR FOOD.
IT LOOKS LIKE THE COBRA IS OUT OF LUCK AGAIN.
IT'S A FORMIDABLE PREDATOR, BUT IT CAN'T FLY.
STILL, IT MAY KNOW SOMETHING A CASUAL OBSERVER DOESN'T.
THESE BATS ARE JUST EMERGING FROM TORPOR--
A STATE OF LOW METABOLISM THEY ENTER
WHEN FOOD SUPPLIES ARE LOW.
THEY CAN'T JUST GO FROM TORPOR TO FLIGHT
WITHOUT A WARM-UP PERIOD.
THEY NEED TO SHAKE AND SHIVER
TO GET THEIR FLIGHT MUSCLES WORKING AGAIN.
TO SAY THEY'RE HANGING ON FOR DEAR LIFE
IS NO EXAGGERATION.
LETTING GO BEFORE THEY'RE READY TO FLY
MEANS THEY'LL PLUMMET TO THE TUNNEL FLOOR,
WHERE YOU-KNOW-WHO IS WAITING.
MOST OF THIS BAT'S COMPANIONS HAVE WARMED UP
AND TAKEN OFF IN SEARCH OF DINNER.
HE'S NOT QUITE THERE YET.
THIS IS THE WORST-CASE SCENARIO.
THE SNAKE IS READY.
AND THE BAT...
NOT A MOMENT TOO SOON.
THE BAT IS THE ONLY TRUE FLYING MAMMAL.
THEIR FLIGHT IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FROM THAT OF BIRDS.
LIKE A BIRD, A BAT FLIES BY FLAPPING ITS WINGS.
BUT WHILE BIRD WINGS
HAVE FEATHERS PROJECTING BACK FROM A LONG BONE,
BATS HAVE SHORTER, THINNER, MORE FLEXIBLE WINGS
MADE OF MEMBRANE
STRETCHED BETWEEN FINGER BONES WITH MORE THAN 20 JOINTS.
THE FLEXIBILITY MEANS THEIR WINGS CAN TAKE DIFFERENT SHAPES,
GENERATING LIFT, INCREASING MANEUVERABILITY,
AND ALLOWING THEM TO MAKE HAIRPIN TURNS.
THOUSANDS OF BATS POUR INTO THE SKIES IN SEARCH OF PREY:
MOTHS, BEETLES, AND WASPS.
YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO TURN ON A DIME
TO SNATCH THIS KIND OF PREY OUT OF THE AIR.
AND THEY'RE MASTERS OF THE ART.
BUT NOT THE ONLY MASTERS.
THE RED-TAILED HAWK,
AKA THE CHICKEN HAWK.
IT'S A KEEN-EYED, EFFICIENT HUNTER--
2.5 POUNDS OF PREDATORY MUSCLE.
IT CAN PLUNGE AT SPEEDS UP TO 100 MILES AN HOUR
AND PICK ITS VICTIMS OUT OF THE SKY.
THE BATS, AS AGILE AS THEY ARE,
CAN'T MATCH THIS RAPTOR FOR PURE SPEED.
BUT EVEN A RED-TAILED HAWK HAS ONLY TWO TALONS.
IT HAS TO EAT ITS CATCH BEFORE IT GOES AFTER MORE.
MOST WILL GET TO GO ON THE HUNT TONIGHT.
BATS, AS WE SHALL SEE, ARE MASTER PREDATORS.
BUT THEY DON'T ALWAYS HAVE THINGS THEIR WAY.
TAKE THE GREATER WAX MOTH, FOR EXAMPLE.
WITH TYMPANIC MEMBRANES OR EARDRUM-LIKE STRUCTURES
ON ITS THORAX,
DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO AUDITORY NERVES,
THIS SPECIES HAS THE MOST SENSITIVE HEARING
OF ANY ANIMAL IN THE WORLD.
AND IT ALLOWS THEM TO HEAR THE BATS
LONG BEFORE THE BATS CAN SENSE THEM,
SO THE MOTHS CAN GO SILENT
AND SLIP RIGHT UNDER ENEMY SONAR.
BATS USE SONAR, OR ECHOLOCATION,
TO HOME IN ON THEIR PREY IN THE DARK.
THEY GENERATE HIGH-PITCHED SOUNDS IN THEIR LARYNX
AND PROJECT THEM THROUGH THEIR MOUTH.
WHEN THE SOUND WAVE BOUNCES BACK,
THEY CAN EXTRAPOLATE THE LOCATION OF THEIR TARGET
FROM THE PRECISE WAY THE SOUND ECHOES INSIDE THEIR EARS.
BUT IF BAT ECHOLOCATION IS SO GOOD,
HOW DID THIS BAT MANAGE TO FLY RIGHT BY HIS DINNER?
THE TIGER MOTH HAS EVOLVED ITS OWN SPECIAL DEFENSE
AGAINST THE VAUNTED BAT SONAR:
A JAMMING DEVICE.
INSTEAD OF BEING JUST LISTENING DEVICES,
THE TIGER MOTH'S TYMPANIC MEMBRANES
CAN GENERATE A STREAM OF HIGH-PITCHED CLICKS--
MORE THAN 4,500 A SECOND--
WHICH CONFUSES THE BAT'S TARGETING SYSTEM.
BUT NOT ALL THE MOTHS HERE TONIGHT
HAVE THESE ADVANCED DEFENSES.
AND FOR THOSE WHO DON'T...
THE BAT DOESN'T EVEN TRY TO SNAP AT ITS PREY WITH ITS MOUTH.
USING ITS WING-SUIT, IT REDUCES RISK OF A MISS
BY SCOOPING ITS PREY UP WITH ITS TAIL.
IT SACRIFICES AERODYNAMICS AT THE LAST SECOND
TO CUP ITS WINGS AND TAIL,
MUCH LIKE A BASEBALL PLAYER'S MITT,
THEN TRANSFERS THE MOTH TO ITS MOUTH
BEFORE UNFOLDING TO CONTINUE FLYING--
ALL IN A FRACTION OF A SECOND.
BACK ON THE FOREST FLOOR, THE COBRA IS STILL ON THE HUNT,
THIS TIME, HOT ON THE SCENT OF A NEW PREY ITEM...
THE BROWN RAT.
IT CAN'T FLY LIKE A BAT,
AND IT CAN'T LEAP LIKE A TOAD.
IT SHOULD BE AN EASY TARGET.
SOMETIMES YOU SET AN AMBUSH.
SOMETIMES YOU JUST GO FOR IT.
THE RAT ZIG-ZAGS ACROSS THE FOREST FLOOR,
BUT THE COBRA HEADS IT OFF AT THE PASS.
ONCE THE COBRA'S VENOM
IS COURSING THROUGH THE RAT'S VEINS,
THERE'S NO REASON TO HOLD ONTO IT ANY LONGER.
IT CAN RUN,
BUT IT'S NOT REALLY GOING ANYWHERE.
THE RAT IS STILL ALIVE, BARELY.
IT'S ALREADY BEING DIGESTED FROM THE INSIDE BY THE VENOM.
COBRAS HAVE NO CHEWING TEETH,
SO THEY HAVE TO SWALLOW THEIR PREY WHOLE.
THEIR JAWS DISLOCATE TO MAKE THE OPENING WIDER,
AND THEY LUBRICATE THEIR PREY WITH SALIVA
SO THEY GO DOWN EASIER.
THE SALIVA ALSO CONTAINS VERY POWERFUL DIGESTIVE ENZYMES.
FINALLY, A MEAL.
THE DARK FOREST UNDERWORLD MAY CONTAIN LIGHTNING-FAST TERRORS
LIKE THE FOREST COBRA AND THE ORANGE BABOON TARANTULA,
BUT PLUNGE EVEN DEEPER INTO THE SHADOWY UNDERGROWTH
AND YOU'LL FIND SOME TRULY BIZARRE CARNIVORES.
IT'S WET DOWN HERE
AND HOME TO ALL MANNER OF CREEPY CRAWLIES.
BUT THE VELVET WORM HAS TO BE ONE OF THE STRANGEST.
FOR 400 MILLION YEARS,
THIS TINY CATERPILLAR-LIKE ANIMAL
HAS LIVED IN THE SHADOWS.
AS A RESULT, VELVET WORMS ARE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND
AND HAVE RARELY BEEN STUDIED.
LEGS WITH RETRACTABLE CLAWS RUN THE LENGTH OF THEIR BODIES--
ALL FOUR INCHES OF THEM--
WHICH HELP THEM TO CLING TO BRANCHES.
THEIR SKIN IS WATERPROOF,
USEFUL IN THE MOIST DEPTHS OF THE RAINFOREST.
BUT THE STRANGEST THING ABOUT THE VELVET WORM
IS THE WAY IT ATTACKS
IS MORE LIKE SOMETHING OUT OF A SPIDERMAN COMIC
THAN THE NATURAL WORLD.
IT'S A DEADLY UNDERWORLD PREDATOR.
AND THIS ONE HAS PICKED UP THE PRESENCE OF A BEETLE.
SOON IT'S CLOSE ENOUGH TO DEPLOY ITS MOST DEADLY WEAPON.
TO THE SIDE OF ITS ANTENNAE
ARE TWO MODIFIED LEGS CALLED ORAL TUBES.
CONNECTED TO THESE ORAL TUBES
ARE A PAIR OF LARGE SLIME GLANDS--
SO LARGE,
THAT THEY ACCOUNT FOR OVER 10% OF THE VELVET WORM'S BODY MASS.
MUSCLES CONTRACT AROUND THE GLANDS,
SHOOTING A STICKY SLIME OUT OF ITS ORAL TUBES,
AIMING FOR THE BEETLE.
THE HUNTER MAY BE SLOW, BUT THE GLUE SPURTS OUT FAST.
OF COURSE, IT DOESN'T ALWAYS HIT THE BULL'S-EYE ON THE FIRST TRY.
THE VELVET WORM HAS PLENTY OF SPUNK.
ALMOST AS SOON AS THE GOO HITS THE BEETLE,
IT STARTS TO HARDEN...
AND THE PREY IS HELD FAST.
NOW ALL THAT REMAINS IS FOR THE VELVET WORM
TO RIP OFF PIECES OF THE UNLUCKY BUG,
SOFTEN THEM UP WITH DIGESTIVE SALIVA,
AND THEN, DOWN THE HATCH...
OR WHATEVER PASSES FOR "THE HATCH"
IN A VELVET WORM.
THE DARK UNDERWORLD IS HOME TO MANY EERIE NOISES.
THIS IS THE SOUND OF THE GREATER GALAGO,
A SMALL PRIMATE KNOWN AS THE BUSH BABY.
IT'S ABOUT THE SIZE OF A SQUIRREL,
BUT A LOT MORE VOCAL.
IT AWAKENS AT NIGHT TO FIND FOOD.
TREE SAP IS LIKE ITS FIRST CUP OF MORNING COFFEE.
THE BUSH BABY'S HANDS AND FEET
ARE MADE FOR WALKING AND CLIMBING.
LIKE MANY PRIMATES,
THIS EIGHT-INCH CREATURE HAS OPPOSABLE THUMBS.
AND IT IMPROVES ITS GRIP ON BRANCHES
BY URINATING ON ITS FEET.
ITS HANDS ARE ALL ABOUT GRIP.
THE LONG SLENDER FINGERS AND TOES
HAVE FLAT DISCS OF THICKENED SKIN
TO AID IN TRACTION.
A SHORTER INDEX FINGER
HELPS WITH GRIP AROUND BIGGER BRANCHES.
THE ODD FINGER OUT IS THE "TOILET CLAW,"
USED FOR GROOMING AND CLEANING ITS EARS.
ITS LARGE EYES GIVE IT THE EQUIVALENT OF NIGHT VISION.
ITS BIG BAT-LIKE EARS
CAN PICK UP THE FLUTTER OF INSECT WINGS,
OF WHICH THERE ARE MANY TONIGHT.
AS IT HAPPENS,
THERE'S MORE TO THE BUSH BABY'S DIET
THAN TREE SAP.
DESPITE ITS CUDDLY APPEARANCE,
IT'S A PREDATOR EXTRAORDINAIRE.
ONE STUDY SUGGESTED THAT ITS JUMPING MUSCLES
WORK UP TO NINE TIMES BETTER THAN A FROG'S.
THIS IS AS CLOSE AS A PRIMATE CAN GET TO FLYING.
THE KEY TO THE WHOLE OPERATION IS IN THE LEGS AND TAIL.
THE BUSH BABY'S TAIL IS LONGER THAN ITS ENTIRE HEAD AND BODY.
IT HOLDS THE ANIMAL SECURE BEFORE IT BEGINS ITS JUMP,
THEN ACTS AS A RUDDER DURING FLIGHT.
ITS HIND LEG MUSCLES ARE ALSO UNUSUALLY LONG
AND MAKE UP 10% OF ITS BODY WEIGHT--
TWICE AS MUCH AS OURS DO.
A BUSH BABY HAS BEEN OBSERVED JUMPING MORE THAN 20 FEET
FROM ONE TREE TO ANOTHER.
TURNS OUT THE HUNTER
ISN'T INTERESTED IN MOTHS AT ALL.
IT'S GOT ITS EYES ON A JUICIER TARGET--
A RAT.
A RAT'S A GOOD CLIMBER.
BUT COMPARED TO THE BUSH BABY,
IT'S JUST A BUSH-LEAGUER.
WHILE THIS HUNTER IS ON RAT PATROL,
HIS FANS WATCH AND LEARN FROM THE MASTER.
ONE LAST LEAP...
AND GAME OVER.
A LEAP SO BLINDINGLY FAST,
THE RODENT NEVER SAW IT COMING.
BUSH BABIES DON'T SHARE THEIR MEALS,
AND THIS RAT-CATCHER IS NO DIFFERENT.
THE NEXT MORNING,
A CLEARING ON THE EDGES OF THE UNDERWORLD.
THE RISING SUN CHASES AWAY THE SHADOWS OF THE NIGHT.
BUT FOR SOME, IT'S THE PERFECT TIME TO HUNT.
THIS SLENDER MAMMAL USUALLY HUNTS AT NIGHT,
BUT WHEN THE WEATHER'S COOL ENOUGH,
IT'LL COME OUT TO PROWL DURING THE DAY.
IT'S GOT SPOTS--
THE BETTER TO BLEND IN TO THE GRASSES.
ITS LARGER SPOTTED COUSIN, THE LEOPARD, CATCHES ON AVERAGE
LESS THAN 40% OF THE PREY THEY GO AFTER;
LIONS ONLY 30%.
THIS IS THE SERVAL.
IT'S A .500 HITTER.
IT ONLY TAKES TWO ATTEMPTS FOR IT TO GET SOMETHING TO EAT.
THE SERVAL IS A MEDIUM-SIZED CAT.
IT WEIGHS ABOUT 30 POUNDS ON AVERAGE,
BUT IT'S FAST.
IT CAN HIT 45 MILES AN HOUR ON THE OPEN RUN,
MAKING IT THE SECOND FASTEST CAT AFTER THE CHEETAH.
IF YOU COMPARE THE SERVAL'S PROPORTIONS
TO THOSE OF OTHER LARGE CATS,
IT LOOKS ALMOST MISSHAPEN.
ITS LEGS, RELATIVE TO THE REST OF ITS BODY,
ARE THE LONGEST OF ANY CAT.
THIS, ALONG WITH ITS STRANGELY LONG NECK,
GIVES IT THE NICKNAME "GIRAFFE CAT."
IF WE HAD EARS THE SAME PROPORTION TO OUR HEAD
AS SERVALS DO,
THEY'D BE THE SIZE OF DINNER PLATES.
BECAUSE IT'S NOT THAT BIG,
THE SERVAL TENDS TO GO AFTER SMALLER PREY,
LIKE RODENTS, BIRDS, REPTILES, AND EVEN INSECTS.
THIS SOLITARY HUNTER CAN ACTUALLY USE ECHOLOCATION
TO LOCATE ITS PREY HIDDEN IN THE GRASSES.
ONE OF THE REASONS THE SERVAL HAS THE HIGHEST SUCCESS RATE
OF ANY WILD CAT
IS THAT IT DOESN'T WASTE ANY ENERGY.
IT HOMES IN PRECISELY ON ITS PREY
USING ITS EXCELLENT HEARING
AND ONLY POUNCES WHEN IT'S GOTTEN CLOSE ENOUGH
TO BE ALMOST CERTAIN OF NAILING ITS QUARRY.
LIKE SO MANY MASTER PREDATORS,
THE SERVAL BEGINS WITH PATIENCE
AND FINISHES IN A BLAZE OF SPEED.
THIS CAT'S CAUGHT THE SOUND OF SOMETHING--
A HELMETED GUINEA FOWL.
AT MORE THAN 2 FEET IN HEIGHT AND WEIGHING ALMOST 5 POUNDS,
NOT A PIECE OF CAKE FOR THE SERVAL.
THIS IS A BIRD THAT RUNS WELL
AND CAN FLY WHEN IT HAS TO.
UNLIKE MANY BIRDS,
THE GUINEA FOWL GETS ITS INITIAL LIFT INTO THE AIR
NOT FROM ITS WINGS,
BUT FROM ITS POWERFUL LEGS.
IT STORES A KIND OF POTENTIAL ENERGY
CALLED "ELASTIC ENERGY" IN ITS LEG MUSCLES
AND RELEASES IT
JUST BEFORE THE VERTICAL JUMP THAT GETS IT INTO THE AIR.
THAT'S ANOTHER WAY OF SAYING
THAT FOR SUCH AN UNGAINLY-LOOKING BIRD,
GUINEA FOWL ARE NOTORIOUSLY HARD
FOR EVEN A SPEEDY PREDATOR TO SNAG.
THE SERVAL IS NOT IMPRESSED.
IT HAS A FEW TRICKS OF ITS OWN.
THE GUINEA FOWL HAS REALIZED IT'S IN THE CROSSHAIRS,
AND FLEES.
WHEN THE SERVAL RUNS,
IT MOVES VERTICALLY AS WELL AS HORIZONTALLY,
SO IT CAN KEEP AN EYE ON ITS TARGET.
DESPITE THESE BLISTERING BURSTS OF SPEED,
THE SERVAL'S LONG LEGS
ARE PRIMARILY AN ADAPTATION FOR POUNCING, NOT RUNNING.
MUSCLES TRANSMIT FORCES
VIA TENDONS IN THE ELONGATED TOE BONES
THAT BEHAVE MECHANICALLY LIKE SPRINGS.
THE TENDONS ACT AS POWER AMPLIFIERS,
STORING THE ENERGY OF THE MUSCULAR WORK,
THEN RELEASING IT QUICKLY TO POWER THE SERVAL OFF THE GROUND.
AS IT CLOSES IN,
THE GUINEA FOWL REVEALS ITS ACE IN THE HOLE:
A POWERFUL LEAP INTO SPACE.
IT MAY NOT KNOW THAT A SERVAL'S SECRET WEAPON
IS A 10-FOOT VERTICAL LEAP.
UNFORTUNATELY FOR THE CAT,
THE GUINEA FOWL HAS FLOWN OUT OF RANGE.
BUT LET'S SEE IT DO THAT AGAIN.
THE BIRD IS TIRING;
THE SERVAL, FRESH AS A DAISY.
GUESS WHAT'S FOR DINNER?
THIS IS THE BLACK SPARROW HAWK,
THE EMBODIMENT OF THE FOREST IN ALL ITS HIGH-SPEED GLORY.
CONSTANTLY ALERT
FOR THE PRESENCE OF SOME WEAKER CREATURE,
IT MUST KILL TO SURVIVE,
IN ONE OF THE TOUGHEST NEIGHBORHOODS ON EARTH.
THE BLACK SPARROW HAWK IS BIG, FAST, AND ACROBATIC.
FIRST, WAITING PATIENTLY FOR THE RIGHT MOMENT,
AND THEN STRIKING WITHOUT HESITATION.
THIS PIGEON HAS NO IDEA HE'S ON THE MENU.
HERE IS THE SPARROW HAWK 'S SPECIAL GENIUS.
THE STRENGTH AND AGILITY TO NEGOTIATE THIS DENSE FOREST,
ALL THE WHILE KEEPING ITS EYE FIXED ON THE PRIZE.
THE BRILLIANT AERODYNAMICS OF HUNGER ARE AT WORK
AS THE RAPTOR DEFTLY AVOIDS CRASHING INTO TREE BRANCHES
OR HURTLING INTO THE GROUND.
THEN IT DIVES FAR BELOW THE RADAR,
ONLY TO PULL UP SUDDENLY
AND TARGET THE PIGEON FROM BELOW.
THE MONSTERS WE FEAR THE MOST ARE THE ONES WE DON'T SEE...
THE ONES THAT LIVE UNDER OUR BED
OR BELOW THE FOREST CANOPY,
AND COME FOR THEIR VICTIMS IN BLINDING BURSTS OF SPEED.
WHEN PREDATORS STRIKE IN THE UNDERWORLD,
BY THE TIME YOU'RE AWARE OF IT,
YOU'RE ALREADY DEAD.