Original subtitles

(ethereal music)

(bright music)

- [Narrator] A secluded island in the Indian Ocean

is home to an array of extraordinary lizards.

Chameleons come in many different forms,

from the large and colorful to the minute and subdued.

Remarkable adaptations have made them lethal insect hunters.

Vicious battles are fought in the canopies,

while tiny ground dwelling species

carve out a living on the forest floor.

(inspiring music)

The new generation enters the world alone,

and must learn fast, in order to survive

in their often treacherous environment.

(dramatic music)

(soothing music)

5,000 kilometers to the east of Africa

rests the secluded island of Madagascar.

Isolated for over 80 million years,

it has become a biodiversity hotspot.

The animals that call this mysterious land home

have undergone their own unique evolution.

Agile primates have mastered the island's canopies.

(lemur shrieks)

Their deafening calls engulf the island's forests.

These are the indri,

one of Madagascar's many species of lemur.

(inspiring music)

There are around 80 species of lemur roaming the island.

The distinctive primates take on many different forms.

Perhaps the most bizarre is the nocturnal aye-aye.

(cheerful music)

Many of these animals, such as the catlike fossa,

are endemic to Madagascar.

It's not just the island's mammals that are unique.

90% of the lizard population

are found nowhere else on earth.

(gentle music)

Perhaps the most striking are the island's chameleons.

The world's largest lurks

within Madagascar's tropical forests.

It is known as the Parson's chameleon.

The giant 60 centimeter long reptile

is a supreme insect hunter.

(gentle percussion music)

Madagascar's chameleons have evolved

into many different shapes and colors.

(gentle percussion music)

These extraordinary reptiles are found

throughout much of Africa,

and reach as far as Europe and India.

There are known to be around 200 species of chameleon,

90 of which are found in Madagascar.

Most of the island's chameleons can be found

towards the north and the Amber Mountain National Park.

Now, in early April, the Southern Hemisphere's

autumn is on its way.

At the foot of the mountain,

Farmers are beginning to harvest their crops

before the impending winter.

A German researcher named Dr. Glaw has come

to the Amber Mountain park in search of chameleons.

He's been studying the remarkable

reptiles for over 20 years.

It doesn't take long for Dr. Glaw

to find what he's looking for.

An Oustalet's chameleon,

one of Madagascar's many endemic species.

- There's one.

A male.

- [Narrator] Another is found nearby.

This time, a panther chameleon.

The colorful reptile is adorned with protective scales.

(gentle music)

Each scale is only around a millimeter in size.

Much of the chameleon's time is spent in the treetops.

They are perfectly adapted for a life in the canopies.

Split toes and sharp claws are ideal for climbing.

(soothing music)

Scaled soles also give the reptile tree climbers extra grip.

sometimes getting to their desired location

involves a risky balancing act.

(gently chiming music)

Strong leg muscles allow the chameleon

to balance on just its two hind legs,

whilst a handy prehensile tail acts as a stabilizing anchor.

(gently chiming music)

It's a perilous maneuver, but eventually pays off.

A great sense of balance is not

the chameleon's only unique feature.

Bulbous eyes give a 360 degree arc of vision.

(dramatic music)

Each eye can move independently.

One can keep an eye on its rear,

while the other stays on point.

This adaptation enables chameleons to identify prey

in their often chaotic surroundings.

(dramatic music)

Locusts are a preferred food source.

While stalking prey, chameleons gently sway

to mimic a leaf blowing in the wind.

(dramatic music)

Once in range, both eyes lock onto the unfortunate locust.

Only one shot is required.

Chameleon tongues are capable of reaching incredible speeds.

(jet engine whooshes) (gently chiming music)

They only take a fraction of a second to find their mark.

(gentle music)

When fully stretched, the sticky tongue

can reach twice the length of its body.

(gentle music)

The muscular organ acts as a natural catapult.

Elastic collagen tissue wraps around the chameleon's

tongue bone and powerful accelerator muscle.

When triggered, stored energy has released,

and the tongue rapidly extends towards its prey.

A sticky pad at the tip envelops victims upon contact.

The center is tense,

Allowing the saliva-laden outer edges

to flow around its target.

(gentle music)

Some prey requires pinpoint accuracy.

Butterfly wings easily break off.

Chameleons must strike the head,

or risk losing their winged meals.

(gentle music)

These specialized hunters have adapted to a life

in the trees over millions of years.

One species that dwells higher up

in the Amber Mountain Park gives an extraordinary hindsight

into the evolution of Madagascar's chameleons.

The upper portion of the park is engulfed by thick forest.

At these heights, clouds collide with mountains

and give birth to rain.

This area is supplied with three times

as much rainfall as the base of the mountain.

The year round warm climate allows

over 1,000 species of plant to flourish.

(uplifting music)

Many unique animals call the mountain home.

The Sanford's brown lemur can only be found

in Madagascar's northern forests.

(uplifting music) (mongooses squeak)

Ring-tailed mongooses also roam the lush mountainside.

The biodiverse area was made

a national park over 50 years ago.

These animals are free to run the forests

without threat of human impact.

Some of the mountain species are harder to find than others.

Mossy leaf-tailed geckos

have mastered the art of camouflage.

(mischievous music)

Their elaborate disguise keeps them hidden

from the mountain's predators.

(uplifting music)

The nocturnal lizards spend much of the day hiding,

and will only hunt once the sun goes down.

(uplifting music)

Many of Madagascar's chameleons

also thrive in the protected forests.

Like the Amber chameleon.

They can only be found in the Amber Mountain area.

(gentle music)

There are more peculiar species lurking in the trees.

(soothing music)

Flap-necked chameleons can be found in the canopies.

When agitated, distinctive flaps raise

to create an intimidating color.

(soothing music)

Smaller species also thrive in the forest trees.

This blue nosed chameleon is only 10 centimeters long.

Its telltale blue bump is believed

to be used to attract potential mates.

These distinctive chameleons are the smallest

of the tree dwellers.

However, the forest floor is home

to an even smaller species.

This chameleon lives amongst the forest's leaf litter.

It is like finding a needle in a haystack.

(soothing music)

- You got one.

Great, great, amazing.

Perfect.

- [Narrator] The well-camouflaged species

is a Mount d'Ambre leaf chameleon.

It is only three centimeters from head to tail.

(uplifting music)

This miniature species is only found in northern Madagascar.

Recent research has revealed that leaf chameleons

are the most ancient of the chameleon family.

It is likely that all chameleons were once this size,

and lived a life on the ground rather than in the trees.

Much of the tiny chameleon's time

is spent staying perfectly still.

This is their best way to hide from predators.

Even ants make the minuscule reptile look small.

(soothing music)

Leaf chameleons are dwarfed

by much of the forest floor's inhabitants.

They must be careful where they tread.

(uplifting music)

The tiny reptiles often find themselves

in the path of larger insects.

Fortunately this millipede feeds on leaves

and only gives the leaf chameleon a hefty trampling.

Toes are split like their tree-dwelling counterparts'.

However, leaf chameleons use their specialized feet

to climb miniature obstacles like dry leaves.

(soothing music)

Even with these highly adapted toes,

they don't go anywhere fast.

Rotting fruit has enticed the miniature chameleon.

But it's not the fruit its after.

Flies are attracted to the fallen food.

From an ambush position,

the chameleon tracks the insect's every movement.

(flies buzzing)

(gently chiming music)

With deadly accuracy, it finds its target.

(gently chiming music)

(tongue whooshes)

Time and time again, it finds its mark.

(soothing music)

Its hunting strategy mirrors

its bigger tree-dwelling brothers.

In fact, it is believed that all chameleons

evolved from the minute ground dwellers.

They first evolved from lizards around 90 million years ago.

It's thought the chameleons got their bizarre tongues

from a deformation in primitive lizards.

Eventually this modification became

the deadly weapon that we see today.

(soothing music)

Recent research has revealed

that the first chameleons originated in Africa.

65 million years ago, they began to arrive in Madagascar,

on floating driftwood from the African continent.

(soothing music)

These early settlers were

the leaf chameleon's closest ancestors.

With few predators on the island, they were able

to thrive on the forest floor.

As a result, there are now over 30 species

of ground-dwelling chameleon living in Madagascar.

Each has uniquely adapted to their location,

from the spiny in the west,

to leaf mimics in the east.

(soothing music)

Madagascar's ground-dwelling population

have not had to evolve to compete for food.

One of their favorite foods, termites,

are bountiful on the island.

Few other predators feed on the tiny insects.

Chameleons can feed to their heart's content

without fear of rivalry.

(tongue whooshes)

(soothing music)

However, the island's forests are not

completely void of competition.

(gentle music)

Frogs are one of the few animals to feed on the same prey.

(gentle orchestral music)

But they are nowhere near as efficient at hunting

as the masterful chameleons.

Frogs have to wait for their prey to stray

into their restricted strike range.

Whereas chameleons can strike from a much greater distance,

thanks to their remarkable tongues.

(gentle orchestral music)

It's rich pickings for the island's more effective hunters.

In 2007, Dr. Glaw discovered a Madagascan

ground-dwelling chameleon that is truly unique.

It is the world's smallest, and is only found

on Madagascar's tiny desert island of Nosy Hara,

just 30 kilometers away from the Amber Mountain.

(gentle percussion music)

The small rocky island is only around

three square kilometers in size.

(gentle music)

Large limestones dominate the landscape.

The island sees little rain,

and remains dry for around half of the year.

To find the elusive chameleon, Dr. Glaw has to meticulously

search through the island's dry leaf litter.

The hunt is centered around the area

in which the species was first discovered.

- You see?

(soothing music)

Yeah.

- [Narrator] This is the chameleon Dr. Glaw

has been searching for,

the Brookesia micra.

(soothing music)

Measuring just two and a half centimeters from head to tail,

It is the smallest chameleon on Earth.

(soothing music)

- It is no wonder the minute reptile

went undiscovered until 2007.

(soothing music)

- Most of the micra chameleon's day

is spent searching for food.

(soothing music)

It uses its tongue-like toes to grip the island's limestone.

(soothing music)

The stones are the equivalent of mountains

for the minuscule chameleon.

(soothing music)

Even When hunting, it gets nowhere fast.

Tiny eyes scan the barren rocks for prey.

Fruit flies are just small enough

for the chameleon to feed on.

(soothing music)

With so much of the year spent without rain,

the tiny lizards rely on one of the island's

unique features to avoid drying out.

The barren rocks are bone dry on the surface,

but moisture is stored within the limestone's many cracks.

During long dry periods, the chameleons will crawl

into the cool moisture laden gaps

to avoid the harsh conditions.

The Nosy Hara chameleons have had

to adapt to a parched environment,

whereas the Amber mountains reptiles

are facing a very different challenge.

November heralds the start of Madagascar's rainy season.

(soothing music)

Rain starts to pound the leaf chameleon's micro domain.

At only three centimeters in length,

water droplets present a very real danger.

There is little the chameleon can do to avoid being hit.

Shelter must be found.

(soothing music) (rain splattering)

A leaf provides some protection.

(soothing music)

Hunting must be put on hold until the rains pass.

(soothing music)

As night draws in, leaf chameleons begin

to leave their leaf littered realm.

Slowly, minute reptiles scale their surroundings

to reach an elevated sleeping spot.

The crafty chameleons are trying

to avoid ground-dwelling nocturnal predators.

Their biggest adversary is the tenrec.

The nocturnal mammals search the undergrowth

for ground-dwelling insects.

Safely perched above the ground,

leaf chameleons avoid these nighttime predators.

(soothing music)

It is believed that chameleons developed their unique

tongue-like toes for their night climbing exploits.

(soothing music)

Over millions of years, chameleons extended

their living space from the ground and into the trees.

Many species have now set up permanent home in the canopies.

A life in the tree tops, however, is not without danger.

Some predators are capable of scaling the canopies.

(ethereal music)

Chameleons' highly evolved eyes are rendered

almost redundant in the poor light.

A snake has detected the tree-dwelling reptile's scent,

and moves in for the kill.

(dramatic music)

Perching on the end of a branch,

the chameleon has nowhere to run.

(dramatic music)

However, there is one final resort.

Although the chameleon could not see the snake,

it detected slight vibrations as the predator closed in.

It was a hefty fall, but a risk worth taking.

(soothing music)

The extent of the chameleon's poor night vision is evident

as it desperately tries to find a tree to climb.

(soothing music)

It must feel its way to safety.

(uplifting music)

The rainy season has provided the island's thirsty foliage

with plenty of water and is now blossoming with new life.

(uplifting music)

For Madagascar's chameleons, it is now the breeding period.

The search for a mate signals the start

of the blue nosed chameleon's fighting season.

(chameleons grunt) (dramatic music)

Males will engage in brutal bouts.

(dramatic music)

After a relentless five minute duel,

the male receiving the most damage turns black.

A change in color signifies surrender.

The victorious blue nosed chameleon

accepts his opponent's submission.

This colorful communication prevents any serious

injury arising during the vicious fights.

It is not only blue nosed chameleons

that use color to communicate.

Male panther chameleons also utilize

their color-changing skin cells when confronting intruders.

when a trespasser enters another's territory,

the resident will drastically change its color.

A complete transformation only takes four minutes.

The bright colors are a clear indication

that the intruder is not welcome.

but this trespasser has no intention of leaving.

He is willing to fight for the valuable territory.

(dramatic music)

The daring intruder forces the owner to the ground,

(dramatic music)

but this fight is not won yet.

The evicted male will not lose his territory that easily.

(chameleons grunting)

(dramatic music)

For over five minutes,

the two are locked in a vicious battle.

(dramatic music)

Eventually the intruder changes back

to its neutral color and retreats.

The original owner has retained his prized territory.

after his hard fought battle, the victorious male

sets his sights on a potential mate.

(soothing music)

Females are smaller and are of a more reddish color.

By frantically shaking his head,

the male is trying to impress his potential mate.

(soothing music)

Unfortunately, the impressive display

does not have the desired effect.

Females only accept mates on a select few days a year,

and this male has mistimed his chance at romance.

It's not just the tree-dwelling chameleons

that are looking to extend their bloodlines.

Primitive leaf chameleons are also pursuing potential mates.

This male has turned a pale color

to indicate his willingness to breed.

He has his sights set on a potential mate,

and very slowly makes his move.

The usually slow-paced male displays a rare moment of speed

as he mounts his desired partner.

Unfortunately, female leaf chameleons

are also only receptive for a few days a year.

(soothing music)

However, persistence is key.

The desperate male has hung around

for long enough to be accepted.

The miniature couple will stay locked

in this intimate position for a few days.

It's a rather drawn out courtship,

but the patient male is successful

in his bid to pass on his genes.

Mating has come to an end, and the rainy season

has finally begun to depart.

The change in weather triggers

an uncharacteristic behavior in female panther chameleons,

as they begin to descend from their treetop homes.

After the descent, a large hole is excavated.

This female is on the verge of laying.

(uplifting music)

The freshly dug hole is a perfect fit.

(uplifting music)

A batch of 10 to 30 eggs is laid.

Eggs are gently covered with a layer of soil.

(uplifting music)

The female's work here is now done.

It will take a few months for the eggs to fully develop.

Amongst the forest's leaf litter,

primitive leaf chameleon females

have also been hard at work.

(uplifting music)

Only two four millimeter eggs can be found

in the miniature burrows.

(uplifting music)

Most other species lay in much greater numbers

to improve the chance of survival.

However, if leaf chameleon eggs were any smaller,

the subsequent hatchlings would be too minute to function.

Just a little leaf litter is provided

by the mother as protection.

These tiny eggs can only survive exposed

like this in Madagascar, as there are few

egg predating animals on the island.

(men shouting in foreign language)

June heralds the beginning of the dry season.

The new generation of chameleon has arrived in Madagascar.

(soothing music)

This juvenile only hatched four weeks ago,

and has already taken to a life in the trees.

(soothing music)

Young chameleons enter the world alone,

so they must master the art of climbing on their own.

A strong wind can make the balancing act

particularly precarious.

(soothing music)

Eventually the youngster makes it to the next branch.

These tough life lessons must be learned

with no parental guidance.

It will take the young chameleon around a year

to reach full maturity.

(soothing music)

Tiny juvenile leaf chameleons

are also waking in the forest's leaf litter.

The miniature hatchlings are only two weeks old,

and a mere one and a half centimeters in length.

They too are on their own and must learn on the move.

The young chameleons are tiny

compared to the forest's adults.

(soothing music)

Finding food is the name of the game for recent hatchlings.

(soothing music)

Some juveniles haven't quite mastered

their hunting techniques.

(soothing music)

Its tongue is short of the mark.

The chance is gone, but there are plenty

of other opportunities to improve accuracy.

(soothing music)

At less than two centimeters in size,

hunting can be a risky affair.

A plucky termite has turned the tables on the hunter.

(suspenseful music)

Eventually the irritating hitchhiker is removed.

Undeterred from the termite's struggle,

the young chameleon continues on its hunting apprenticeship.

(soothing music)

This time, it overcomes its adversary.

Hunting can be a trial by fire.

But the forest juveniles seem to be getting the hang of it.

(upbeat music)

Troublesome termites are back on the menu.

(uplifting music)

Madagascar's chameleons have carved

their own unique evolutionary path.

(uplifting music)

The island's ground-dwelling population are living proof

of the incredible adaptations chameleons have evolved.

(uplifting music)

From their humble beginnings, these remarkable reptiles

have now mastered both the forest floor,

(uplifting music)

and the treetop canopies.

The chameleon's extraordinary tongues

have made them the ultimate insect hunter.

(uplifting music)

On their secluded island,

these remarkable reptiles will continue to thrive.

(uplifting music)

(inspiring music)

(ethereal music)