1 00:00:04,204 --> 00:00:07,341 To survive in nature, you need an edge, 2 00:00:10,677 --> 00:00:12,312 a superpower, 3 00:00:14,581 --> 00:00:17,718 like sensing the Earth's geomagnetic currents 4 00:00:18,252 --> 00:00:20,287 ♪ ♪ 5 00:00:20,587 --> 00:00:22,222 to help pinpoint prey, 6 00:00:23,924 --> 00:00:26,927 ♪ ♪ 7 00:00:27,327 --> 00:00:31,865 transforming the meek into superheroes. 8 00:00:34,201 --> 00:00:38,572 The harsher their environment, the weirder their solution. 9 00:00:39,706 --> 00:00:41,942 ♪ ♪ 10 00:00:42,075 --> 00:00:47,047 The creatures of Earth are wilder than you 11 00:00:47,180 --> 00:00:49,283 could possibly imagine. 12 00:00:51,318 --> 00:00:58,492 Among the fast and fearsome are the astoundingly crazy, 13 00:01:01,628 --> 00:01:06,800 with strange behavior and outrageous fashion sense. 14 00:01:09,336 --> 00:01:11,772 They're all in a competition to survive, 15 00:01:13,373 --> 00:01:16,543 and weirdness always wins. 16 00:01:32,459 --> 00:01:36,563 Not all superpowers in nature are easy to spot, 17 00:01:38,231 --> 00:01:41,268 ♪ ♪ 18 00:01:41,635 --> 00:01:45,739 but some are instantly awe-inspiring. 19 00:01:49,209 --> 00:01:52,245 Bioluminescence. 20 00:01:55,315 --> 00:02:00,020 Chemical reactions within living creatures that make them glow. 21 00:02:01,288 --> 00:02:04,491 ♪ ♪ 22 00:02:05,058 --> 00:02:06,660 Take these insects. 23 00:02:10,864 --> 00:02:14,634 When the weather warms and rains are plentiful, 24 00:02:16,169 --> 00:02:20,974 these tiny beetles produce light from their rear ends 25 00:02:22,509 --> 00:02:26,279 in a dazzling display of midnight messaging. 26 00:02:36,623 --> 00:02:38,058 ♪ ♪ 27 00:02:38,191 --> 00:02:40,660 For just a few weeks each summer, 28 00:02:41,561 --> 00:02:45,899 forests around the world shimmer with the incandescent 29 00:02:46,033 --> 00:02:49,403 mating rituals of the firefly. 30 00:02:51,972 --> 00:02:56,610 Multiple species flash each other in flirty semaphore. 31 00:02:59,980 --> 00:03:03,884 These bugs are all single and ready to mingle. 32 00:03:06,319 --> 00:03:07,888 ♪ ♪ 33 00:03:08,021 --> 00:03:12,259 As adult-only raves go, it's totally lit. 34 00:03:13,326 --> 00:03:16,463 ♪ ♪ 35 00:03:18,398 --> 00:03:22,202 It's a big occasion, and they have been prepping 36 00:03:22,335 --> 00:03:24,471 for it their entire lives. 37 00:03:35,682 --> 00:03:40,253 Born as eggs, it takes just three short weeks for them 38 00:03:40,387 --> 00:03:42,889 to become grub-like larvae. 39 00:03:45,092 --> 00:03:47,928 ♪ ♪ 40 00:03:48,195 --> 00:03:53,300 For the next two years, they bulk up on slow-moving snails. 41 00:03:54,734 --> 00:03:58,905 And learn how to use their lightning powers. 42 00:04:03,777 --> 00:04:09,516 After a short pupation, they emerge as adults, 43 00:04:09,649 --> 00:04:12,285 fired up and ready to take care of business. 44 00:04:15,856 --> 00:04:19,226 With only weeks to live, this female activates her 45 00:04:19,359 --> 00:04:21,394 lightning superpowers. 46 00:04:23,630 --> 00:04:28,368 Her night begins messaging with five different guys. 47 00:04:32,105 --> 00:04:35,876 She's looking to hook up with the best mate she can find. 48 00:04:39,980 --> 00:04:42,816 Sure, washboard abs might be hot, 49 00:04:44,017 --> 00:04:47,254 but when luciferase enzymes light them up, 50 00:04:49,256 --> 00:04:51,625 she's found the real deal. 51 00:05:00,667 --> 00:05:04,371 She likes boys that can flare the longest and brightest. 52 00:05:07,741 --> 00:05:11,211 In rhythm with her own species-specific flashing. 53 00:05:14,881 --> 00:05:20,220 It's believed when they flare, they produce nitric oxide gas. 54 00:05:20,353 --> 00:05:23,390 The same as humans when taking Viagra. 55 00:05:23,757 --> 00:05:25,492 ♪ ♪ 56 00:05:25,625 --> 00:05:27,861 But she has a problem. 57 00:05:27,994 --> 00:05:30,797 She's not the only female flashing the guys. 58 00:05:32,499 --> 00:05:35,602 And the nightclub is emptying as they all hook up. 59 00:05:40,173 --> 00:05:41,541 She must choose. 60 00:05:54,154 --> 00:05:58,425 Finally, they meet and sparks fly. 61 00:06:13,974 --> 00:06:17,410 But these parents won't live to see their kids shine. 62 00:06:20,013 --> 00:06:23,416 The male dies after mating, and the female will pass 63 00:06:23,550 --> 00:06:25,752 away after laying eggs. 64 00:06:25,986 --> 00:06:28,321 ♪ ♪ 65 00:06:28,455 --> 00:06:33,627 One by one, every flame in the forest fades away. 66 00:06:42,102 --> 00:06:47,474 Until a new generation sets next summer's night on fire. 67 00:06:48,108 --> 00:06:51,244 ♪ ♪ 68 00:07:05,759 --> 00:07:09,863 90 million years of evolution and adaptation 69 00:07:09,996 --> 00:07:14,501 have crafted a creature that's near indestructible. 70 00:07:29,015 --> 00:07:34,220 The saltwater crocodile is the largest reptile on the planet. 71 00:07:36,289 --> 00:07:43,430 Cold periscope eyes, armoured skin, and jaws of death. 72 00:07:45,799 --> 00:07:48,501 An arsenal of deadly superpowers. 73 00:07:51,538 --> 00:07:53,673 But crocs have feelings too. 74 00:07:55,809 --> 00:07:59,946 The dark spots all over their body are called pressure domes. 75 00:08:01,114 --> 00:08:04,651 Ten times more sensitive than human fingertips. 76 00:08:06,252 --> 00:08:11,992 Like Darth Vader, sensing tiny disturbances in the Force. 77 00:08:12,125 --> 00:08:15,996 Crocs use these pressure domes to feel the location 78 00:08:16,129 --> 00:08:17,797 of their prey in the water. 79 00:08:19,799 --> 00:08:22,402 They are the Sith Lords of their domain. 80 00:08:23,303 --> 00:08:25,638 Attuned to all life around them. 81 00:08:26,539 --> 00:08:29,809 Especially the lives they want to take. 82 00:08:31,978 --> 00:08:34,948 ♪ ♪ 83 00:08:39,519 --> 00:08:42,422 Like Force-sensitive Sith and Jedi, 84 00:08:42,555 --> 00:08:44,691 crocs are born with this power. 85 00:08:50,230 --> 00:08:54,768 But all young ones must first learn how to use their gifts. 86 00:09:02,108 --> 00:09:06,846 Deep within the swamp nest, eggs begin to hatch. 87 00:09:31,604 --> 00:09:34,507 The hatchlings sense movement nearby. 88 00:09:38,111 --> 00:09:38,878 An intruder? 89 00:09:43,550 --> 00:09:46,619 Phew, it was just mom on guard duty. 90 00:09:57,597 --> 00:10:01,901 Jaws turn into delicate baby holders. 91 00:10:07,240 --> 00:10:10,743 She'll watch over her kids for several months as they grow. 92 00:10:13,646 --> 00:10:16,483 Hunting their own meals from birth. 93 00:10:19,185 --> 00:10:23,756 But to find food, young crocs must rely on their instincts. 94 00:10:25,625 --> 00:10:26,759 ♪ ♪ 95 00:10:26,893 --> 00:10:30,497 Young saltwater croc pressure dome sensors are 96 00:10:30,630 --> 00:10:32,932 yet to be finely tuned. 97 00:10:34,868 --> 00:10:38,438 This mudskipper would make the perfect prize. 98 00:10:39,739 --> 00:10:42,709 ♪ ♪ 99 00:10:45,979 --> 00:10:48,014 But they're called mudskippers for a reason. 100 00:10:50,617 --> 00:10:51,985 Maybe something easier. 101 00:11:02,962 --> 00:11:06,466 For the first few years, the young crocs stalk 102 00:11:06,599 --> 00:11:08,801 insects and small fish. 103 00:11:10,703 --> 00:11:13,973 Fine tuning their sensitivities as they go. 104 00:11:16,242 --> 00:11:21,247 But with newfound success comes ill-found confidence. 105 00:11:24,884 --> 00:11:28,121 Searching for bigger prey, one strays from 106 00:11:28,254 --> 00:11:29,856 mom's protective circle. 107 00:11:32,425 --> 00:11:35,895 Pressure domes or not, deeper waters are a 108 00:11:36,029 --> 00:11:37,764 dangerous proposition. 109 00:11:40,633 --> 00:11:43,603 ♪ ♪ 110 00:12:05,024 --> 00:12:09,228 Even with mom's protection, just one baby out of a 111 00:12:09,362 --> 00:12:11,297 hundred reaches adulthood. 112 00:12:13,333 --> 00:12:15,168 ♪ ♪ 113 00:12:15,301 --> 00:12:18,805 The surviving youngling grows a foot every year. 114 00:12:21,541 --> 00:12:26,613 Until she becomes a ten-foot giant, just like her mother. 115 00:12:28,081 --> 00:12:32,385 The young croc now has full control over all of her powers. 116 00:12:35,355 --> 00:12:37,924 Mudskippers are a thing of the past. 117 00:12:39,292 --> 00:12:41,861 ♪ ♪ 118 00:12:41,995 --> 00:12:44,797 Today, it's bearded pigs. 119 00:12:48,935 --> 00:12:53,272 The crocodile creates scarcely a ripple as she hunts. 120 00:12:54,741 --> 00:12:59,712 She's been following them for days, watching patiently. 121 00:13:02,148 --> 00:13:04,651 The pigs move to the water's edge. 122 00:13:05,918 --> 00:13:10,456 The croc can feel even the smallest disturbance of water. 123 00:13:12,091 --> 00:13:13,760 She fixes their location. 124 00:13:15,762 --> 00:13:18,731 ♪ ♪ 125 00:13:23,803 --> 00:13:26,606 She can hold her breath for over an hour. 126 00:13:27,840 --> 00:13:29,509 There's no need to rush. 127 00:13:34,681 --> 00:13:37,717 Even in clear water, her vision is poor. 128 00:13:38,685 --> 00:13:42,221 In the murky abyss, she's virtually blind. 129 00:13:43,656 --> 00:13:47,960 So she relies on her pressure domes, stretching out with her 130 00:13:48,094 --> 00:13:50,863 feelings, waiting to strike. 131 00:13:52,832 --> 00:13:55,802 ♪ ♪ 132 00:14:16,856 --> 00:14:21,360 Patience, power, and super senses. 133 00:14:22,595 --> 00:14:25,565 ♪ ♪ 134 00:14:46,552 --> 00:14:50,923 This reef is home to a universe of super-powered survivors. 135 00:14:52,625 --> 00:14:55,595 ♪ ♪ 136 00:14:57,130 --> 00:14:59,565 Armed with secret weapons. 137 00:15:01,267 --> 00:15:04,404 ♪ ♪ 138 00:15:07,140 --> 00:15:09,675 Case in point, mantis shrimp. 139 00:15:11,110 --> 00:15:13,613 Punching way above their weight. 140 00:15:21,854 --> 00:15:27,493 Transforming itself, the minute becomes massive. 141 00:15:29,495 --> 00:15:33,065 The mural spread is a scare tactic, which says, 142 00:15:33,199 --> 00:15:35,635 "Go ahead, punk. Make my day." 143 00:15:36,969 --> 00:15:40,273 The octopus doesn't know that the mantis shrimp is 144 00:15:40,406 --> 00:15:43,209 one of the strongest animals on the planet. 145 00:15:48,414 --> 00:15:51,684 This is one meal the octopus shouldn't mess with. 146 00:16:01,227 --> 00:16:01,894 A punch. 147 00:16:06,599 --> 00:16:11,537 With the force of a .22 bullet, gives the crab no chance. 148 00:16:17,977 --> 00:16:20,947 The mantis' club-shaped forelimbs are like 149 00:16:21,080 --> 00:16:22,982 spring-loaded catapults. 150 00:16:24,817 --> 00:16:28,554 It strikes so fast, the pressure wave behind it 151 00:16:28,688 --> 00:16:30,456 is as damaging as the hit. 152 00:16:33,226 --> 00:16:34,560 - Hi-yah! - Ow! 153 00:16:34,694 --> 00:16:38,931 In this aquatic bout between arch-rivals, the mantis shrimp's 154 00:16:39,065 --> 00:16:41,834 superpowers reign supreme. 155 00:17:03,756 --> 00:17:06,392 The rainforests of Southeast Asia. 156 00:17:08,027 --> 00:17:12,932 Pristine, pure, and plentiful. 157 00:17:16,068 --> 00:17:18,871 ♪ ♪ 158 00:17:19,005 --> 00:17:24,577 But the most nutritious food is over 98 feet high in the canopy. 159 00:17:27,580 --> 00:17:32,018 Accessing fresh fruit and leaves is key to survival. 160 00:17:33,853 --> 00:17:38,357 For climbers, it's a case of first in, best fed. 161 00:17:44,130 --> 00:17:47,166 ♪ ♪ 162 00:17:48,301 --> 00:17:52,204 So, arboreal creatures have learned to move freely through 163 00:17:52,338 --> 00:17:54,307 this high-rise habitat. 164 00:17:57,777 --> 00:18:03,783 Navigating narrow branches, keeping balance, 165 00:18:05,484 --> 00:18:06,986 and daring feats. 166 00:18:08,287 --> 00:18:09,555 All in a day's work. 167 00:18:10,957 --> 00:18:13,893 ♪ ♪ 168 00:18:15,261 --> 00:18:18,197 And then, there's the true high-flyers. 169 00:18:31,677 --> 00:18:34,981 The paradise tree snake appears ordinary. 170 00:18:36,515 --> 00:18:38,985 Average size, his venom is mild. 171 00:18:42,788 --> 00:18:48,060 But in these forests, anyone can be a superhero. 172 00:18:56,469 --> 00:18:58,871 The quickest way to get from tree to tree? 173 00:19:03,209 --> 00:19:03,843 Wing it! 174 00:19:05,611 --> 00:19:08,581 ♪ ♪ 175 00:19:11,717 --> 00:19:16,322 In the air, the snake flattens his body until he's a concave 176 00:19:16,455 --> 00:19:18,724 ribbon with fangs at one end. 177 00:19:22,928 --> 00:19:25,898 ♪ ♪ 178 00:19:28,834 --> 00:19:30,202 The landing seems rough. 179 00:19:33,839 --> 00:19:36,709 But he's exactly where he needs to be. 180 00:19:38,177 --> 00:19:41,580 Just below, there's potential prey. 181 00:19:56,729 --> 00:19:59,899 The male draco wants just one thing. 182 00:20:05,071 --> 00:20:07,406 The bachelor flicks his dewlap. 183 00:20:07,540 --> 00:20:10,076 It's a kind of a love flag. 184 00:20:10,209 --> 00:20:11,977 It tells her he's up for it. 185 00:20:21,053 --> 00:20:22,722 But this girl isn't interested. 186 00:20:25,925 --> 00:20:28,961 ♪ ♪ 187 00:20:29,795 --> 00:20:32,898 Could anything get worse for this love-lorn male? 188 00:20:35,768 --> 00:20:38,504 His display hasn't landed a date. 189 00:20:40,539 --> 00:20:43,242 But it has attracted attention. 190 00:20:48,481 --> 00:20:53,652 The paradise tree snake must get closer for the final ambush. 191 00:20:55,187 --> 00:20:58,324 ♪ ♪ 192 00:21:04,330 --> 00:21:06,866 He'll need stealth and cunning to succeed. 193 00:21:14,874 --> 00:21:16,208 Stealth seems optional. 194 00:21:21,947 --> 00:21:23,883 Just a lunge away now. 195 00:21:27,186 --> 00:21:27,887 A dead end. 196 00:21:31,490 --> 00:21:32,825 The draco's doomed. 197 00:21:39,665 --> 00:21:40,699 Or is he? 198 00:21:44,403 --> 00:21:47,306 The lizard transforms into dragon lite. 199 00:21:48,741 --> 00:21:53,546 Extended ribs hold folds of skin which unfurl to become wings. 200 00:21:54,814 --> 00:21:58,851 Carrying him over the length of a basketball court. 201 00:21:58,984 --> 00:22:00,920 Away from the jaws of danger. 202 00:22:02,221 --> 00:22:05,357 ♪ ♪ 203 00:22:12,898 --> 00:22:16,902 In this evolutionary arms race, there's one winner. 204 00:22:20,105 --> 00:22:24,877 But in the game of love, the draco clearly has more to learn. 205 00:22:47,299 --> 00:22:52,571 Since the days of old, the red fox has had a bad reputation. 206 00:22:56,375 --> 00:22:57,576 Wily. 207 00:22:59,912 --> 00:23:01,614 A deceitful trickster. 208 00:23:02,948 --> 00:23:05,918 ♪ ♪ 209 00:23:07,620 --> 00:23:10,356 It seems nobody trusts foxes. 210 00:23:12,858 --> 00:23:15,894 ♪ ♪ 211 00:23:16,629 --> 00:23:19,231 But the red fox is a true survivor. 212 00:23:22,167 --> 00:23:26,906 And one of the most weirdly gifted predators on the planet. 213 00:23:37,249 --> 00:23:39,418 ♪ ♪ 214 00:23:39,551 --> 00:23:42,821 Three foot snow blankets northern Canada. 215 00:23:43,789 --> 00:23:46,458 Making winter travel a challenge. 216 00:23:50,429 --> 00:23:54,266 But the red fox is a hunter for all conditions. 217 00:24:07,613 --> 00:24:11,350 Beneath the snow, this field mouse constructs 218 00:24:11,483 --> 00:24:15,120 tunnels to cloak its movements as it forages. 219 00:24:23,062 --> 00:24:26,699 The fox's keen nose picks up on the mouse's scent. 220 00:24:34,707 --> 00:24:38,644 Using multi-directional ears, he hears movement 221 00:24:38,777 --> 00:24:40,946 over 98 feet away. 222 00:24:44,817 --> 00:24:49,388 The fox tunes his senses to detect the tiniest of clues. 223 00:24:51,357 --> 00:24:55,561 Focus on any extraneous sounds must now stop. 224 00:24:58,297 --> 00:25:00,199 Yes, that's better. 225 00:25:03,302 --> 00:25:06,004 ♪ ♪ 226 00:25:06,138 --> 00:25:08,374 The snow crunches underfoot. 227 00:25:09,641 --> 00:25:12,611 ♪ ♪ 228 00:25:14,613 --> 00:25:17,516 The burrowing rodent has high-powered hearing too. 229 00:25:20,586 --> 00:25:25,424 And each step from the fox is an alarm bell for the mouse. 230 00:25:26,558 --> 00:25:29,528 ♪ ♪ 231 00:25:36,735 --> 00:25:39,171 ♪ ♪ 232 00:25:39,304 --> 00:25:43,208 Repositioning, the fox faces north. 233 00:25:48,080 --> 00:25:52,384 He's aligning himself with the Earth's geomagnetic field. 234 00:25:54,052 --> 00:25:56,355 Because he has a secret power. 235 00:26:00,592 --> 00:26:04,897 When facing north, Earth's geomagnetic field 236 00:26:05,030 --> 00:26:07,199 appears as spots in his vision. 237 00:26:09,068 --> 00:26:12,271 The red fox can align those spots with the apparent 238 00:26:12,404 --> 00:26:13,705 source of the sound. 239 00:26:18,944 --> 00:26:23,282 Giving him a perfect target to aim for. 240 00:26:32,024 --> 00:26:33,859 Bullseye. 241 00:26:36,528 --> 00:26:38,130 When hunting stealthy mice, 242 00:26:38,263 --> 00:26:41,900 foxes succeed less than 20% of the time. 243 00:26:44,837 --> 00:26:49,842 But when a fox faces north, its success rate quadruples. 244 00:26:54,513 --> 00:27:00,652 This super-powered Arctic hunter is truly magnetic. 245 00:27:14,233 --> 00:27:17,369 ♪ ♪ 246 00:27:19,338 --> 00:27:21,673 In the forests of the Philippines, 247 00:27:22,875 --> 00:27:24,476 the night is waning. 248 00:27:29,081 --> 00:27:34,686 But in the dim light, a gremlin stalks the living. 249 00:27:47,466 --> 00:27:51,703 This tarsier is one of the world's smallest primates. 250 00:27:54,239 --> 00:28:00,679 To survive, he must eat a tenth of his body weight every night. 251 00:28:03,782 --> 00:28:06,752 ♪ ♪ 252 00:28:08,687 --> 00:28:12,424 Foraging after sunup is just tempting fate. 253 00:28:15,928 --> 00:28:17,829 Because at just six inches long, 254 00:28:21,366 --> 00:28:23,669 he's easy picking for hunters. 255 00:28:34,713 --> 00:28:36,848 It's going to be a race against time. 256 00:28:43,055 --> 00:28:46,525 His super-sensitive ears pick up the faintest rustle. 257 00:28:49,628 --> 00:28:53,799 And with super-powered eyes, the largest relative to 258 00:28:53,932 --> 00:28:55,801 body size of any mammal, 259 00:28:57,569 --> 00:29:00,672 he can see better in the dark than humans. 260 00:29:04,443 --> 00:29:05,544 Last chance. 261 00:29:12,884 --> 00:29:15,721 It's his first taste of flesh tonight. 262 00:29:20,892 --> 00:29:25,163 Able to turn his head nearly 180 degrees in each direction, 263 00:29:27,833 --> 00:29:30,769 nothing escapes his ravenous gaze. 264 00:29:32,504 --> 00:29:35,874 Lock, load, and fire. 265 00:29:44,516 --> 00:29:47,252 Sticky-padded fingers help him grab prey. 266 00:29:51,223 --> 00:29:53,525 Only one thing can halt his spree. 267 00:29:55,327 --> 00:29:55,927 The sun. 268 00:30:00,866 --> 00:30:05,003 But there just might be time for one more meal. 269 00:30:06,538 --> 00:30:09,041 There. That one looks--oh! 270 00:30:19,284 --> 00:30:21,219 Wild Australia. 271 00:30:21,353 --> 00:30:23,922 It's a chamber of horrors. 272 00:30:26,124 --> 00:30:29,995 It's where the dangerous and the bizarre cross over. 273 00:30:32,030 --> 00:30:38,303 Days are weird, but it's at dusk the real action unfolds. 274 00:30:46,445 --> 00:30:50,315 This fly needs a safe spot to retire for the night. 275 00:30:54,653 --> 00:30:57,556 Easier said than done on these mean streets. 276 00:31:01,493 --> 00:31:03,695 The water's edge is a hunting ground. 277 00:31:05,063 --> 00:31:08,066 ♪ ♪ 278 00:31:09,701 --> 00:31:15,841 The territory of a silent stalker that loves fly fishing. 279 00:31:27,119 --> 00:31:31,957 The water spider is equipped with super-sensitive hairs on 280 00:31:32,090 --> 00:31:34,693 its legs that detect vibrations. 281 00:31:39,164 --> 00:31:42,667 This arachnid doesn't need a web to ensnare prey. 282 00:31:46,271 --> 00:31:47,973 The water is its web. 283 00:31:53,612 --> 00:31:57,182 Surface tension between liquid and air acts like 284 00:31:57,315 --> 00:32:01,186 an elastic membrane. 285 00:32:05,123 --> 00:32:09,428 The fly's compound eyes are not well-suited for seeing water. 286 00:32:15,400 --> 00:32:16,501 Incoming! 287 00:32:38,290 --> 00:32:44,863 Surfing its water web like a boss, it snatches the fly. 288 00:32:51,536 --> 00:32:56,107 Water-repellent hair and long legs spread the spider's weight, 289 00:32:56,241 --> 00:32:59,344 keeping it afloat. 290 00:33:02,013 --> 00:33:03,248 Mission accomplished. 291 00:33:09,287 --> 00:33:10,288 Rest? 292 00:33:12,123 --> 00:33:13,758 Not for this water spider. 293 00:33:16,862 --> 00:33:20,098 It must eat five times its weight every single 294 00:33:20,232 --> 00:33:21,900 day just to survive. 295 00:33:27,639 --> 00:33:30,508 ♪ ♪ 296 00:33:30,775 --> 00:33:34,779 The water spider's neurotoxic venom dissolves 297 00:33:34,913 --> 00:33:36,281 the fish's innards. 298 00:33:40,118 --> 00:33:45,357 Now, for a luxurious few hours, slurping the life 299 00:33:45,490 --> 00:33:48,560 juices of his hard-earned meal. 300 00:34:06,244 --> 00:34:09,080 In the wilds of Africa, 301 00:34:09,214 --> 00:34:11,850 a brainiac troop of chimpanzees 302 00:34:12,884 --> 00:34:15,287 lead their species in intellect. 303 00:34:18,089 --> 00:34:22,527 All hail the chimps of Senegal's Fongoli clan! 304 00:34:36,474 --> 00:34:39,144 Chimpanzees wield one of nature's most 305 00:34:39,277 --> 00:34:41,413 formidable superpowers. 306 00:34:43,782 --> 00:34:45,617 Intelligence. 307 00:34:47,118 --> 00:34:52,257 Fongoli chimps use their genius to solve a supersized problem. 308 00:34:55,293 --> 00:34:59,564 Surviving Senegal's harsh jungles. 309 00:35:04,202 --> 00:35:07,706 Fongoli supplement their diet by capturing and consuming 310 00:35:07,839 --> 00:35:09,608 smaller mammals by hand. 311 00:35:15,347 --> 00:35:17,449 The biggest, fastest males dominate with 312 00:35:17,582 --> 00:35:18,883 this method of hunting. 313 00:35:21,453 --> 00:35:24,856 But the smaller, slower chimps have used their smarts 314 00:35:24,990 --> 00:35:27,459 to level the playing field. 315 00:35:30,028 --> 00:35:32,597 They hunt with spears. 316 00:35:33,064 --> 00:35:35,100 ♪ ♪ 317 00:35:35,233 --> 00:35:40,171 The omnivorous Fongoli use sharp sticks as tools to capture 318 00:35:40,305 --> 00:35:42,941 nocturnal tree-dwelling galagos. 319 00:36:01,526 --> 00:36:03,361 This young male is hungry. 320 00:36:05,463 --> 00:36:06,598 He's seen mom do it. 321 00:36:08,700 --> 00:36:10,402 Surely it's not that hard. 322 00:36:14,239 --> 00:36:16,574 But patience is not his forte. 323 00:36:20,045 --> 00:36:23,314 He can smell something tasty deep in the tree trunk. 324 00:36:25,617 --> 00:36:27,419 Just can't get to it. 325 00:36:30,188 --> 00:36:31,890 Nope. Try again. 326 00:36:35,360 --> 00:36:36,628 A smaller spear perhaps? 327 00:36:39,297 --> 00:36:42,467 ♪ ♪ 328 00:36:45,870 --> 00:36:46,571 No dice. 329 00:36:48,473 --> 00:36:49,841 But a valuable lesson. 330 00:36:52,510 --> 00:36:54,746 Maybe mom knows something he doesn't. 331 00:36:55,714 --> 00:36:58,783 Because she has other ways of putting food on the table. 332 00:37:01,186 --> 00:37:05,824 Nutritious termites and ants are a hassle-free delicacy. 333 00:37:10,562 --> 00:37:13,598 Bespoke cutlery is a must for this meal. 334 00:37:16,267 --> 00:37:18,803 Older chimps teach younger ones the ABCs 335 00:37:20,038 --> 00:37:21,840 of bug-dining etiquette. 336 00:37:25,443 --> 00:37:27,011 Fashion one long stick. 337 00:37:28,746 --> 00:37:31,015 Poke it deep into the termite mound. 338 00:37:33,585 --> 00:37:35,787 Wait for the insects to latch on. 339 00:37:38,490 --> 00:37:41,593 And gobble them up in one swift move. 340 00:37:47,966 --> 00:37:50,201 It's a long-standing tradition that's been passed 341 00:37:50,335 --> 00:37:52,003 down through generations. 342 00:37:53,138 --> 00:37:56,174 ♪ ♪ 343 00:37:56,674 --> 00:38:00,345 It seems a small step from hunting termites with a stick 344 00:38:02,213 --> 00:38:04,616 to spearing galagos in their dens. 345 00:38:05,917 --> 00:38:09,854 But the Fongoli are the only chimps that have cottoned on. 346 00:38:15,794 --> 00:38:17,929 They say necessity is the mother of invention. 347 00:38:20,465 --> 00:38:24,135 Among the Senegal chimps, the mothers are the 348 00:38:24,269 --> 00:38:25,503 mothers of invention. 349 00:38:31,442 --> 00:38:34,913 So if there's a lesson for humanity, it may be 350 00:38:35,046 --> 00:38:37,515 that mother knows best. 351 00:39:00,905 --> 00:39:06,644 Hidden in the African savannah, an unassuming assassin wields 352 00:39:06,778 --> 00:39:09,647 an arsenal of secret weaponry. 353 00:39:17,622 --> 00:39:19,190 This chameleon's mission? 354 00:39:21,292 --> 00:39:23,661 Take down some bugs for breakfast. 355 00:39:24,896 --> 00:39:27,932 ♪ ♪ 356 00:39:28,766 --> 00:39:32,604 To get closer, she slowly stalks her prey. 357 00:39:36,107 --> 00:39:39,911 But there's slow, and then there's chameleon. 358 00:39:47,352 --> 00:39:51,256 She's an evolutionary master of disguise, 359 00:39:52,357 --> 00:39:57,395 able to change colour until nearly invisible. 360 00:40:00,064 --> 00:40:04,936 Roving eyes constantly scan almost 360 degrees. 361 00:40:11,309 --> 00:40:17,815 Because at just 13 inches long, it pays to be cautious. 362 00:40:27,525 --> 00:40:28,826 Close enough now. 363 00:40:30,962 --> 00:40:32,530 The target is in sight. 364 00:40:34,332 --> 00:40:36,801 There's no escaping what happens next. 365 00:40:39,737 --> 00:40:44,275 A tongue fired at 8,500 feet per second. 366 00:40:47,612 --> 00:40:51,950 And spit 400 times thicker than human saliva. 367 00:40:55,620 --> 00:40:59,557 Rips bugs off their perches. 368 00:41:03,461 --> 00:41:07,532 But Karma quickly catches up with this Karma chameleon. 369 00:41:11,602 --> 00:41:15,807 She's blown her cover, alerting another 370 00:41:15,940 --> 00:41:20,745 super-powered predator in desperate need of a kill. 371 00:41:26,818 --> 00:41:29,921 This boomslang hasn't fed in days. 372 00:41:34,759 --> 00:41:38,329 This snake wields two of the most effective hunting 373 00:41:38,463 --> 00:41:41,065 weapons on the planet. 374 00:41:42,033 --> 00:41:47,138 Venom so potent that less than a drop could kill a human. 375 00:41:59,417 --> 00:42:02,887 Compromised, the chameleon must hold her nerve. 376 00:42:05,223 --> 00:42:09,193 Stressed, she darkens her skin to disguise herself. 377 00:42:09,994 --> 00:42:12,964 ♪ ♪ 378 00:42:14,565 --> 00:42:18,970 So long as she stays put, the boomslang can't distinguish 379 00:42:19,103 --> 00:42:21,205 the chameleon from the foliage. 380 00:42:26,310 --> 00:42:29,514 The snake deploys its next superpower. 381 00:42:31,616 --> 00:42:36,254 A forked tongue that collects chemical signals from the air. 382 00:42:39,123 --> 00:42:40,691 He smells lizard. 383 00:42:42,493 --> 00:42:45,096 It smells like victory. 384 00:42:46,397 --> 00:42:50,468 This is usually the moment for the lightning-fast attack scene. 385 00:42:52,503 --> 00:42:54,906 But not in this weird little story. 386 00:42:56,974 --> 00:43:00,211 Boomslang versus chameleon is more like a 387 00:43:00,344 --> 00:43:03,014 slow-motion kiss of death. 388 00:43:10,188 --> 00:43:14,992 The boomslang pumps its super-venom into his victim, 389 00:43:15,126 --> 00:43:17,495 destroying red blood cells. 390 00:43:19,997 --> 00:43:23,734 The chameleon's camouflage abilities are legendary. 391 00:43:23,868 --> 00:43:27,271 But in this battle of superpowers, 392 00:43:27,405 --> 00:43:29,941 the legend has become lunch. 393 00:43:39,183 --> 00:43:43,387 Nature has engineered an endless parade of animals with 394 00:43:43,521 --> 00:43:45,490 something strange going on. 395 00:43:52,597 --> 00:43:58,669 The wilder their world, the weirder their solution.