Original subtitles

Narrator: ANIMALS DO THE MOST INCREDIBLE THINGS.

[ BLEATS ]

LIKE THIS, AND THIS.

I BET YOU'RE WONDERING, "HOW DO THEY DO THAT?"

WE'RE REVEALING ANIMALS' BIGGEST SECRETS,

LIKE WHAT'S THE STORY

BEHIND THE ANTEATER'S TONGUE?

WHY DO DUNG BEETLES PLAY SOCCER WITH POOP,

AND WHY DON'T HAIRY HOUNDS IN HOT WEATHER GET HEAT STROKE?

THESE WONDERS AND MORE ON "HOW DO ANIMALS DO THAT?"

--Captions by VITAC-- www.vitac.com

ANTEATER.

SOUNDS MORE LIKE AN OCCUPATION THAN AN ANIMAL.

BUS DRIVER, WINDOW WASHER, FIREFIGHTER, ANTEATER.

SEE?

AND LIKE OCCUPATIONS,

THE ANTEATER WORKS HARD FOR ITS SUPPER.

WHAT'S WORSE, ITS SUPPER BITES BACK.

THIS POOR ANTEATER HAS AN ARMY OF ANGRY ANTS

STINGING HIS SNOUT, AND ANTS AREN'T EXACTLY FILLING.

AN ANTEATER MUST EAT AS MANY AS 35,000 A DAY TO SURVIVE.

THAT'S NEARLY HALF A POUND OF ANTS.

ACROSS CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA,

FOUR SPECIES OF ANTEATERS ARE ON THE HUNT FOR ANTS.

FROM THE CAT-SIZED PYGMY ANTEATER TO THE GIANT ANTEATER,

7 FOOT LONG FROM NOSE TO TAIL.

ALL OF THEM HAVE THE SAME PAINFUL MEALTIMES.

♪♪

AN ANTEATER CAN ONLY BEAR THE PAIN

FROM ALL THE ANTS' VENOMOUS BITES FOR AROUND A MINUTE,

IN WHICH TIME THEY HAVE TO GOBBLE AS MANY BUGS

AS THEY POSSIBLY CAN,

SO HOW DO THEY DO IT?

TO FIND OUT, WE'VE COME TO CINCINNATI ZOO

TO VISIT THEIR HEAD OF INSECT CHOMPING.

AH, THERE YOU ARE.

THIS IS ISLA, A TAMANDUA ANTEATER.

HER KEEPER, COLLEEN ADAMS,

IS CHARGED WITH FEEDING HER INSATIABLE APPETITE.

ISLA IS A GREAT AMBASSADOR FOR HER SPECIES.

Narrator: THE FIRST SECRET OF SPEED-EATING

IS A SUPER LONG TONGUE.

NOT WISHING TO BE RUDE, BUT ISLA HAS A VERY BIG NOSE,

OR RATHER, SNOUT, BUT HER TONGUE IS EVEN LONGER.

AN INCREDIBLE 16 INCHES LONG!

IT ALLOWS THEM TO STICK THAT TONGUE REALLY DEEP

INTO TERMITE MOUNDS AND ANTHILLS,

AND SOMETIMES EVEN BURROWS OF OTHER INSECTS

THAT THEY MIGHT FIND TO BE PRETTY TASTY.

Narrator: THIS SUPER-SIZED TONGUE

IS ONE OF THE MOST ELABORATE IN THE ANIMAL WORLD.

IT CAN FEEL ITS WAY AROUND THE INSIDE OF TERMITE MOUNDS,

AND COLLECT HUNDREDS OF SNACKS

IN ONE GO WITHOUT SEEING A SINGLE ONE.

TO DEMONSTRATE HOW,

COLLEEN'S DISHING UP ONE OF ISLA'S FAVORITE DELIGHTS.

IN THIS CONTAINER, I HAVE ROUGHLY 250 CRICKETS.

WE'RE GONNA SEE JUST HOW LONG IT TAKES ISLA TO EAT ALL 250.

ALL RIGHT, ISLA. WE'RE READY FOR YOU.

Narrator: READY...SET...EAT!

♪♪

WOW! LOOK AT HER GO.

ISLA'S TONGUE FLICKS OUT THREE TIMES A SECOND,

OR 160 TIMES PER MINUTE!

AND THERE'S A SECRET TO HOW

SHE CAN REEL IN MULTIPLE INSECTS WITH EACH LICK.

THE TONGUE'S SURFACE

HAS THOUSANDS OF MICROSCOPIC V-SHAPED HOOKS

THAT CAPTURE ANY INSECT THEY SWIPE ACROSS,

AND IT'S ALSO COVERED IN A SUPER STICKY SALIVA.

AGAINST ISLA'S DUAL-ACTION HOOKY-STICKY-WHIPLASH TONGUE,

THOSE TASTY CRICKETS DON'T STAND A CHANCE.

Adams: IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO USE

THEIR TONGUES VERY EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY TO LAP UP

ALL THE INSECTS THAT THEY NEED TO EAT IN A DAY.

Narrator: AND SO AS NOT TO MISS A SINGLE ONE,

SHE MOVES HER TONGUE LEFT AND RIGHT,

WIPING ACROSS THE SURFACE OF THE TUBE,

TAKING IN EVERY BUG.

♪♪

ANOTHER REASON ANTEATERS ARE SUCH FAST EATERS

IS THAT THEY DON'T STOP TO CHEW THEIR FOOD,

AND THAT'S BECAUSE THEY CAN'T CHEW.

THEY ACTUALLY DON'T HAVE ANY TEETH.

Narrator: BUT IF THEY DON'T CHEW,

HOW DO THEY MASH CRUNCHY BUGS INTO A DIGESTIBLE FORM?

AS WELL AS BUGS, ISLA AND HER CHUMS LOVE TO EAT STONES,

WHICH ACT A BIT LIKE TEETH.

AS THE MANY THOUSANDS OF ANTS DESCEND INTO HER STOMACH,

POWERFUL TUMMY MUSCLES SET TO WORK,

AND THE ROLLING STONES GRIND THE GRUBS

INTO A DELICIOUS AND NUTRITIOUS CRICKET-Y PASTE,

AND ISLA, THE FAST FOOD JUNKIE, HAS POLISHED OFF 250 CRICKETS

IN AN EFFORTLESS 30 SECONDS.

Adams: ISLA, IF I ATE THAT FAST,

I'D HAVE SOME SERIOUS INDIGESTION.

Narrator: BETTER GET THE ANT-ACIDS.

OH, DEAR. I'M HERE ALL WEEK.

[ BUZZING ]

[ WAILING ]

IT'S ONE OF THE MOST MOVING, BEAUTIFUL SOUNDS ON THE PLANET.

EERIE, ALMOST ALIEN.

THIS IS THE SONG OF A SINGLE HUMPBACK WHALE.

THIS HAUNTING MELODY CAN BE HEARD BY OTHER HUMPBACK WHALES

POTENTIALLY UP TO 1,600 MILES ACROSS THE OCEAN,

BUT THE STRANGE THING IS,

WHALES DON'T EVEN OPEN THEIR MOUTHS TO MAKE A SOUND.

SO...

[ WAILING ]

IT SOUNDS SWEET AND GENTLE ON YOUR TV,

BUT UP CLOSE IN THE WATER, THE SONG OF A 50-FOOT HUMPBACK

IS LOUD ENOUGH TO BURST YOUR EARDRUMS.

♪♪

AT 175 DECIBELS,

IT'S ONE OF THE LOUDEST SOUNDS ON PLANET EARTH,

AND YOU THOUGHT YOU HAD NOISY NEIGHBORS.

[ GROANING ]

A MALE HUMPBACK CAN KEEP SINGING FOR SEVERAL DAYS,

BUT THE WEIRD THING IS, HE HAS NO VOCAL CHORDS.

♪♪

STRANGER STILL, HE DOESN'T START SINGING

UNTIL HE'S 90 FEET BELOW THE SURFACE

AND STANDING ON HIS HEAD.

♪♪

SCIENTISTS BELIEVE THIS COULD BE

BECAUSE WHALES SING NOT WITH THEIR MOUTHS,

BUT WITH THEIR THROATS.

AS THE WHALE'S CHEST AND THROAT MUSCLES CONTRACT,

AIR IS CIRCULATED BACK AND FORTH

BETWEEN THE LUNGS AND A SYSTEM OF AIRBAGS.

ALONG THE WAY, IT PASSES A THICK RIDGE OF TISSUE

CALLED THE U-FOLD,

WHICH VIBRATES AND MAKES THE HAUNTING SOUND,

THEN THE SOUND IS AMPLIFIED IN THE WHALE'S THROAT

AND ESCAPES THROUGH ITS ACCORDION-LIKE NECK PLEATS.

THE REASON THEY TURN UPSIDE DOWN TO SING IS STILL UNKNOWN,

BUT IT COULD BE THAT BY FACING THEIR THROAT SEAWARDS

RATHER THAN AT THE FLOOR,

THEY ARE DIRECTING THEIR SONG OUT INTO THE OCEAN,

ALLOWING THIS BRINY BALLAD TO REACH AS FAR AS POSSIBLE.

♪♪

BUT WHY DO THEY SING AT ALL?

THIS QUESTION HAS BAMBOOZLED SCIENTISTS FOR DECADES,

BUT NOW THEY'VE DISCOVERED AN IMPORTANT CLUE.

BECAUSE THE MALES MOSTLY SING DURING BREEDING SEASON,

THESE COULD BE LOVE SONGS.

THIS LITTLE NUMBER IS CALLED "WHALE YOU BE MINE?"

[ WAILING ]

[ HOOTING ]

COMING UP, BUILT-IN AIR-CONDITIONING

FOR COOL CANINES,

AMAZING DAM-BUILDING BEAVERS,

AND POOP-MUNCHING BEETLES WHO PLAY WITH THEIR FOOD.

♪♪

♪♪

Narrator: IT'S A STEAMING-HOT SUMMER'S DAY,

AND DESPITE THE FACT THAT THESE DOGS ARE WEARING SUPER WARM,

FULL-LENGTH, SKINTIGHT FUR COATS,

ALL THEY WANT TO DO IS RUN AND RUN AND RUN AND JUMP.

IF YOU AND I DID THAT, WE'D DIE OF HEAT STROKE,

BUT THIS COOL CANINE DOESN'T EVEN BREAK A SWEAT.

TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION, WE'RE IN NEW MEXICO

TO MEET THE ANCESTOR OF ALL MODERN DOGS, THE WOLF.

THIS ONE'S NAMED QUINN.

EVEN AFTER THOUSANDS OF YEARS OF DOMESTICATION...

[ BARKS ]

YOUR PET DOG AND THIS WOLF STILL BELONG TO THE SAME SPECIES,

AND THEY STAY COOL IN EXACTLY THE SAME WAY.

♪♪

IT'S A WARM DAY, AND WOLF EXPERT LEYTON COUGAR

HAS BEEN EXERCISING QUINN FOR AN HOUR.

I AM SWEATING, BUT POOR QUINN, HE CAN'T TAKE HIS JACKET OFF.

♪♪

Narrator: WITH US, SWEAT DROPLETS EFFECTIVELY

TRANSMIT HEAT AWAY FROM THE BODY.

IT'S NOT GLAMOROUS, BUT IT WORKS.

BUT UNDER HIS FUR COAT, POOR QUINN CAN'T SWEAT.

INSTEAD, AS WE ALL KNOW, HE PANTS,

BUT THIS IS MORE THAN JUST CATCHING HIS BREATH.

AS HE'S BREATHING IN AND OUT,

COOL AIR IS PASSING OVER HIS TONGUE,

AND THAT HELPS TO VERY RAPIDLY COOL HIM DOWN.

Narrator: A DOG'S TONGUE TURNS INTO A BIG,

WET AIR-CONDITIONER,

RADIATING HEAT AWAY FROM THE BODY.

THIS TONGUE RIGHT HERE SOMETIMES WILL JUST HANG ALL THE WAY

DOWN PAST HIS CHIN, WILL GET REALLY WIDE,

AND LOOK KIND OF LIKE A SPOON.

Narrator: AFTER EXERCISE, A DOG'S TONGUE

CAN SWELL TO AN EXTRAORDINARY SIX TIMES ITS NORMAL SIZE.

WHOA, MAYBE MORE WITH THIS GUY.

AS BLOOD PASSES THROUGH THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF BLOOD VESSELS

IN A DOG'S DANGLING TONGUE, IT RAPIDLY COOLS,

AND WHAT HELPS IT COOL IS ALL THIS SLOPPY SALIVA,

EVAPORATING THE HEAT AWAY DURING PANTING.

HE'LL BE INHALING AND EXHALING VERY RAPIDLY,

AND THAT HELPS COOL DOWN HIS ENTIRE BODY.

Narrator: QUINN IS NOW TAKING UP TO 300 BREATHS A MINUTE

INSTEAD OF HIS USUAL 30.

IT'S LIKE TURNING YOUR AIR-CONDITIONER TO SUPER COOL.

♪♪

BUT THAT'S NOT TO SAY DOGS NEVER SWEAT.

DOGS DO SWEAT IN ONE PLACE,

AND THAT'S THE BOTTOM OF THEIR PADS.

THEY DON'T SWEAT FROM ACTIVITY.

THEY SWEAT BECAUSE THEY'RE STRESSED.

Narrator: IF YOU'RE A WOLF OR A DOG,

SWEATY PAWS IN A STRESSFUL, TIGHT SPOT ARE JUST THE THING.

THE MOISTURE ADDS THE STICKY GRIP YOU NEED

FOR A QUICK GETAWAY.

SO WHEN IT COMES TO STAYING SAFE AND COOL,

OUR BONE-LOVING BEST FRIENDS, WOLF OR DOG, HAVE GOT IT LICKED.

[ KISSING ]

[ CHIRPING ]

Narrator: COMING UP, IRON-TOOTHED BEAVERS

AND BODY-BUILDING BEETLES.

♪♪

♪♪

Narrator: SOME OF THE OLDEST AND LARGEST

STRUCTURES IN NORTH AMERICA WEREN'T BUILT BY MAN.

THEY WERE BUILT BY THIS FURRY LITTLE FELLA.

BEAVER DAMS ARE TRULY ONE OF NATURE'S WONDERS.

CARBON DATING HAS REVEALED SOME TO BE 1,000 YEARS OLD,

AND SATELLITE IMAGERY HAS SPOTTED OTHERS

NEARLY HALF A MILE WIDE.

THESE LITTLE CRITTERS MUST HAVE A VERY GOOD REASON

FOR BUILDING THEM.

WELL, DON'T THEY?

IN THE FORESTS OF NORTHERN MINNESOTA, DR. GREGORY BAMBENEK

IS HOPING TO FIND A NEW FAMILY OF BEAVERS TO STUDY,

SO HE'S TAKING TO THE AIR.

Bambenek: OKAY, WE'RE UP OVER THE TREE LINE.

I CAN SEE THE FLOODED AREA THERE.

Narrator: A HALF A MILE EAST,

HE SPOTS WHAT HE'S BEEN LOOKING FOR.

Bambenek: THERE'S THE DAM.

Narrator: FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS,

DR. BAMBENEK HAS DEVOTED HIS LIFE

TO UNLOCKING THE SECRETS OF THESE

INCREDIBLY CLEVER AND TALENTED RODENTS.

THEIR TEETH ARE SPECIALIZED. THEY GROW VERY FAST.

Narrator: TEETH ARE KEY TO THE BEAVER'S SUPERPOWER.

ADULTS CAN CHEW THROUGH A FIVE-INCH TREE TRUNK

IN UNDER THREE MINUTES.

Bambenek: YOU CAN SEE THE TEETH IN THE FRONT ARE ORANGE.

THAT'S FROM DEPOSITS OF IRON.

Narrator: THE ENAMEL ON THE FRONT OF THEIR TEETH

IS LACED WITH IRON TAKEN FROM THEIR BLOOD,

AND THAT MEANS AS THE BEAVER GNAWS,

THE BACK WEARS DOWN FASTER THAN THE FRONT.

INCREDIBLY, THIS CREATES AN ANGLED CHISEL-LIKE EDGE

THAT SELF-SHARPENS WITH EVERY BITE,

AND THESE RAZOR-SHARP TEETH,

COMBINED WITH THEIR RAZOR-SHARP BRAIN,

CAN CONSTRUCT A DAM LIKE THIS,

AND DR. BAMBENEK HAS FOUND THE CHAP WHO PROBABLY BUILT IT.

THIS LITTLE GUY HAS FELLED ABOUT 80 TREES,

MOVED HUNDREDS OF STONES, AND MOLDED THEM TOGETHER

WITH ABOUT A TON OF MUD,

AND THE REASON FOR ALL THIS EFFORT?

INITIALLY, DAM BUILDING IS OUT OF LOVE.

Narrator: YES, THE BOYS BUILD DAMS TO ATTRACT GIRLS.

IF THEY BUILD A GOOD DAM, THE FEMALE COMES AROUND,

AND THEN THEY CREATE A NEW FAMILY.

Narrator: MRS. BEAVER IS NOT THE KIND OF GIRL

WHO GOES FOR LOOKS OR MONEY.

NO, NO.

SHE WANTS TO SHARE THE REST OF HER LIFE

WITH A GUY WHO CAN GIVE HER SECURITY

AND A HOME OF HER DREAMS.

IN SHORT, A BRILLIANT STRUCTURAL ENGINEER.

SHE'S PLANNING ON GETTING HIM TO HELP HER BUILD THEIR LODGE,

SO WHY DOES SHE INSIST ON HIM MAKING A BIG DAM FIRST?

WELL, TO FIND OUT, AGAIN, WE NEED AN AERIAL VIEW.

Bambenek: OH, THERE'S A LUMP IN THE MIDDLE.

THAT'S THEIR LODGE.

Narrator: FROM UP HERE, IT BECOMES CLEAR.

ANIMALS THAT EAT BEAVERS AREN'T GOOD UNDERWATER SWIMMERS,

SO SHE WANTS A NICE FAMILY HOUSE SURROUNDED BY WATER,

LIKE A CASTLE WITH A MOAT,

AND TO KEEP THE MOAT FILLED,

SHE NEEDS A DAM.

Bambenek: THEY CAN AVOID THE PREDATORS.

WOLVES ARE LOOKING AROUND FOR THEM.

THEY JUST DIVE IN, AND NOTHING CAN GET IN THERE.

♪♪

Narrator: TO CONSTRUCT THEIR FORTRESS,

MR. AND MRS. BEAVER,

OVER A COUPLE OF DAYS, BUILD A 20-FOOT WIDE,

THREE TON MUD AND STICK MOUNTAIN.

NOW THE OUTSIDE IS SOLID,

BUT BEAVERS ARE ALSO SKILLED INTERIOR DESIGNERS.

♪♪

SWIMMING BELOW THE WATERLINE,

THE BEAVERS CHEW A TUNNEL INTO THE MOUND.

ONCE INSIDE, THEY CHEW OUT AN EIGHT-FOOT WIDE CHAMBER

JUST ABOVE THE WATERLINE.

THIS IS WHERE THEY SLEEP.

THEN A NURSERY IS CHEWED OUT TO COMPLETE THE LODGE.

INSIDE THEIR CASTLE, THE FAMILY IS SAFE UNTIL IT'S TIME

FOR THE KIDS TO MOVE ON AND START THEIR OWN FAMILY.

Bambenek: AT 2 YEARS OF AGE,

THEY GET KICKED OUT OF THE LODGE.

THEY GOT TO FIND THEIR OWN PLACE.

THEY GO UPSTREAM, USUALLY.

THEY HAVE TO BUILD A NEW DAM AND NEW LODGE,

AND SO SUCCESSIVE FAMILIES HAVE SUCCESSIVE LODGES AND DAMS

ALL THE WAY UP A RIVER,

AND YOU CAN SEE THAT ON SOME AERIAL VIEWS.

Narrator: APART FROM US,

BEAVERS TRANSFORM THE FACE OF OUR PLANET

MORE THAN ANY OTHER ANIMAL,

SO WHY DOES AN EAGER BEAVER BUILD A DAM?

TO GET HIS GIRL.

♪♪

COMING UP, BRAINY BEETLES WITH

A STRANGE TAKE ON A TASTY BRUNCH.

♪♪

♪♪

Narrator: WHEN YOU SEE STEAMING STINKY POOP,

WHAT'S THE FIRST THING YOU THINK?

PROBABLY NOT, "LUNCH."

FOR ONE ANIMAL, A TITANIC TURD

IS A SMORGASBORD NOT TO BE IGNORED,

BUT INSTEAD OF MUNCHING HIS LUNCH WHERE HE FINDS IT,

THIS LITTLE FELLA SEEMS TO LIKE PLAYING WITH HIS FOOD.

THERE ARE MORE THAN 8,000 SPECIES OF DUNG BEETLE,

AND THEY ARE FOUND ON EVERY CONTINENT EXCEPT ANTARCTICA.

PRETTY, BUT NOT ENOUGH WARM POOP TO GO AROUND.

♪♪

DUNG BEETLES LOVE THE MOIST, AROMATIC OFFERINGS

OF HERBIVORES, WHICH ARE PACKED WITH PRE-MUNCHED,

SEMI-DIGESTED LEFTOVER PLANT MATTER.

IT'S LIKE PIPING HOT VEGGIE BURGERS

STRAIGHT OUT OF SOMEONE ELSE'S OVEN.

WITH AN ELEPHANT PRODUCING OVER 300 POUNDS OF POO A DAY,

THAT'S QUITE A FEAST,

BUT WITH UP TO 4,000 BEETLES WANTING A SLICE OF POOEY PIE,

COMPETITION BETWEEN THEM IS FIERCE,

SO THIS LITTLE CHAP WANTS TO TURN TURDS INTO TAKEOUT.

♪♪

FIRST, HE MUST PRESS TOGETHER

THE POO INTO A STINKY LITTLE SPHERE,

AND WHEN IT'S READY, THIS BUG REALLY GETS THE BALL ROLLING,

BUT HE HAS A VERY PECULIAR TECHNIQUE.

HE DOES THE INSECT EQUIVALENT OF A HANDSTAND,

AND PUSHES THE BALL BACKWARDS, BUT HE HAS A SECRET.

TINY SPURS ON HIS BACK LEGS DIG INTO THE BALL,

WHILE POWERFUL FRONT LEGS DRIVE IT AWAY FROM THE DUNG PILE.

♪♪

MAKING A GETAWAY BACKWARDS, WHILE PUSHING A POO BALL

FOUR TIMES BIGGER THAN YOUR BODY AND DOING A HANDSTAND,

IS HARD WORK FOR ANYONE,

BUT BY FACING BACKWARDS

AND NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE WHERE HE'S GOING,

OUR BEETLE RISKS PUSHING HIS BALL IN A CIRCLE,

RIGHT BACK TO WHERE HE STARTED.

YEAH, BAD MOVE.

SO HOW DOES HE PUSH IT IN A STRAIGHT LINE?

FIRST, HE STANDS ON TOP OF HIS BALL

AND DOES WHAT'S KNOWN AS A "DUNG DANCE."

♪♪

THIS STRANGE JIG IS THE BEETLE

LOOKING FOR A LIGHT SOURCE IN THE SKY.

ONCE HE'S FOUND THE MILKY WAY, OR IF IT'S DAYTIME,

THE SUN, HE TAKES A SERIES OF MENTAL SNAPSHOTS,

THEN OFF HE GOES AGAIN.

CHECKING THE LIGHT SOURCE

IS ALWAYS IN THE SAME POSITION RELATIVE TO HIM.

IF HE STICKS TO THIS, HE'LL MAINTAIN A COURSE

DIRECTLY AWAY FROM THE POOP PILE.

ALL OF THIS FROM A BEETLE WITH A BRAIN

THE SIZE OF A GRAIN OF RICE.

NO WONDER THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS REVERED THE DUNG BEETLE.

THEY BELIEVED THEIR ROLLING BALLS

REPRESENTED THE SUN'S MOVEMENT ACROSS THE SKY.

AMAZINGLY, THE EGYPTIANS KNEW

THEN WHAT WE'VE ONLY JUST DISCOVERED NOW.

THAT DUNG BEETLES REALLY ARE CELESTIAL CRITTERS.

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS