Original subtitles

\h\h\h\hNarrator: THEY COME IN ALL SHAPES AND SIZES...

\h\h\h\h\hDOMINATING THE AIR AND THE DEPTHS OF THE OCEAN.

BUT THEY’VE ALL GOT SOMETHING \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN COMMON.

\h\h\h\hMONSTROUS MOUTHS AND VORACIOUS APPETITES!

THESE ARE NATURE’S GARGOYLES.

THEY’RE CAPABLE OF DEVOURING \h\h\h\hTHEIR PREY WHOLE...

OFTEN WHILE STILL ALIVE!

SOME OF THESE GULPING GUZZLERS \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hHAVE TEETH;

OTHERS DON’T NEED THEM.

[SQUAWK]

BAD TABLE MANNERS ABOUND,

\hAS THEY STUFF THEIR FACES WITH MILLIONS OF VICTIMS...

\h\hTHEIR EYES TOO BIG FOR THEIR STOMACHS...

OR NOT.

[THUNDER]

[HOWLING]

Man: CRAZY MONSTER GULPERS!

Narrator: COME OUT OF THE DARK

AND ENTER OUR LITTLE SHOP \h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF HORRORS.

\h\hBEWARE OF GAPING MOUTHS THAT CAN SWALLOW YOU WHOLE.

LOOK OUT FOR ARMORED, \h\hTOOTHY STALKERS...

AND INNOCENT-LOOKING MISFITS!

\hA FEW HAVE SOFTER SIDES TO THEIR CAVERNOUS MOUTHS.

SOME HAVE ELASTIC JAWS.

OTHERS HAVE RAZOR-SHARP \h\hEATING UTENSILS...

\h\h\h\hAND EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS ONE SUCKS!

WE’LL SHOWCASE THE GREATEST \h\h\h\hGULPERS ON EARTH...

\h\h\h\h\h\hBUT FOR NOW, IT’S THIS SHADOWY MONSTER

YOU SHOULD KEEP YOUR EYE ON!

♪ CRAZY MONSTER GULPERS! ♪

IT’S THE RAINY SEASON IN SOUTHERN AFRICA...

HUNTING TIME FOR THE SWAMP’S \h\h\hCOLD-BLOODED KILLERS.

THIS SPLIT-SKIN TOAD ISN’T \hTHE MOST SKILLED HUNTER.

HE’S A LOUSY STALKER.

\h\h\h\h\hHIS COLORING ISN’T THE SUBTLEST IN THE BUSH...

AND HE HAS NO TEETH OR CLAWS.

[SPLASH]

BUT HE HAS TWO TRUMP CARDS:

A FREAKISHLY LONG, STICKY TONGUE TO FIRE AT HIS PREY...

\h\h\hAND A HUGE MOUTH TO SWALLOW IT WHOLE...

IF HE CAN GET CLOSE ENOUGH.

BUT HE’S NOT THE ONLY HUNTER \h\h\h\hOUT AND ABOUT TODAY.

[CROAKING]

THERE’S SOMETHING BIGGER...

MUCH BIGGER!

WITH INCREDIBLY POWERFUL \h\h\h\h\h\h\hHIND LEGS,

\h\h\h\hTHIS GIANT BULLFROG HAS DUG HIMSELF AN AMBUSH,

USING SPADE-LIKE GROWTHS \h\h\h\hON HIS HIND LEGS

JUST LIKE A BACKHOE.

IT’S A BIG JOB!

\h\h\h\h\hAT A WEIGHT OF OVER THREE POUNDS,

HE’S THE SIZE OF A SMALL DOG!

♪

\h\h\h\h\hBOTH HE AND THE MUCH SMALLER TOAD

ARE AMBUSH HUNTERS...

AND THIS BULLFROG WILL EAT \h\h\h\h\hALMOST ANYTHING!

[SNIFFING]

[HISS]

BUT HE’S BLOWN HIS COVER.

HE’LL HAVE TO FIND ANOTHER LUNCH SPOT.

\h\h\h\hTHESE RUBBERY BLOBS ARE AS COMFORTABLE ON LAND

AS THEY ARE ON WATER...

WHEN IT’S AROUND.

A SEASONAL POND NEARBY PROVIDES PERFECT COVER.

ON THE OPPOSITE BANK,

THE SPLIT-SKIN TOAD THINKS \hHE’S GOT IT IN THE BAG!

\h\h\hGRASSHOPPERS MAKE FOR A NUTRITIOUS, CRUNCHY TREAT.

\h\h\h\hIT’S ALL EYES AS THE WAIT BEGINS...

BUT WHO’S WATCHING WHO?

♪

♪

IT’S A BAD MOVE.

♪

THAT’S RIGHT.

\h\h\h\hTHIS BULLFROG BEAST ISN’T AFTER A MERE NIBBLE...

HE’D RATHER GO STRAIGHT \hFOR THE MAIN COURSE.

BULLFROGS CAN CATCH AND SWALLOW

ANYTHING THAT CAN BE SQUEEZED INTO THEIR HUMUNGOUS MOUTHS,

EVEN SOMETHING THE SIZE \h\hOF A SMALL CHICKEN!

\h\hTINY TEETH ON THE SIDES OF THE BULLFROG’S UPPER JAW

HELP HIM KEEP A HOLD \h\h\hON HIS VICTIM.

BUT IT’S A SPECIAL ADAPTATION THAT TURNS THIS FIRM GRASP...

INTO A VISE-LIKE GRIP!

\h\h\h\hWHILE THEY LOOK LIKE BIG, SHARP TEETH,

THESE PROTRUSIONS ON HIS LOWER JAW,

\h\h\h\h\hCALLED ODONTOIDS, ARE ACTUALLY MADE OF BONE.

PAIRED WITH HIS THICK, \h\h\h\h\h\hBONY SKULL

\h\h\h\h\hAND THREE HEAVY-DUTY MUSCLES,

HIS BITE CRUSHES HIS VICTIMS.

HE’S GOT NO NEED TO CHEW WITH HIS WEIRD COLLECTION OF TEETH.

\h\h\h\hTHEY’RE SIMPLY THERE TO HOLD HIS VICTIMS IN PLACE

\hAS HE SQUASHES THEM TO DEATH BEFORE HE SWALLOWS THEM WHOLE.

BUT THEY DON’T ALWAYS DIE.

BULLFROGS SOMETIMES GULP \h\h\h\hTHEIR PREY ALIVE;

\h\h\hTHE VICTIMS DROWN IN THE DIGESTIVE JUICES

OF THE FROG’S STOMACH.

AN EQUALLY NIGHTMARISH CREATURE LURKS ON THE OCEAN FLOOR.

SHE DOESN’T HAVE MASSIVE JAWS \h\h\h\h\hLIKE THE BULLFROG.

INSTEAD SHE USES HER WHOLE BODY TO ENGULF HER VICTIMS.

\h\h\h\h\hIT’S HARD TO HIDE IN THIS BARREN LANDSCAPE...

WITH THIS MANY ARMS.

BUT EVEN EASIER THAN BURROWING \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hINTO THE SAND

IS BUILDING A FORTRESS!

♪

\h\h\hFOUND THROUGHOUT THE TROPICAL SHALLOWS

\h\hOF THE PACIFIC AND INDIAN OCEANS,

\h\hTHIS MULTI-ARMED WEIRDO IS CALLED A VEINED OCTOPUS.

BUT SHE ALSO GOES BY THE ALIAS \h\h\h\h\h\h"COCONUT OCTOPUS"

FOR HER HABIT OF COLLECTING THEM TO BUILD HIDEOUTS.

BUT WHEN EMPTY COCONUT HUSKS \h\h\h\h\hAREN’T AVAILABLE,

SHELLS WORK JUST AS WELL.

HER ODD BEHAVIOR IS HARD WORK,

\h\h\hBUT IT’S FOR A PURPOSE MORE COMPLEX THAN IT SEEMS.

OCTOPI ARE GENERALLY CONSIDERED

\h\h\h\hTHE MOST INTELLIGENT INVERTEBRATES ON THE PLANET,

BUT COCONUT OCTOPI ARE TOP AMONG THEIR EIGHT-TENTACLED RELATIVES.

\h\hWHILE MANY CREATURES USE OBJECTS FOR SHELTER,

ONLY A FEW USE TOOLS TO ACHIEVE A CERTAIN OBJECTIVE...

AND THESE CREATURES ARE THE ONLY INVERTEBRATES KNOWN TO DO SO.

THEY GATHER AND CARRY \h\h\h\hTHEIR SHELTERS

AND KEEP THEM FOR FUTURE USE!

\h\h\h\h\hTHIS IS CONSIDERED VERY SOPHISTICATED BEHAVIOR.

IN FACT, COCONUT OCTOPUSES \h\h\h\h\h\hARE SO REFINED,

\h\h\h\hTHEY DON’T JUST CRAWL, SWIM AND JET-PROPEL THEMSELVES

LIKE OTHER CEPHALOPODS.

NO, THESE TENTACLED CREATURES \h\h\h\h\hWALK ON TWO LEGS...

ALMOST LIKE A HUMAN DOES!

\hBUT UNLIKE HUMANS, OCTOPI DON’T HAVE A RIGID SKELETON

\h\hOR OPPOSING MUSCLES TO ALLOW FOR WALKING...

BUT WHO CARES HOW THEY DO IT?

\hFOR THEY’VE GOT A MUCH MORE TERRIFYING USE FOR THESE LEGS.

HIDDEN IN AMBUSH, SHE HAS ONLY TO WAIT FOR THE RIGHT MOMENT.

♪

SHE USES HER WHOLE BODY TO OVERWHELM HER PREY.

[CRUNCHING]

\h\h\h\hIN PLACE OF A MOUTH, SHE HAS A RAZOR-SHARP BEAK,

IN THE CENTER OF HER TENTACLES.

AS POWERFUL SUCKERS RESTRAIN THE CRAB,

SHE PIERCES ITS BODY,

INJECTING A VENOMOUS COMPOUND \h\h\h\hTO PARALYZE HER PREY

AND DIGESTIVE ENZYMES \h\h\hTO SOFTEN IT UP.

\h\h\h\h\hWHEN DINNER’S READY, SHE’LL SUCK OUT THE SOFT BITS.

\hALL THAT WILL REMAIN WILL BE AN EMPTY SHELL.

♪

FROM BONE-CRUSHING AMPHIBIANS \h\hTO MULTI-LIMBED LURKERS,

WE LEAVE THESE AMBUSH PREDATORS

\h\h\h\h\hTO MEET KILLERS WHO HIDE IN PLAIN SIGHT.

\hIT’S SAID SOMETIMES IT TAKES A WRONG TURN

TO GET YOU TO THE RIGHT PLACE.

\hBUT LANDING UP IN THIS NIGHTMARISH NEIGHBORHOOD

IS PURELY A STROKE \h\hOF BAD LUCK...

FOR THESE VENUS FLYTRAPS \h\hARE HUNGRY FOR FLESH.

\h\hTHEY’RE THE WORLD’S MOST INFAMOUS CARNIVOROUS PLANTS,

BUT FLYTRAPS ARE ONLY ONE

OF HUNDREDS OF DIFFERENT KINDS \h\h\hOF MEAT-EATING GREENIES.

THEY’RE JUST PLANTS, REALLY,

BUT THEIR FIENDISH CRAVINGS \h\h\h\h\h\h\hFOR LIVE PREY

HAS PETRIFIED PEOPLE \h\h\hFOR CENTURIES.

TALES OF HUMAN-DEVOURING \hGIANT STICKY LEAF JAWS

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hHAVE INSPIRED EVEN A HOLLYWOOD BLOCKBUSTER

FEATURING ONE OF THE CREEPIEST \h\h\h\hPOTTED PLANTS AROUND.

♪

WITH JUST A TOUCH TO ONE,

AND THEN TWO OF THE MICROSCOPIC HAIR TRIGGERS,

THE PLANT’S JAWS TRAP THE PREY...

SETTING IN MOTION A BIZARRE ALL-IN-ONE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM.

THE SEALED POD FLOODS

\hWITH A LETHAL BREW OF DIGESTIVE JUICES.

ITS MOUTH BECOMES ITS STOMACH, \h\hAND FINALLY ITS INTESTINES

AS IT ABSORBS THE NUTRIENTS.

\h\h\hALL THAT’S LEFT AFTER SEVERAL DAYS...

[BURP]

IS A DRIED-UP EXOSKELETON.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBUT THIS ISN’T THE MOST EFFICIENT SYSTEM...

FOR A MISSED MEAL MEANS \h\h\h\hENERGY WASTED.

HIGH UP ABOVE THE FLYTRAPS,

FELLOW CARNIVORES THE PITCHER PLANTS

ARE A LITTLE MORE PROFICIENT.

\hTHEY’RE PASSIVE HUNTERS FIRMLY ROOTED IN ONE SPOT,

BUT INSECTS NAVIGATING \h\h\h\hTHEIR AIRSPACE

UNINTENTIONALLY RUN A GAUNTLET

BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH!

THESE PLANTS MAKE NO ATTEMPT \h\h\h\h\hTO HIDE IN AMBUSH.

\h\hINSTEAD, EVERY PLANT IS A SULTRY TEMPTRESS...

OFFERING A SHADY SPOT TO REST.

THE SWEET SMELL OF HER NECTAR \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTANTALIZES...

THE BEAUTIFUL COLORS MESMERIZE.

ONCE ON THE LIP, THE INSECT \h\h\h\hIS AS GOOD AS DEAD.

\h\hDOWNWARD-FACING HAIRS PREVENT A GOOD FOOTHOLD.

[SPLASH]

THE TOXIC NECTAR DRUGS THEM.

[SPLASH]

[SPLASH]

\hDEEP WAXY WALLS MAKE IT TOO SLIPPERY TO CRAWL OUT.

OTHERS ARE ALSO FIGHTING \h\h\h\hFOR THEIR LIVES.

\h\h\h\hALL THE WHILE, WITHOUT THEIR KNOWING,

\h\h\hTHEY’RE ALREADY PART OF THE DIGESTIVE PROCESS.

\hTHEIR REMAINS WILL SOON BECOME PART OF THE EXISTING GRAVEYARD.

THE GREATEST GUZZLERS BELONG TO THE TROPICAL PITCHER FAMILY...

SPORTING DEEP TUBULAR PITS,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hFILLED WITH FLESH-DISSOLVING ENZYMES...

IT’S LIKE AN OPEN-ENDED STOMACH!

ANY ANIMAL SMALL ENOUGH TO FIT

THROUGH THE MOUTH \hOF THE DEATH PIT

IS FAIR GAME.

♪

[SQUEAKING]

[SNIFFING]

♪

[SNIFFING]

♪

[SQUEAK]

VICTIMS DIE BY DROWNING...

WHILE THEIR FLESH SLOWLY DISSOLVES.

♪

OUR GULPERS ALL SEEM TO FOLLOW ONE RULE:

IF IT CAN FIT IN YOUR MOUTH, \h\h\h\h\hIT’S GOOD TO EAT.

AND PELICANS GREEDILY GULP ANYTHING THEY CAN CATCH...

EVEN EACH OTHER.

♪

WITH SOME SPECIES’ BILLS GROWING NEARLY TWO FEET LONG,

THESE GAPING GUZZLERS HAVE THE BIGGEST BEAKS ON THE PLANET...

BUT THEY’RE NO ORDINARY \hKERATIN-MADE NIPPERS!

\h\h\hTHE HOOKED TOP BILL IS A STANDARD AVIAN-ISSUE BEAK.

\h\hBUT IT’S THE BOTTOM HALF THAT SETS THESE BIRDS APART.

MADE UP OF TWO LONG, THIN BONES,

THE LOWER JAW PROVIDES A FRAME, JUST LIKE A FISHING NET,

\h\hOFF OF WHICH HANGS A HUGE FLESHY POUCH...

STRETCHY ENOUGH TO SCOOP UP \h\h\h\hTHREE TIMES AS MUCH

AS THE PELICAN CAN FIT \h\h\h\hIN HIS STOMACH!

\hJUST A TINY TONGUE AND GROUP OF MUSCLES

CONTROL THIS LIVING BALLOON...

ACTIVELY CONTRACTING TO PUSH WATER OUT...

OR GIVE A GOOD WOBBLY RIPPLE

\hTO LOOK ATTRACTIVE TO A POTENTIAL MATE!

\hTHEIR OVERSIZED BILLS MAY LOOK RIDICULOUS...

\hBUT THEY’RE ACTUALLY MULTIFUNCTIONAL TOOLS

OF GREAT USE TO THEIR OWNERS...

FOR FIGHTING...

[SQUAWK]

TO COOL DOWN...

FOR SHOWING OFF...

OH, AND TO BREATHE!

THEY’RE ALWAYS LEFT \h\hSLIGHTLY OPEN,

TO COMPENSATE FOR THE BIRDS’ \h\h\hLACK OF REAL NOSTRILS.

BUT IT’S AT FEEDING TIME

THAT THESE FLESHY POUCHES \h\h\h\hEARN THEIR KEEP...

\h\hAND TURN THE PELICAN FROM COMICAL CARICATURES

INTO GREEDY GULPERS...

♪

FOR THEIR HAPLESS VICTIMS \h\h\hFACE A CRUEL DEATH.

♪

THE POUCHES CAN STRETCH \h\hIN ALL DIRECTIONS,

TO FIT SEEMINGLY IMPOSSIBLY \h\hSHAPED AND SIZED MEALS.

IT TAKES A LOT OF MANEUVERING

TO GET HIS OVERSIZED VICTIM \h\hINTO POSITION TO EAT...

\hBUT HE CAN’T EAT WHAT HE’S CAUGHT,

OR FLY AWAY, WHILE HIS POUCH \h\h\h\h\hIS FULL OF WATER.

WITH BILL SLIGHTLY OPEN, \h\hHE PULLS HIS HEAD UP,

\h\h\h\h\h\hLETTING IT DRAIN AS HIS TONGUE PUSHES UPWARDS.

NOW, JUST TO DODGE THE POACHERS.

[GRUNTING]

♪

LUNCH IS READY!

BUT ARE HIS EYES, OR BEAK,

JUST TOO BIG FOR HIS STOMACH \h\h\h\hTHIS TIME AROUND...

OR MAYBE NOT.

WITH A GULLET AS ELASTIC \h\h\h\h\h\hAS HIS POUCH,

THE FISH IS SWALLOWED ALIVE,

PASSED ALL THE WAY DOWN \h\h\h\hTHE ESOPHAGUS.

IT WILL MERELY SUFFOCATE \h\h\h\hALONG THE WAY...

\h\h\h\hOR DROWN INSIDE THE PELICAN’S STOMACH.

BEWARE THE GAPING BEAK \hOF THIS GREEDY-GUTS;

AND DON’T BE FOOLED \h\h\hBY THE BEAUTY

OF THESE BOTANICAL DEATH PITS.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTRUST NO ONE, OR YOU MAY END UP AS DINNER!

IN THE HEART OF AFRICA STRETCHES LAKE MALAWI,

ONE OF THE LONGEST AND DEEPEST \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN THE WORLD.

\hJUST BELOW ITS SURFACE, THIS SPECTACULAR AQUATIC WONDERLAND

IS HOME TO THE LARGEST NUMBER OF FRESHWATER FISH SPECIES--

MORE SO THAN ANY LAKE ON EARTH!

♪

BUT THE MOST BEAUTIFUL FAMILY \hOF THEM ALL, THE CICHLIDS,

HAVE A DIRTY SECRET.

THEY’RE PEDOPHAGES!

THEY FEED ON FISH EGGS... \h\h\h\h\h\hAND BABIES...

EVEN THOSE OF THEIR OWN KIND!

♪

HIS MOUTH IS DECEPTIVELY SMALL.

HE CAN DEVOUR HIS LIVE PREY \h\h\h\h\h\h\hWITH ONE GULP.

BUT LAKE MALAWI CICHLID MOMS \h\h\h\hARE FIGHTING BACK...

WITH A BIZARRE FORM \h\h\hOF CHILDCARE.

♪

MALAWI CICHLIDS ONLY PRODUCE \hUP TO 180 EGGS AT A TIME,

INSTEAD OF THOUSANDS.

\h\hTHEY CAN’T PROTECT THEIR OFFSPRING OUT IN THE OPEN...

\h\hBUT THEY CAN PROVIDE AN UNUSUAL SAFE HAVEN...

IN THEIR OWN MOUTHS!

THESE FISH ARE KNOWN \hAS MOUTH-BROODERS.

\h\hTHEY CARRY AND INCUBATE THEIR EGGS IN THEIR MOUTHS,

UNTIL THEY HATCH.

\h\h\h\h\h\hSHE WON’T EAT WHILE SHE’S GOT HER EGGS,

\h\h\h\hAND SHE’S GOT TO KEEP A LOW PROFILE FROM PREDATORS.

THE BABY-KILLERS WILL RAM MOMS \h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN THEIR THROATS

TO FORCE THEIR EGGS OUT \hSO THEY CAN EAT THEM!

IT MAY LOOK LIKE SHE’S CHEWING,

BUT SHE’S JUST ROLLING THE EGGS AROUND IN HER THROAT POUCH,

AERATING THEM.

\hBUT THESE SUPERMOMS TAKE IT EVEN FURTHER.

ONCE THE EGGS HAVE HATCHED...

AS LONG AS THE BABIES CAN FIT \h\hIN THEIR MOTHERS’ MOUTHS,

THEY’LL FIND REFUGE THERE.

WHEN SHE SENSES A THREAT, \h\h\h\hSHE SUCKS THEM UP.

IT CAN MAKE HER A TARGET \h\h\h\h\hFOR PREDATORS,

BUT IT’S WORTH IT FOR HER OFFSPRING.

SHE MAY BE A CRAZY GULPER, BUT THIS MOM’S NO MONSTER.

THIS GUY DOESN’T LOOK \h\h\h\hBIG-MOUTHED...

BUT IS HE A MONSTER?

OH, YES.

THIS IS A KING COBRA...

AND HIS SCIENTIFIC NAME, \h\h\h\h\h\hOPHIOPHAGUS,

MEANS SNAKE EATER!

LIKE THE CICHLIDS, \h\hHE HAS A TASTE

FOR THOSE OF HIS OWN KIND...

BUT HE DOESN’T BOTHER \h\h\h\hWITH BABIES;

\h\h\hHE GOES STRAIGHT FOR THE LION’S SHARE...

[HISSING]

\h\h\hWHETHER IT FITS IN HIS MOUTH OR NOT.

FOR KING COBRAS, THERE’S NO WAY TO MEASURE A SUITABLE MEAL,

BECAUSE THEY CAN DEVOUR PREY \h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE SAME SIZE,

OR EVEN BIGGER THAN THEMSELVES, IN ONE GO!

[BIRD SQUAWKING]

♪

CAPABLE OF INJECTING ENOUGH \hVENOM TO KILL AN ELEPHANT,

A KING COBRA’S BITE IS ONE OF THE DEADLIEST ON EARTH.

ONCE THE VENOM HAS TAKEN \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hEFFECT...

IT’S TIME TO EAT.

\hAT LEAST KING COBRAS DON’T SWALLOW THEIR VICTIMS ALIVE,

LIKE MANY OF OUR OTHER GULPERS.

THEN AGAIN, THEY PROBABLY WOULD

\hIF EATING FOR THEM WAS A QUICK PROCESS.

INSTEAD, IT’S RATHER SLOW.

FIRST, HE’S GOT TO LOCATE AND LINE UP THE HEAD OF HIS MEAL.

\h\hHAVING NO LIMBS, HE USES HIS MOUTH...

SLOWLY WALKING HIS FANGS \h\h\h\hTOWARD THE HEAD.

♪

\h\h\h\hONCE LINED UP, HE STARTS TO SWALLOW.

♪

HE’S GOT A DECEPTIVELY \h\h\h\h\hSMALL MOUTH,

\h\h\hBUT LIKE ALL SNAKES, ELASTIC TENDONS ALLOW HIM

TO STRETCH HIS MOUTH \h\h\hINCREDIBLY WIDE

TO ACCOMMODATE BIG MEALS.

UNLIKE OTHER GULPERS, IT’S NOT ABOUT WHAT FITS IN HIS MOUTH,

BUT WHAT FITS THROUGH...

FOR HE CAN STUFF HIS BODY.

WHEN YOUR MEAL’S THE SAME SIZE \h\h\h\h\hAND SHAPE AS YOU...

WHERE ON EARTH DOES IT GO?

A SNAKE’S INTERNAL ORGANS \h\hARE SPECIALLY ADAPTED

TO FIT INTO THEIR LONG \h\h\hTUBE-LIKE BODIES.

THEY’RE ELONGATED AND SQUEEZED \h\h\hINTO THE LIMITED SPACE,

TO ALLOW ROOM FOR FOOD.

BUT WHILE THE DIGESTIVE TRACT \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIS LONG,

THE STOMACH ONLY GOES SO FAR.

THEY CAN’T MAKE THEMSELVES \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hLONGER,

BUT THEY CAN STRETCH WIDER!

THE KING COBRA

GRADUALLY CONCERTINAS THE BODY OF ITS PREY,

STUFFING IT IN AND SLOWLY \h\h\hEXPANDING OUTWARDS.

THIS WAY, IT CAN SWALLOW A MEAL

THE SAME LENGTH, OR EVEN LONGER, THAN ITSELF.

EYES TOO BIG FOR ITS STOMACH?

\h\h\hNOT LIKELY TO HAPPEN WITH THIS FREAK OF NATURE!

AND WITH THAT...DINNER’S DONE!

[HISSING]

♪

FROM OVERPROTECTIVE MOTHERS

TO PICKY EATERS

WHO CAN STUFF THEMSELVES \h\h\h\h\h\hWITH FOOD...

NEITHER HAS INSIDES BUILT LIKE A CRUSHING PLANT...

LIKE OUR NEXT BIZARRE GULPER.

♪ MONSTER GULPERS! ♪

THESE ARE CREATURES \h\h\hOF THE NIGHT

\h\h\hWHOSE TABLE MANNERS LEAVE MUCH TO BE DESIRED.

UNDER THE COVER OF DARKNESS

\hTHEY CAN INDULGE THEIR PECULIAR FEEDING HABITS.

SLENDER, SLINKY, SHY...

AND HIGHLY SPECIALIZED...

THIS PICKY EATER FEEDS ONLY

ON THE RICHEST SOURCE OF ENERGY TO BE FOUND IN THE WILD--

EGGS!

EGGS ARE HIGHLY NUTRITIOUS...

AND CAN’T FIGHT BACK.

LEFT ALONE WHILE THEIR PARENTS \h\h\h\h\h\h\hFORAGE FOR FOOD,

THEY’RE FAIR GAME TO PREDATORS

LIKE THIS RHOMBIC EGG-EATER \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN AFRICA.

♪

EVEN THOUGH THE EGG IS SEVERAL \hTIMES THE SIZE OF HER HEAD,

SHE’S GOT SOME SNEAKY TRICKS \h\h\h\h\h\h\hUP HER SLEEVE.

HER ACUTE SENSE OF SMELL \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTELLS HER

THESE EGGS ARE EITHER ROTTEN

OR ALREADY TOO FAR DEVELOPED \h\h\h\h\h\h\hFOR HER TASTE.

AHHH...

THAT’S BETTER.

\h\hTAKING MORE THAN AN ELEGANT MOUTHFUL,

TINY RIDGES ON THE INSIDE OF HER OTHERWISE TOOTHLESS MOUTH

HELP GRIP THE EGG.

HER FLEXIBLE SKULL IS GROTESQUE AS IT DISTENDS.

♪

RARELY SEEN SNAKESKIN IS VISIBLE BETWEEN ROWS OF SCALES

AS IT STRETCHES, LOOKING \h\hALMOST READY TO TEAR.

♪

HER SPECIALLY FLATTENED TRACHEA ALLOWS HER TO BREATHE

\h\h\hAS SHE TAKES HER TIME SWALLOWING HER MASSIVE MEAL.

\hSHE CAN FIT IT IN HER MOUTH AND FORCE IT DOWN HER THROAT,

\hBUT EVEN HER HARDCORE SNAKE DIGESTIVE JUICES

\h\h\hWILL NEED TIME TO DISSOLVE EGGSHELL

TO GET TO THE GOOD BITS INSIDE.

THIS IS WHERE AN EGG-EATER’S \h\h\h\hSPECIAL SKILLS LIE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hON THE VERTEBRAE RIGHT ON TOP OF HER ESOPHAGUS,

\hSHARP SPIKES PROTRUDE FROM BENEATH HER SPINE.

AS THE EGG IS FORCED DOWN, \hTHESE PIERCE THE SHELL,

CRUSHING IT SMALLER AND SMALLER,

GRADUALLY SQUEEZING THE EGG CONTENTS OUT

AND INTO HER STOMACH.

IT’S SUCH AN EFFICIENT \h\h\h\hFEEDING SYSTEM

THAT NOTHING NUTRITIOUS \h\h\h\hGOES TO WASTE.

WHY SPEND WEEKS TRYING \h\h\hTO DIGEST A SHELL

\h\h\hTHAT HAS LITTLE NUTRITIONAL VALUE...

WHEN YOU CAN VOMIT IT UP?

\h\hBUT SHE’S NOT THE ONLY DECEPTIVELY SMALL-MOUTHED,

\hREGURGITATING GULPER IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM.

[SQUEAK]

[SNIFFING]

LONG GRASS PROVIDES EXCELLENT COVER FOR LITTLE CREATURES...

FROM PREDATORY EYES IN THE SKY.

\h\hBUT THIS SILENT ASSASSIN HAS AN EXTRAORDINARY SKILL...

ONE THAT ALLOWS HIM TO HUNT HIS QUARRY

WITHOUT THE NEED FOR SIGHT.

\h\h\h\h\hA CAPE EAGLE OWL’S ALMOST SUPERNATURAL HEARING

MEANS THAT PREY CAN HIDE,

\hBUT IF IT RUNS, IT WON’T GET FAR.

\hTHE OWL GLIDES SOUNDLESSLY FROM PERCH TO PERCH IN HIS TERRITORY,

CAREFULLY LOOKING AND LISTENING

FOR THE SAVORY SIGNS OF A POTENTIAL MEAL.

[SQUEAKING]

[RUSTLING]

HE CAN HEAR EVEN THE TINIEST \h\h\hSCRATCH IN THE GRASS.

[RUSTLING]

PECULIAR HEAD TURNS HELP HIM TRIANGULATE

THE EXACT POSITION \h\hOF HIS TARGET.

[SQUAWK]

[BIRD CALLING]

WHEN THE PREY GETS \hWITHIN ONE YARD,

THE FAR-SIGHTED BIRD’S VISION \h\h\h\h\hBECOMES IMPAIRED--

HE CAN’T FOCUS THIS CLOSE UP.

WHEN THE TIME COMES TO POUNCE,

\h\h\h\hHE MUST RELY PURELY ON HIS HEARING

TO PUT HIM RIGHT ON THE MARK.

THE FIELD MOUSE IS PINNED DOWN \h\h\h\hAND THROTTLED TO DEATH

IN THE OWL’S POWERFUL TALONS.

[SQUAWKING]

\h\h\hHIS MOUTH LOOKS SMALL, BUT LOOKS CAN BE DECEIVING.

WHY CHEW IF YOU DON’T HAVE TO?

THE GULPER RULE OF THUMB \h\h\h\h\h\h\hREMAINS...

IF IT FITS, SWALLOW IT WHOLE!

LIKE THE EGG-EATER, HIS BODY \hWILL DIGEST THE GOOD BITS,

AND HE’LL VOMIT UP THE REST \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN SECRET...

\h\h\hJUST A GRISLY PELLET OF HAIR AND BONE REMAINS.

♪

\h\hTHESE DINING-ROOM REBELS WHO SPIT OUT THEIR LEFTOVERS

WON’T BE ASKED BACK FOR DINNER,

BUT WILL A STEEL-JAWED MONSTER

WITH SLIGHTLY BETTER \h\h\hTABLE MANNERS

RECEIVE AN INVITATION?

♪ MONSTER GULPERS! ♪

THEY’RE NICKNAMED "FLATDOGS" \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN AFRICA.

BUT THIS 14-FOOT-LONG \h\h\h\hNILE CROCODILE

IS NO FRIENDLY PET.

[WILDEBEEST LOWING]

♪

HE’S GOT MASSIVE JAWS...

THE STRONGEST BITE FORCE \h\h\h\h\h\h\hON EARTH...

AND ROWS OF DEADLY SHARP TEETH

FOR KEEPING A VISE-LIKE GRIP \h\h\h\h\h\h\hON HIS VICTIMS.

\h\h\h\h\hTHE CROC’S TEETH ARE NO GOOD FOR CHEWING...

BUT THAT’S NOT A PROBLEM

FOR THIS GRUESOME GULPER \h\h\h\h\hAND HIS GANG...

FOR THEY JUST RIP THEIR PREY \h\h\h\h\h\h\hLIMB FROM LIMB.

AND UNLIKE THE EGG-EATER \h\h\h\h\h\hAND THE OWL,

\h\h\h\h\hCROCS DON’T NEED TO REGURGITATE LEFTOVERS,

FOR THEY’VE GOT THE MOST ACIDIC STOMACHS OF ANY ANIMAL ON EARTH

\h\h\h\hAND CAN DIGEST PRETTY MUCH ANYTHING--

HORNS...

HAIR...

HOOVES...

BONES.

ACROSS THE GLOBE, THE WORLD’S \h\hLARGEST LIVING REPTILES,

THE AUSTRALIAN SALTWATER CROCS,

\h\h\h\hARE NO LESS BRUTAL IN THEIR FEEDING STRATEGY.

WITH NO CLAWS TO GRIP AND NO CHEWING TEETH,

THEY THRASH AND DROWN \h\h\h\hTHEIR VICTIMS,

RIPPING THEM INTO CHUNKS.

\h\h\hCROCODILES MAY BE THE GREATEST PREDATORS

IN EARTH’S RIVERS AND POOLS,

BUT THIS COLD-BLOODED FAMILY \h\h\hHAS A SECRET WEAKNESS.

EVEN THOUGH THEY’RE MOST \h\h\hCOMFORTABLE LURKING

IN TROPICAL LAKES AND RIVERS,

\h\h\h\h\h\hIF IT WEREN’T FOR A SPECIAL ADAPTATION,

THEY WOULD DROWN!

\h\h\h\h\hRIGHT AT THE BACK OF THEIR MOUTHS IS A VALVE

CALLED THE PALATAL FLAP.

WHEN OPEN, THIS LEADS STRAIGHT \h\hDOWN THEIR GAPING GULLETS,

\h\hALLOWING THEM TO SWALLOW HUGE GULPS OF FLESH AND BONE.

BUT TAKING HUGE MOUTHFULS \h\h\hLIKE THIS UNDERWATER

COULD BE FATAL.

THEIR MOUTHS AREN’T WATERTIGHT,

SO AS SOON AS THEY SUBMERGE, \h\h\h\h\h\hWATER FLOODS IN.

THIS IS WHERE THE FLAP \h\h\h\hEARNS ITS KEEP.

WHEN A CROC GOES UNDER, THE FLAP SHUTS TIGHTLY,

\h\h\h\h\hSEALING THE THROAT, PREVENTING DEATH BY DROWNING.

BUT WHILE IT CAN’T SWALLOW \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hUNDERWATER,

\h\h\h\hANOTHER VALVE THAT REDIRECTS OXYGEN

TO BYPASS THE THROAT FLAP

\h\hMEANS THE CROC CAN STILL BREATHE

EVEN WHEN ALMOST FULLY SUBMERGED,

AS LONG AS THE CROC’S NOSTRILS \h\h\h\hARE ABOVE THE SURFACE.

THIS ALLOWS THEM TO KEEP \h\h\h\hA LOW PROFILE...

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND ALWAYS READY FOR A GOOD GULPING OPPORTUNITY.

♪

WE’VE MET BAD-MANNERED REGURGITATING GUZZLERS

AND STEEL-JAWED GIANTS...

BUT EVEN THEIR MONSTROUS MOUTHS PALE IN COMPARISON

TO THE GREATEST GULPERS \h\h\h\h\h\h\hON EARTH.

♪ MONSTER GULPERS! ♪

THE LAND AND AIR TEEMS WITH GULPING GUZZLERS,

BUT IT’S THE OPEN OCEANS \h\h\h\h\h\hTHAT ARE HOME

\h\h\h\h\hTO THE PLANET’S BIGGEST-MOUTHED MONSTERS!

THEY FORAGE ALONE...

OR FEED IN FRENZY.

THEY COME IN ALL SHAPES \h\h\h\h\h\hAND SIZES,

BUT THEY ALL HAVE ONE THING \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN COMMON--

THESE GIANTS WITH MASSIVE MOUTHS

ALL FEED ON THE TINIEST CREATURES IN THE SEA...

AND INHALE MILLIONS \h\hWITH EACH GULP.

\h\h\hMEET THESE FASCINATING FILTER FEEDERS OF THE DEEP...

AS WE COUNT DOWN TO THE GREATEST GULPERS ON EARTH!

\h\h\h\h\h\hA BASKING SHARK, MEASURING OVER 30 FEET LONG,

WITH A MOUTH THREE FEET WIDE,

ROAMS THE COLD-WATER OCEANS

\h\h\hAT A SNAIL’S PACE OF TWO MILES PER HOUR.

\h\h\hIN ORDER TO BREATHE, HE CAN NEVER STOP MOVING.

\h\h\hHIS MASSIVE MOUTH IS ALMOST ALWAYS OPEN,

FILTERING UP TO 1,500 TONS \h\h\hOF WATER EACH HOUR...

CONSUMING UP TO 15,000 CALORIES IN KRILL AND PLANKTON A DAY!

ACROSS THE OCEANS,

\hTHE TROPICAL SEAS ARE THE PLAYGROUNDS

\h\h\h\h\h\hOF THESE GIANT, WEIRDLY SHAPED ACROBATS...

MANTA RAYS!

\h\h\hRANKING IN THE SAME SIZE CATEGORY AS THE BASKING SHARK,

THESE RAYS ARE AS WIDE AS THE SHARKS ARE LONG,

\h\hWITH WINGSPANS OF 30 FEET ACROSS.

THEY TOO MUST STAY ON THE MOVE

\h\h\hTO SATE THEIR VORACIOUS APPETITES.

SPONGY HORIZONTAL PLATES FILTER

\hTHE LARGE AMOUNTS OF WATER PASSING THROUGH THEIR MOUTHS.

BUT UNLIKE OTHER FILTER FEEDERS,

\h\h\h\h\h\hMANTA RAYS HAVE BUILT-IN FEEDING UTENSILS.

\h\h\h\hLOBES IN FRONT OF THEIR PECTORAL FINS

CURL AROUND TO HELP CHANNEL \h\h\h\hMORE WATER AND FOOD

INTO THEIR MOUTHS.

BUT THE BIGGEST FISH IN THE SEA

DON’T NEED FANCY TOOLS \h\h\h\h\hFOR FISHING.

♪

TIPPING THE SCALES AT OVER 20 TONS...

\h\hWHALE SHARKS GROW UP TO 40 FEET LONG...

AND THEY’RE ARMED WITH MOUTHS \h\hLIKE 5-FOOT-WIDE HOOVERS!

THEY’VE GOT A SHARKY NAME,

BUT THEY’RE ACTUALLY \h\h\hGENTLE GIANTS.

\hTHESE SUBMARINE GRAZERS PLACIDLY ROAM THE OCEANS,

SUCKING UP MASSIVE MOUTHFULS \h\h\h\hOF PLANKTON, KRILL,

OR SMALL FISH AND JELLIES...

THEIR SPONGY FILTER PLATES

TRAPPING ANYTHING LARGER \h\hTHAN A GRAIN OF SAND.

BUT THE GULPER RULE OF THUMB

\h\h\h\hDOESN’T QUITE HOLD WITH THESE FILTER FEEDERS.

JUST BECAUSE IT FITS \hTHROUGH THEIR JAWS

DOESN’T MEAN THEY CAN EAT IT.

WHILE A WHALE SHARK COULD EASILY SUCK AN ADULT HUMAN

INTO ITS MOUTH...

WITH A THROAT ROUGHLY THE SIZE \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF A QUARTER,

IT DEFINITELY CAN’T SWALLOW \h\h\h\hTHE UNLUCKY VICTIM!

BUT HOW ABOUT BEASTS

THAT CAN TAKE MOUTHFULS AS BIG AS SCHOOL BUSES?

WOULD THEY BE SATISFIED

WITH JUST TINY ORGANISMS \hLIKE PLANKTON AND KRILL

OR SMALL SHOALING FISH \h\h\h\hLIKE SARDINES?

OH, YES, AS LONG AS THERE \h\hARE THOUSANDS OF THEM

TO SWALLOW WITH EACH GULP!

THESE ARE BALEEN WHALES.

\h\h\hSOME OF THE WORLD’S MOST COLOSSAL CREATURES,

THIS GROUP’S MEMBERS \h\hINCLUDE MAMMOTHS

LIKE THE HUMPBACK

AND THE BRYDE’S WHALES...

AND THE GREATEST OF THEM ALL, \h\h\h\h\h\hTHE BLUE WHALE...

A GIANT THAT CAN GROW UP TO 90 FEET LONG...

AND WEIGH OVER 150 TONS.

[SQUEALING]

\h\hLIKE MANTA RAYS AND BASKING SHARKS,

THEY’RE FILTER FEEDERS,

BUT SUPERSIZED!

WHEN YOU’RE THIS BIG,

YOU NEED A FOOD STORE THE SIZE OF THE OCEAN

\h\h\h\hTO SUPPLY YOUR VORACIOUS APPETITE...

\h\h\hAND THE ONLY WAY TO GET YOUR RECOMMENDED DAILY INTAKE

IS TO GULP!

SKIMMING AND LUNGING THEIR WAY \h\h\h\h\hACROSS THE OCEANS...

\hTHEY TAKE MASSIVE, MONSTROUS MOUTHFULS.

HUGE COMB-LIKE FRINGES, \hCALLED BALEEN PLATES,

MADE OF KERATIN,

\hHANG FROM THEIR UPPER JAWS, FILTERING THE WATER AND PREY.

THE ABILITY TO OPEN THEIR MOUTHS

\hUP TO FOUR TIMES THEIR NORMAL SIZE

ALLOW BALEEN WHALES, \hLIKE THE HUMPBACK,

TO SWALLOW UP TO 3,000 POUNDS \h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF FOOD A DAY.

WE’VE SEARCHED THE PLANET, \h\h\h\h\h\hDAY AND NIGHT,

SCOURED THE AIR AND EXPLORED \hTHE DEPTHS OF THE OCEAN...

BUT ONE THING IS CLEAR:

WITH SPECIAL ADAPTATIONS \h\h\h\h\h\h\hLIKE THIS,

\h\h\hBODIES BUILT FOR TRAVELING VAST DISTANCES IN SEARCH OF FOOD

AND MONSTROUS MOUTHS CAPABLE \h\h\h\hOF FILLING STOMACHS

WITH THOUSANDS OF POUNDS \h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF PREY...

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWHALES TRULY ARE THE GREATEST GULPERS ON EARTH!

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHIS GROUP OF BIG-MOUTHED MONSTERS

HAS GUZZLED THEIR WAY \h\h\h\hINTO THE LEAD

AS EARTH’S GREATEST GULPERS.

FROM TENTACLED WEIRDOS \h\hAND GREEDY GULPERS,

TO THOSE THAT TAKE THEIR MEALS ALIVE

AND RIP THEM APART...

\h\hFROM TINY DEATH TRAPS TO THE BIGGEST ON EARTH,

THEY’RE A FREAK SHOW \hOF PECULIAR SHAPES

AND DISTURBING HABITS.

\hBEWARE THE GAPING JAWS OF THESE CRAZY MONSTERS,

\h\h\hFOR THEY COULD MAKE YOU DISAPPEAR WITH JUST ONE GULP.

♪ CRAZY MONSTER! ♪