Original subtitles

70 MILLION YEARS AGO,

IN THE DARK SWAMPS OF PRE-HISTORY...

LURKED THE DEVIL FROG.

\h\h\h\h\hAN ARMORED BEAST AS BIG AS A BOWLING BALL--

THOUGHT TO PREY ON DINOSAURS.

\h\h\h\h\h\hOVER THE MILLENNIA, AMPHIBIANS DOMINATED THE EARTH.

INHABITING ALL CORNERS \h\h\h\h\hOF THE GLOBE,

FROM THE TROPICAL JUNGLES \h\h\h\h\hAND DARK SWAMPS

TO THE DESERT WASTELANDS \h\h\hAND FROZEN TUNDRA,

A SELECT FEW EVOLVED

SOME EXTREME AND BIZARRE \hADAPTATIONS TO SURVIVE.

A FAMILY OF FREAKS THAT COME

IN MANY WEIRD FORMS, \hSHAPES AND SIZES.

THERE ARE THE CARNIVOROUS GIANTS

THAT RISE FROM THEIR TOMBS \h\h\h\hTO FEAST ON FLESH,

THE SLIMY AQUATIC SWIMMERS THAT USE CLAWS TO TEAR APART PREY.

SOME HAVE LETHAL TOXINS \h\h\hTO REPEL SNAKES.

WHILE OTHERS DEFY GRAVITY, \h\h\hRETURN FROM THE DEAD,

AND EVEN FLY.

\h\h\hWITNESS THE INVISIBLE, THE HAIRY AND THE DISFIGURED,

AND FINALLY, WE’LL REVEAL \h\h\h\hTHE MONSTER FROG.

FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY, GRAB FRONT-ROW SEATS

\hTO NATURE’S REAL HOUSE OF HORRORS.

THIS IS OUR FAMILY OF FREAKS.

NATURE’S SIDESHOW OF THE ADVERSE AND UNSIGHTLY.

WE’LL SHOW YOU THE BREEDERS, \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE KILLERS

AND THE GIANTS AS BIG AS A BABY,

BUT OUR FIRST CALL TO STAGE \h\h\h\hIS FOR THE MUTANTS.

ARMED WITH REGENERATIVE POWERS \h\h\h\h\h\hAND BONE CLAWS...

THIS IS THE TERRIFYING \h\h\h\h\h\hHAIRY FROG.

♪ CRAZY MONSTER, MONSTER FROGS! ♪

SIGHTINGS OF A FROG \h\hCOVERED IN HAIR

\h\h\h\h\h\hFIRST EMERGED OVER A HUNDRED YEARS AGO,

DEEP IN THE DARK JUNGLES \h\h\hOF CENTRAL AFRICA.

\h\h\h\h\hA HAIRY BEAST WITH RAZOR SHARP CLAWS

THAT HUNTS BY THE WATER’S EDGE.

\h\h\h\h\hOVER THE YEARS THIS MYTH BECAME LEGEND.

\h\h\h\hTODAY, LOCAL HUNTERS DARE NOT FACE THIS CREATURE

WITHOUT SPEARS AND MACHETES.

THIS IS THE HAIRY FROG.

A HORRIFYING AMPHIBIAN

THAT REACHES FOUR INCHES \h\h\h\hFROM TIP TO TOE.

\h\h\h\h\hIT’S BROAD HEAD AND SHORT, ROUNDED SNOUT

MAY APPEAR NORMAL,

\h\h\h\hBUT IT’S DOWN BELOW THAT THIS FREAK TRULY REVEALS ITSELF.

COVERING THE FROG’S \hFLANKS AND THIGHS

ARE THICK FUR-LIKE TUFTS.

DESPITE ITS APPEARANCE, \hTHESE ARE NOT HAIRS.

THESE PROTRUSIONS ARE ACTUALLY \h\h\h\hLONG STRANDS OF SKIN,

PACKED WITH ARTERIES.

\h\h\h\h\hTHIS IS A MALE, AND HE IS ON GUARD DUTY.

\hHE IS PROTECTING THE NEXT GENERATION OF HAIRY FROGS.

THIS SPECIES IS TERRESTRIAL, BUT DURING THE MATING SEASON

\h\h\hTHE FROGS RETURN TO THE WATER TO BREED.

HERE, THE FEMALE LAYS HER EGGS, TUCKED IN AROUND THE ROCKS,

HIDDEN WITHIN THE STREAM.

\h\h\hTHE FEMALE LACKS ANY MATERNAL INSTINCT

AND QUICKLY DISAPPEARS \hBACK INTO THE JUNGLE.

IT IS NOW UP TO THE MALE

\h\h\h\hTO STAND GUARD AND PROTECT THE EGGS.

HE WILL WAIT MOTIONLESS,

OFTEN FOR DAYS AT A TIME, FOR THE NEXT THREE WEEKS,

UNTIL THE EGGS HATCH.

IT IS DURING THIS LONG WAIT

THAT HIS HAIR-LIKE STRANDS \hOF SKIN KICK INTO ACTION.

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHIS "HAIR" IS THOUGHT TO FUNCTION

SIMILARLY TO THE GILLS \h\h\h\h\h\hON A SHARK.

THE HAIRY FROG CAN ABSORB OXYGEN FROM THE WATER,

THROUGH THIS PERMEABLE \h\h\h\hWHISKERED SKIN.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE MORE HAIRS, THE GREATER THE SURFACE AREA

AND THE MORE OXYGEN \h\hHE CAN ABSORB.

HOWEVER, DURING THIS SENTRY DUTY

BOTH THE EGGS AND THE MALE \hARE VULNERABLE TO ATTACK.

INSECTS, SPIDERS AND OTHER FROGS

WILL QUITE HAPPILY \h\hTAKE ADVANTAGE

OF THIS NUTRITIOUS HATCH.

TO FIGHT OFF ANY THREATS,

\h\hTHIS MUTANT HAS A TYPE OF WEAPONRY

BETTER SUITED IN THE REALM \h\h\h\hOF SCIENCE FICTION.

\h\h\h\h\hTHE HAIRY FROG HAS BUILT-IN BONE CLAWS.

THIS FROG ACTIVELY BREAKS \h\h\h\h\h\hITS OWN BONES,

WHICH BURST THROUGH ITS TOES.

CONCEALED INSIDE EACH TOE PAD, \hTHERE IS A SMALL, BONY CLAW.

\hEACH TALON IS ANCHORED TO A SMALL PIECE OF BONE.

UNDER THREAT, THE FROG \hCONTRACTS ITS MUSCLES

AND BREAKS THE "SAFETY BONE,"

WHICH FORCES ITS SHARP CLAWS STRAIGHT THROUGH THE TOE PAD.

UNLIKE THE CLAWS OF A LION \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hOR A WOLF,

THESE ARE RAW BONE.

TO RETRACT THE CLAWS,

IT’S THOUGHT THE HAIRY FROG \h\h\h\hRELAXES ITS MUSCLES,

AND THE BONES SLIDE BACK INTO THE TOE.

\h\h\h\hTHANKS TO ITS SUPER HEALING POWERS,

THE FROG CAN REGENERATE \h\hITS PUNCTURED SKIN,

\h\hLEAVING BEHIND NO MARKS OR SCARS.

THESE BUILT-IN GRAPPLING HOOKS

ALSO PROVIDE EXTRA GRIP ON THE SLIPPERY ROCKS.

ARMED AND SECURE, THE HAIRY FROG

\hIS NATURE’S TRUE SUPER HERO MUTANT.

AFTER ALL, THE RAINFOREST CAN BE A DEADLY PLACE FOR A FROG.

\h\h\h\h\hTHE HAIRY FROG MAY USE BONE CLAWS TO PROTECT ITS YOUNG,

\h\h\h\h\h\hWHICH GIVES THEM THE BEST CHANCE OF SURVIVAL,

\h\h\h\hBUT THERE IS A MORE HIDEOUS FREAK

THAT TURNS PARENTAL CARE

INTO A GRUESOME AND UNSIGHTLY \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hHORROR SHOW.

THIS IS THE REPULSIVE \h\h\h\h\hALIEN FROG.

♪ MONSTER FROGS! ♪

DEEP IN THE DARK, DINGY SWAMPS \h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF SOUTH AMERICA

HIDES THE SURINAM TOAD,

A WARTY, DISFIGURED FREAK

\hTHAT APPEARS ALMOST PUTREFIED EVEN AT THE PEAK OF GOOD HEALTH.

IT IS THE FLATTEST AMPHIBIAN \h\h\h\h\h\h\hON OUR PLANET

AND LOOKS MORE LIKE ROAD-KILL.

BUT LOOKS CAN BE DECEIVING,

\h\hAND THE SURINAM TOAD IS PERFECTLY CAMOUFLAGED

AS A ROTTING LEAF OR ROCK.

THIS FREAK HAS TINY EYES, NO TEETH AND NO TONGUE...

SO IT RELIES ON ITS LONG, \h\h\h\hSENSITIVE FINGERS

TO PROBE AROUND FOR WORMS, \hINSECTS AND SMALL FISH.

BUT WHEN IT COMES TO RAISING \h\h\h\h\h\h\hITS OFFSPRING,

THINGS GET EVEN MORE HORRIFIC.

\hWHILE MOST FROGS ABANDON THEIR EGGS

TO HATCH IN THE RIVERS \h\h\h\h\h\hAND PONDS,

\hTHE SURINAM TOAD KEEPS HERS CLOSE--

RIGHT UNDER HER SKIN.

THIS FEMALE IS ABOUT \h\h\hTO GIVE BIRTH.

THE HOLES IN HER BACK ARE WHERE HER EGGS SUNK INTO HER SKIN,

12 WEEKS AGO.

\h\h\h\hUP TO A HUNDRED FULLY FORMED TOADLETS,

EACH NEARLY AN INCH LONG, \h\h\hARE READY TO EMERGE.

HER BACK STARTS TO BULGE \h\h\h\h\h\hAND CONTORT.

\h\h\h\h\hLIKE A SCI-FI HORROR, A FOOT BURSTS THROUGH HER BACK,

FOLLOWED BY A HAND, THEN A HEAD, UNTIL ALL HER YOUNG ARE FREE.

THIS GROTESQUE ADAPTATION MAY MAKE YOUR SKIN CRAWL,

\hBUT IT DOES GUARANTEE A SAFE NURSERY FOR HER YOUNG TO RIPEN.

FROGS CAN SURVIVE \hIN ALL EXTREMES,

FROM THE SCORCHING HEAT \h\h\h\h\h\hOF THE SUN

TO THE WINTER WONDERLAND \h\hOF THE FROZEN TUNDRA.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWE GIVE YOU THE MIRACULOUS FROZEN FROG.

HIBERNATION IS A COMMON RESPONSE

TO THE COLD WINTERS \hOF NORTH AMERICA.

AS WINTER BITES DOWN,

SOME ANIMALS MIGRATE \hTO WARMER CLIMATES

WHILE OTHERS BURROW \hDEEP UNDERGROUND

TO SLEEP UNTIL SPRING.

\hAND SOME CHOOSE TO QUITE LITERALLY FREEZE TO DEATH.

\h\h\hTHE WOOD FROG HAS AN ASTOUNDING ABILITY--

IT CAN PRODUCE ANTIFREEZE!

THIS SEEMINGLY ORDINARY \hAMPHIBIAN CAN SURVIVE

\h\h\hAT TEMPERATURES AS LOW AS THREE DEGREES FAHRENHEIT

AND THEN COME BACK TO LIFE.

WINTER IS COMING...

[WOLVES HOWLING]

...AND THE WOOD FROG PREPARES \h\h\h\h\hFOR THE BIG FREEZE.

\hIT STARTS TO PRODUCE HUGE AMOUNTS OF URINE,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBUT UNLIKE US, IT DOESN’T DRAIN THIS WASTE--

IT STORES IT IN ITS BLOOD.

\hAS THE FIRST ICE CRYSTALS CREEP OVER THE FROG’S SKIN,

\h\h\h\h\hAN INCREDIBLE TRANSFORMATION BEGINS.

THE WATER IN THE FROG’S BLOOD \h\h\h\h\h\hSTARTS TO FREEZE.

THE ICE SUCKS THE PRECIOUS WATER OUT OF THE FROG’S CELLS.

\h\h\h\h\h\hTO PREVENT FULL-SCALE DEHYDRATION,

THE LIVER BEGINS TO MAKE LARGE AMOUNTS OF GLUCOSE.

\h\h\h\h\hAS THE SUGAR MIXES WITH THE URINE IN THE BLOOD,

IT CREATES HOMEMADE ANTIFREEZE.

\hTHE CONCOCTION PACKS INTO THE FROG’S CELLS,

PROPPING THEM UP.

\h\h\h\hTHE ANTIFREEZE PREVENTS TOO MUCH WATER

BEING DRAWN OUT OF THE CELLS \h\h\h\hBY THE ICE OUTSIDE.

IF THEY LOSE MORE THAN 60% \h\h\h\h\h\hOF THEIR WATER,

THE PROCESS BECOMES \h\h\hIRREVERSIBLE.

THE CELLS WILL CRUMPLE AND DIE FROM FROSTBITE.

THE FROG’S ANTIFREEZE \h\h\hKEEPS HIM ALIVE.

THE WOOD FROG ENTERS A STATE \h\hOF SUSPENDED ANIMATION.

\hIT’S INTERNAL ORGANS AND METABOLIC ACTIVITY

GRIND TO A NEAR HALT.

THE LUNGS STOP WORKING,

\h\h\h\h\h\hAND THE HEART EVENTUALLY STOPS BEATING.

\h\h\h\h\hTHE WOOD FROG CAN SURVIVE FOR MONTHS

\hWITH AN INCREDIBLE TWO-THIRDS OF THEIR BODY COMPLETELY FROZEN,

TO THE POINT WHERE THEY ARE \hESSENTIALLY "FROGSICLES."

AFTER A GRUELING EIGHT MONTHS, \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hSPRING ARRIVES,

\h\h\hTHE TEMPERATURES WARM, AND THE ICE STARTS TO MELT.

HIDDEN WITHIN HIS FROZEN TOMB,

\h\h\hTHE WOOD FROG ALSO BEGINS TO THAW.

WATER SLOWLY FLOWS BACK \h\h\h\hINTO HIS CELLS;

THEY REHYDRATE AND RETURN TO THEIR ORIGINAL SHAPE.

WITHIN 30 MINUTES, THE HEART RE-STARTS

AND THE BLOOD BEGINS TO FLOW.

\h\h\hTHE WOOD FROG COMES BACK TO LIFE.

\h\hAFTER TWO DAYS, THE FROG HEADS OUT

TO LOOK FOR SOME FOOD,

A MATE,

AND A MUCH AWAITED PEE!

\h\h\h\h\hSOME PLAY DEAD, WHILE OTHERS HAVE WEAPONS

OR EVEN TAKE TO THE AIR \h\h\h\h\h\hTO ESCAPE,

BUT OUR NEXT MUTANT APPLIES \hTHE ULTIMATE CAMOUFLAGE.

THIS IS THE ASTONISHING \h\h\h\hINVISIBLE FROG.

♪ MONSTER FROGS! ♪

SOMEWHERE ON THIS LILY PAD \h\h\h\hHIDES A REED FROG--

A MASTER OF DISGUISE.

\h\h\hTHIS TINY LITTLE MALE IS SMALL ENOUGH TO FIT ON A DIME.

\hHIS MINIATURE FRAME AND LIGHT GREEN COLOR

ALLOWS HIM TO BLEND PERFECTLY \h\h\h\h\hWITHIN THE FOREST.

\hHOWEVER, IT’S FROM BENEATH THIS FROG THAT HIS TRUE COLORS SHINE.

STRAIGHT THROUGH HIS BODY!

\h\h\h\hWITH SKIN LIKE GLASS, YOU CAN SEE THE BLOOD VESSELS;

ITS INTESTINES, ITS LIVER,

AND DON’T FORGET, ITS BEATING HEART.

[HEART BEATING]

EVEN THEIR SKELETON IS VISIBLE,

AND IN SOME SPECIES THE BONES ARE GREEN

TO HELP CONCEAL THEM IN THE UNDERGROWTH.

\h\hTHANKS TO SOME EXTREMELY THIN SKIN

ON THEIR STOMACHS \hAND EXTREMITIES,

AND A SEVERE LACK OF PIGMENT \h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN THEIR CELLS,

THEIR BODIES DO NOT REFLECT \h\h\h\h\hTHE INCOMING LIGHT

BUT RATHER ALLOW IT TO PASS \h\h\hSTRAIGHT THROUGH THEM.

\h\h\hTHE RESULT IS A TRANSLUCENT SKIN.

PREDATORS DON’T HAVE \h\h\hA "HOP IN HELL"

OF FINDING THIS ELUSIVE GHOST.

\hOUR FAMILY OF FREAKS HAS MANY UNIQUE AND BIZARRE ADAPTATIONS,

FROM BONE CLAWS AND LONG HAIR TO ANTIFREEZE BLOOD AND GLASS SKIN.

HOWEVER, ONE OF THEIR FREAKIEST FEATURES IS THEIR FEET.

AND ONE SPECIMEN HAS TAKEN THIS ALIEN APPENDAGE TO NEW HEIGHTS.

THIS IS THE MAGNIFICENT \h\h\h\h\hFLYING FROG.

♪ MONSTER FROGS! ♪

\h\hTHE GLIDING TREE FROG LIVES ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY

\h\h\h\h\h\hIN THE TREETOPS OF DENSE TROPICAL JUNGLES.

\h\h\hHUNDREDS OF FEET ABOVE THE FOREST FLOOR,

THE TREE FROG SPENDS ITS DAYS

AMBLING THROUGH THE CANOPY \hALONG VINES AND BRANCHES.

IT USES ITS LARGE STICKY \h\h\h\h\hHANDS AND FEET

\hTO GRIP ONTO ANY AVAILABLE FOLIAGE.

AT THIS HEIGHT, ANY MISPLACED \h\h\h\hSTEP COULD BE FATAL,

SO SLOW AND STEADY IS THE GAME.

BUT FALLING TO THEIR DEATH

IS NOT THE TREE FROG’S \h\h\h\h\hONLY CONCERN.

THE CANOPY IS ALSO HOME \hTO A DEADLY PREDATOR,

THE TREE BOA.

IT IS THIN, LIGHTWEIGHT \h\hAND LIGHTNING FAST.

THE SUREFOOTED TREE FROG \h\h\hIS AN EASY TARGET.

THE SNAKE MOVES EFFORTLESSLY \h\h\hTHROUGH THE BRANCHES,

CLOSING IN ON THE FROGS.

WITH NOWHERE TO HIDE, THE FROGS TAKE A LEAP OF FAITH.

\h\h\h\h\hAS THEY PLUMMET TOWARDS THE FOREST FLOOR,

THEY EXTEND THEIR HANDS AND FEET

TO UNRAVEL THEIR LARGE, \h\hEXTENSIVE WEBBING.

THEY ARE NOT SO MUCH FLYING, \h\h\hAS FALLING WITH STYLE.

\h\h\h\hTHE THIN LAYER OF SKIN BETWEEN THEIR FINGERS AND TOES

ACTS LIKE A PARACHUTE.

\h\h\h\hLATERAL SKIN FLAPS ALONG THEIR ARMS AND LEGS

ALSO CATCH THE AIR AS THEY FREE-FALL.

\hTHIS INCREASED SURFACE AREA PROVIDES ENOUGH AIR RESISTANCE

\h\h\hTO SLOW AN OTHERWISE FATAL DESCENT INTO A CONTROLLED GLIDE.

\h\hLIKE A SKYDIVER, THE FROG MAKES SMALL, SUBTLE MOVEMENTS

TO STEER ITS WAY TO SAFETY, \h\h\h\hUP TO 50 FEET AWAY.

THEIR FLEXIBLE SKELETONS \h\h\h\h\h\hARE MODIFIED

TO ABSORB THE SHOCK ON LANDING,

WHILE THEIR OVERSIZED \h\h\hSTICKY TOE PADS

ONCE AGAIN GRIP ON \h\hFOR DEAR LIFE.

\h\hWITH THE SNAKE LEFT HIGH AND DRY,

THE GLIDING TREE FROG DISAPPEARS BACK INTO THE JUNGLE.

\hTHESE AERIAL ACROBATS AREN’T THE ONLY FREAKS

\h\h\h\h\hWITH EXTREME AND UNUSUAL APPENDAGES.

THIS IS NATURE’S FEARLESS \h\h\h\h\h\hFREE CLIMBER.

THE AMAZING SPIDERMAN FROG.

\h\h\h\hUNLIKE THEIR FREE-FALLING COUSINS,

THIS TREE FROG DOESN’T HAVE \h\h\h\hBUILT-IN PARACHUTES.

FOR THESE DAREDEVILS WHO SPEND THEIR LIFE

HIGH IN THE TREETOPS,

THERE IS ONE VERY IMPORTANT FEATURE TO THEIR SURVIVAL--

A GOOD GRIP.

THE FOREST TREE FROG IS CAPABLE

\h\h\h\h\hOF INCREDIBLE GRAVITY-DEFYING FEATS,

THANKS TO MILLENNIA \h\h\hOF EVOLUTION.

THIS EXTREME FREE CLIMBER \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIS TINY,

LESS THAN TWO INCHES, IN FACT.

AFTER ALL, THEIR LIGHT FRAME \h\h\h\h\hHAS TO BE CARRIED

\hBY THE THIN TWIGS AND FLEXIBLE LEAVES

IN THEIR TREETOP HIDEOUT.

THE TREE FROG’S DIGITS, AS WELL AS THEIR LIMBS,

\h\h\h\h\hARE LONG AND SLIGHT, RESULTING IN A SUPERIOR GRASP.

\h\hBUT THE TRUE SECRET TO THEIR VISE-LIKE GRIP

\hIS HIDDEN WITHIN THE TIPS OF THEIR FINGERS AND TOES.

\h\h\hHIGH UP IN THE CANOPY, THE TREE FROG HOLDS ON TIGHT.

TO THE NAKED EYE,

HIS ROUND TOE PADS \h\hAPPEAR NORMAL,

\h\h\hBUT IF WE ZOOM IN A BILLIONTH OF A METER,

WE REVEAL THE FROG’S SECRET.

\h\h\hTHEIR TOE PADS ARE ACTUALLY MADE UP

OF HUNDREDS OF HEXAGONAL CELLS,

AND EACH CELL IS TIGHTLY PACKED WITH THOUSANDS OF FIBERS.

THESE STRANDS MOVE AND BEND,

TO MIRROR THE CONTOURS \h\h\h\hOF THE SURFACE.

ITS GRIP IS SO STRONG \h\hTHAT TO BREAK IT,

\h\h\hTHE FROG MUST PEEL OFF EACH TOE PAD AS THEY CLIMB.

TO FURTHER IMPROVE THEIR GRIP,

\h\h\hTHE TREE FROG SECRETES A THIN LAYER OF STICKY MUCUS.

ONLY ONE AND A HALF TIMES MORE VISCOUS THAN WATER,

IT ACTS LIKE GLUE.

\h\h\hTHIS WET ADHESIVE TRANSFORMS THE TOE PADS

INTO SELF-CLEANING SUCTION CUPS.

THE TREE FROG CAN STICK \h\h\h\hTO ANY SURFACE,

FROM TREE TRUNKS AND WET LEAVES TO A PANE OF GLASS

AND EVEN UPSIDE DOWN.

\h\hOUR FAMILY OF FREAKS HAVE SOME EXTRAORDINARY ABILITIES,

FROM FIGHT TO FLIGHT,

\h\h\h\h\hBUT NOW IT IS THE TURN OF THE DISGUSTING AND UNNATURAL.

YOU ARE ABOUT TO WITNESS \h\hTHE PRIMEVAL BEHAVIOR

OF THE VOMIT FROG.

THIS GENETIC FREAK SEPARATED \hFROM THE FROG FAMILY TREE

\hAROUND THE TIME OF THE DINOSAURS.

\h\h\hITS REAL NAME IS THE DARWIN FROG.

\h\h\hTHEIR LONG, FLESHY SNOUT MAY RESEMBLE PINOCCHIO’S NOSE,

YET IT GIVES THEM THE APPEARANCE OF A DEAD LEAF.

AND AT ONLY AN INCH LONG,

THE DARWIN FROG CAN BE \h\hVERY HARD TO SPOT.

POTENTIAL PREDATORS SIMPLY PASS ON BY.

HOWEVER, IT’S THIS FROG’S HIGHLY UNUSUAL FORM OF DADDY DAY CARE

THAT TRULY MAKES IT STAND OUT \h\h\h\h\h\h\hFROM THE CROWD.

\h\h\hAFTER MATING, IT’S UP TO THE MALE

TO FERTILIZE AND GUARD THE EGGS.

THE MALE PICKS UP HIS YOUNG, \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hONE BY ONE,

AND PLACES THEM IN HIS MOUTH.

HE MANEUVERS THEM INTO A VOCAL SAC,

THROUGH THE SLITS UNDER HIS TONGUE.

THIS LARGE, FLEXIBLE SAC EXTENDS FROM BENEATH HIS THROAT,

\h\h\h\h\hOVER HIS BELLY, ALL THE WAY TO HIS GROIN.

ONCE SAFELY COCOONED WITHIN THEIR FATHER,

THE TADPOLES CONTINUE TO GROW.

NOW THAT HE IS CARRYING \hSUCH PRECIOUS CARGO,

THE MALE MUST BE EXTRA VIGILANT FOR PREDATORS.

A LARGE RODENT OR SNAKE

\h\hWILL GET QUITE A MEAL OUT OF THIS FROG PIÑATA.

IT’S TIME TO TAKE HIS STRATEGY \h\h\h\h\h\hTO THE NEXT LEVEL.

HE LEAPS INTO THE WATER, \h\hROLLS ONTO HIS BACK,

AND PLAYS DEAD.

\h\h\h\hTHE RIGID FROG FLOATS DOWN THE STREAM

LEAVING THE SNAKE BEHIND, \h\h\hCONFUSED AND HUNGRY.

THIS EXTRAVAGANT THESPIAN \h\h\h\h\hCAN FEIGN DEATH

FOR UP TO 30 MINUTES.

\h\h\hONCE SAFELY DOWN RIVER, THE FROG SPRINGS BACK TO LIFE.

\hDESPITE HIS CALM DEMEANOR, DEEP WITHIN THE DARWIN FROG,

IT’S A HIVE OF ACTIVITY.

[CROAKING]

THE TINY TADPOLES ARE NOW \hFULLY FORMED FROGLETS--

DEVELOPING LIMBS, \hDIGESTIVE TRACTS

AND EVEN A SET OF JAWS.

THEIR FATHER’S INTERNAL ORGANS \h\h\h\h\h\hDISTORT AND SHIFT

\h\h\h\hTO ACCOMMODATE HIS GROWING OFFSPRING.

IT’LL SOON BE TIME TO SET THEM FREE.

50 DAYS AFTER CONSUMING \h\h\h\h\h\hHIS YOUNG,

THE MALE FINDS A SAFE, SECLUDED SPOT AND BRACES HIMSELF.

ONE BY ONE THE DARWIN FROG \h\hVOMITS UP HIS YOUNG...

UP TO 19 OF THEM!

THESE PERFECT LITTLE REPLICAS

ARE NOW LEFT TO FEND \h\h\hFOR THEMSELVES.

WHETHER YOU INGEST YOUR YOUNG OR LET THEM LIVE UNDER YOUR SKIN,

THESE EXTREME BEHAVIORS

DO ENSURE THE OFFSPRING’S BEST CHANCE OF SURVIVAL.

\h\h\hBUT HOW DO FROGS IN EXTREME ENVIRONMENTS

PROTECT THEIR YOUNG?

THIS IS THE KINKY FOAM FROG.

♪ MONSTER FROGS! ♪

AFRICA IS AN UNFORGIVING HOME \h\h\h\h\h\hFOR AN AMPHIBIAN,

WITH TEMPERATURES REACHING

OVER 100 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN THE DAY

AND BELOW 40 DEGREES AT NIGHT.

HERE, ONLY THE STRONGEST \hAND STRANGEST SURVIVE.

\hTHE FOAM NEST FROG HAS MANY TRICKS UP ITS SLEEVE

TO ENDURE THIS HOT, \hARID ENVIRONMENT,

BUT IT’S HOW THEY PROTECT \h\h\h\h\hTHEIR OFFSPRING

THAT IS TRULY EXTRAORDINARY.

IT’S TIME FOR A FROG FOAM PARTY.

IT ALL BEGINS WITH THE FEMALE

\h\h\h\hSELECTING A TREE CLOSE TO A WATER SOURCE.

SHE CLIMBS INTO POSITION

ON A BRANCH SEVERAL FEET \h\h\h\h\hABOVE THE WATER

AND STARTS RELEASING EGGS, \h\h\h\hUP TO 1,200 IN ALL.

IT’S NOT LONG BEFORE THE MALES \h\h\h\h\h\h\hSTART TO ARRIVE,

AND THE FEMALE PRODUCES \h\h\hA STICKY MIXTURE

OF UREA AND MUCUS \hAROUND THE EGGS.

\h\h\h\h\hEACH MALE RELEASES HIS "DONATION" INTO THE FOAM.

[CROAKING]

ALL THE KICKING, WRIGGLING \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND RUBBING

WHIPS THE "EGG WHITES" \h\h\h\hINTO A LATHER.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hA NEST MAY TAKE UP TO SEVEN HOURS TO COMPLETE,

BUT THEY CAN CREATE A HUGE FOAM BUBBLE

UP TO FOUR FEET ACROSS.

AS MORE MALES JOIN THE PARTY,

THEY SMOTHER THE FEMALES, \h\h\hUP TO 12 AT A TIME.

AND BEFORE LONG, THE BRANCH IS AMASSED WITH WRITHING BODIES.

AS THE ORGY DRAWS TO AN END,

THE FROGS RELEASE A SPECIAL PROTEIN,

\h\h\h\hWHICH FORMS A CRUST ON THE SURFACE OF THE FOAM.

\h\hIT ACTS AS A KIND OF BIOLOGICAL TEFLON,

PROTECTING THE EGGS INSIDE, \h\h\h\h\hUNTIL THEY HATCH.

\hIT’S BEEN AROUND FIVE DAYS SINCE THE FROGS’ FOAM PARTY,

AND THE TINY TADPOLES \hARE READY TO EMERGE.

FREE FROM THEIR FOAM NURSERY,

THE TADPOLES ARE NOW \h\h\hEASY PICKINGS

FOR FISH, INSECTS AND BIRDS...

AS WELL AS OTHER FROGS.

WE HAVE WITNESSED THE MUTANTS, \hTHE FREAKS AND THE BREEDERS.

\h\hIT IS NOW TIME TO TURN TO THE KILLERS AND GIANTS.

BUT YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE BIG \h\h\h\h\h\hTO BE DANGEROUS.

THIS IS THE DROP DEAD GORGEOUS \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hPOISON FROG.

♪ MONSTER FROGS! ♪

KNOWN AS THE JEWELS OF THE RAINFOREST,

THESE ASSASSINS SPORT

\h\hSOME OF THE MOST BRILLIANT AND BEAUTIFUL COLORS ON EARTH.

THERE ARE MORE THAN 100 \h\h\hDIFFERENT SPECIES

OF POISON DART FROG,

YET EACH PATTERN IS UNIQUE, \hLIKE A HUMAN FINGERPRINT,

\h\h\hBUT THESE ELABORATE SHADES AND HUES ARE NOT JUST FOR SHOW.

\hIT IS A WARNING FLAG TO POTENTIAL PREDATORS.

THEY MAY ONLY BE THE SIZE \h\h\h\h\hOF A BOTTLE CAP,

BUT POISON FROGS ARE AMONG THE MOST TOXIC CREATURES ON EARTH.

\h\h\h\hWITHIN THEIR SKIN, SOME SPECIES STORE A TOXIN

200 TIMES STRONGER \h\hTHAN MORPHINE.

\hA POISON SO LETHAL IT CAN KILL TEN MEN.

SO HOW CAN SOMETHING SO SMALL \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBE SO DEADLY?

YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT.

\h\hSURPRISINGLY, POISON DART FROGS

DON’T USE THEIR POISON TO HUNT.

INSTEAD, THEY LURE THEIR PREY TO THEM

\h\h\h\h\hBY TAPPING THEIR LONG MIDDLE TOES AGAINST THE GROUND.

[TAPPING]

THIS PITTER-PATTER OF VIBRATIONS

IS THOUGHT TO MIMIC THE SOUND OF RAIN,

DRAWING THE INSECTS FROM HIDING.

[TAPPING]

\h\hONCE OUT IN THE OPEN, THE FROGS PICK THEM OFF.

[TAPPING]

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHEY SHOOT OUT THEIR LONG, STICKY TONGUES

AND DEVOUR THEIR PREY WHOLE.

AND THIS IS THE SECRET \h\hTO THEIR TOXICITY.

THE FROGS ABSORB PLANT POISONS \h\h\hINGESTED BY THEIR PREY,

\hWHICH INCLUDES ANTS, TERMITES AND BEETLES.

WHEN THREATENED, THE POISON \hOOZES OUT OF THEIR SKIN,

MAKING THEM TOXIC TO THE TOUCH.

IT APPEARS LOOKS CAN KILL...

AND SO CAN SIZE.

\hTHIS IS THE SUMO WRESTLER OF THE AMPHIBIAN FREAK SHOW.

THE KILLER FROG.

♪ MONSTER FROGS! ♪

THIS DESOLATE AFRICAN WETLAND WILL SOON BE THE BATTLEGROUND

\h\h\h\h\hFOR THOUSANDS OF BLOODTHIRSTY FROGS.

HIDDEN BENEATH THE EARTH, \h\hAN ARMY OF THE UNDEAD

AWAITS THE FIRST RAINS.

THIS GIANT MALE BULLFROG

\h\h\hHAS LAIN DORMANT IN HIS UNDERGROUND TOMB

FOR NEARLY A YEAR.

COCOONED IN A BLANKET \h\h\h\hOF OLD SKIN,

WITH MOST OF HIS INTERNAL ORGANS IN STASIS,

IT WILL SOON BE TIME TO FEED.

\h\h\hABOVE GROUND, A STORM APPROACHES.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE DRY SEASON IS FINALLY COMING TO AN END.

\hTHE LONG AWAITED RAINS SEEP THROUGH THE DRY, CRACKED EARTH

AND AWAKEN AN ARMY OF SLEEPING GIANTS.

THE EARTH BEGINS TO MOVE

AS HUNDREDS OF KILLER FROGS \h\h\hBURST FROM THE DEPTHS.

\h\hTHEY ARE HUNGRY AND READY TO FEED.

THE GIANT BULLFROG

\h\h\h\hIS AN AGGRESSIVE AND CARNIVOROUS PREDATOR

THAT WILL CONSUME NEARLY ANY ANIMAL

THAT CAN FIT IN ITS HUGE MOUTH,

INCLUDING RATS, LIZARDS \h\h\h\hAND EVEN BIRDS.

\h\h\hTHIS POWERFUL, MUSCULAR HEAVYWEIGHT

CAN GROW TO THE SIZE \h\h\hOF A FOOTBALL.

AS THE PLAGUE OF MALE BULLFROGS RISE FROM BELOW,

THE LOCAL INHABITANTS \h\hEVACUATE THE AREA.

\h\hTHE GIANT BULLFROG IS AN AMBUSH PREDATOR.

ITS STRIKE IS AS FAST \h\hAS IT IS POWERFUL.

ONCE IN RANGE, THE BULLFROG \h\h\h\h\hUNFURLS ITS TONGUE

AND SNATCHES ITS MEAL.

THEIR ENORMOUS MOUTH,

ARMED WITH SHARP FANG-LIKE TEETH IN THE LOWER JAW,

SNAPS SHUT LIKE A BEAR TRAP.

PREY IS OFTEN SEVERED IN TWO \h\h\h\h\hOR CONSUMED WHOLE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hEVEN SNAKES GIVE THE GIANT BULLFROG A WIDE BERTH.

THE FROG STALKS ITS PREY \h\h\h\h\h\hLIKE A LION,

\h\hMOVING FROM COVER TO COVER AND STAYING LOW TO THE GROUND.

IT CREEPS INTO POSITION AND SETS UP THE AMBUSH.

[CROAKING]

THE SNAKE’S DESPERATE BITES

\h\h\hFAIL TO PENETRATE THE FROG’S THICK SKIN.

THE SNAKE’S STRUGGLE IS OVER.

ONCE FED, THE MALES PREPARE \h\h\h\hFOR ANOTHER BATTLE,

AGAINST EACH OTHER.

THE GIANT BULLFROG HEADS INTO COMBAT.

[CROAKING]

\h\hTHE VICTOR OF THESE VIOLENT CONFRONTATIONS

WINS THE TERRITORY \h\hAND THE GIRLS.

THESE DUELS CAN BE \h\hTO THE DEATH...

\h\hBUT GREAT RISKS REAP GREAT REWARDS.

\h\hTHE BULLFROG MAY BE A COLD-BLOODED KILLER,

BUT IT DOES HAVE A SOFTER SIDE.

\h\hREPTILES RARELY CARE FOR THEIR YOUNG AFTER THEY HATCH,

BUT THIS DOTING FATHER \h\h\hIS AN EXCEPTION.

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE FEMALES LAY AROUND 4,000 EGGS AT A TIME

IN SHALLOW NURSERY PONDS.

IF LEFT UNATTENDED,

PREDATORS WILL QUICKLY DEVOUR \h\hTHESE DEFENSELESS YOUNG.

SO THE FATHER ACTS \h\hAS BABYSITTER,

DILIGENTLY WATCHING OVER HIS OFFSPRING.

BUT ONE THREAT THE TADPOLES \h\h\h\h\h\h\hCANNOT ESCAPE

IS THE HEAT OF THE AFRICAN SUN.

AS TEMPERATURES SOAR,

\hTHE NURSERY POOL STARTS TO EVAPORATE AND SHRINK.

THE DEVOTED FATHER MUST ACT QUICKLY.

HE USES HIS POWERFUL HIND LEGS

\h\hTO DIG A CHANNEL TO THE MAIN WETLAND.

AS THE DAM WALL BREAKS,

\h\hTHOUSANDS OF TADPOLES ARE SET FREE INTO THEIR NEW HOME.

HERE, THEY MUST FEND \h\h\hFOR THEMSELVES.

\h\h\h\h\h\hFED AND BRED, THE MALE BULLFROGS RETURN

TO THEIR UNDERGROUND CRYPTS,

WHERE THEY WILL HIDE UNTIL \hTHE NEXT BREEDING SEASON.

OVER THE MILLENNIA, AMPHIBIANS

FROM THE VERY SMALL AND DEADLY \h\h\h\hTO THE LARGE AND UGLY

DOMINATED THE EARTH,

BUT THE MEANEST AND BADDEST \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF THEM ALL

WAS THE PRIMEVAL DEVIL FROG.

♪ MONSTER FROGS! ♪

70 MILLION YEARS AGO,

IN THE DARK SWAMPS \h\hOF PRE-HISTORY,

A MONSTER FROG IS ON THE HUNT \h\h\h\h\hFOR ITS NEXT MEAL.

[CHATTERING]

THIS ARMORED BEAST REACHES \h\hOVER SEVEN INCHES LONG

\h\h\hAND WEIGHS IN AT OVER TEN POUNDS.

A CARNIVORE BELIEVED TO PREY \h\h\h\hON YOUNG DINOSAURS.

[CHATTERING]

THIS IS THE DEVIL FROG.

A BRUTE MEANER THAN ANY FROG \h\h\h\h\h\h\hLIVING TODAY,

IT’S THE SIZE OF A BOWLING BOWL.

NOT ONLY IS THE DEVIL FROG HUGE, IT’S POWERFUL AND AGGRESSIVE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hA THICK SKULL, LINED WITH RIDGES AND GROOVES,

ACTS LIKE AN ARMORED SHIELD,

\h\h\h\h\hWHILE ITS WIDE AND ILL-TEMPERED GRIMACE

HIDES A POWERFUL SET \hOF JAWS AND TEETH.

THIS TERRITORIAL AMBUSH PREDATOR

IS EAGER TO SNAP AT JUST ABOUT \h\h\hANYTHING THAT PASSES BY.

ALTHOUGH THE DEVIL FROG \hVANISHED INTO HISTORY

ALONG WITH THE REST \hOF THE DINOSAURS,

ITS LEGACY CONTINUES.

\h\hA MONSTER FROG STILL LIVES TODAY,

HIDDEN DEEP IN THE RAINFORESTS \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF WEST AFRICA.

\h\hTHIS SECRET KINGDOM IS THE LAND THAT TIME FORGOT,

\h\h\hA DENSE, LUSH AND TROPICAL JUNGLE

THAT IS REFUGE TO THE LAST \h\h\hOF THE MONSTER FROGS.

A LIVING GIANT.

THIS IS THE GOLIATH FROG.

THEY ARE THE LARGEST LIVING \h\h\h\h\hFROGS EVER KNOWN,

REACHING OVER TWELVE INCHES LONG AND WEIGHING OVER SEVEN POUNDS.

IT’S THE SIZE OF A BABY.

THIS HUGE PREDATOR PATROLS

THE FAST-FLOWING RIVERS \h\h\h\hAND WATERFALLS,

\h\h\h\hFOREVER ON THE LOOKOUT FOR CRABS, FISH AND EVEN BATS.

\h\hWITH EYES AS BIG AS OUR OWN AND FEET THE SIZE OF YOUR HAND,

YOU’D THINK THAT SUCH A BEAST WOULD HAVE A CROAK TO MATCH.

YET THE GOLIATH FROG IS A MUTE.

IT DOESN’T POSSESS A VOCAL SAC, RENDERING IT COMPLETELY SILENT.

BUT WHAT IT LACKS IN NOISE, \hIT MAKES UP FOR IN LEAP.

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE GOLIATH FROG HAS ENORMOUS, POWERFUL LEGS,

WHICH CATAPULT IT OVER TEN FEET IN A SINGLE BOUND.

ONCE IN THE WATER, THIS BEHEMOTH DEPLOYS ITS HUGE WEBBED FEET

\h\h\h\h\hAND TRANSFORMS INTO AN OLYMPIC SWIMMER.

\h\hALTHOUGH THESE GOLIATH FROGS HAVE BEEN AROUND LONGER THAN US,

SIGHTINGS ARE RARE,

AND WE STILL HAVE A LOT \hTO LEARN ABOUT THEM.

OUR FAMILY OF FREAKS HAS MANY WEIRD AND WONDERFUL ABILITIES,

FROM BONE CLAWS AND GLASS SKIN

\hTO ANTIFREEZE BLOOD AND DEADLY POISONS...

\hFROM THE JUMPERS AND CLIMBERS TO THE KILLERS AND HIGH FLYERS.

SO NEXT TIME YOU’RE DOWN AT THE CREEK,

\h\h\h\hREMEMBER, THIS IS NO CARDBOARD HOUSE OF HORRORS,

IT’S NATURE’S REAL FREAK SHOW.