Original subtitles

.

NARRATOR: WHEN YOU SEE THIS SYMBOL, YOU KNOW YOU'RE WATCHING

TELEVISION THAT'S EDUCATIONAL AND INFORMATIONAL.

THE MORE YOU KNOW ON NBC.

DYLAN: HI, I'M DYLAN DREYER.

WE'RE TAKING A SEA CRUISE IN SEARCH OF AMAZING WILD ANIMALS

RIGHT HERE ON EARTH ODYSSEY.

COMING UP, THIS ENORMOUS OCEAN BIRD IS A FABULOUS FLYER AND A

DEDICATED THIEF.

AND WHAT LOOKS LIKE A DELICATE FLOWER IS ACTUALLY A TREACHEROUS

PREDATOR.

PLUS, WE EXPLORE THE STRANGE CASE OF THE MUDSKIPPER.

AND A WILD BOXING BOUT ON THE OCEAN FLOOR.

INCREDIBLE CREATURES IN THE WORLD'S WATERS ARE JUST AHEAD ON

EARTH ODYSSEY.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: WHERE LAND, SEA, AND AIR MEET, ANIMALS MUST ADAPT.

ONE SEABIRD HAS SACRIFICED A LIFE-SAVING ATTRIBUTE IN

EXCHANGE FOR A CRAFTY SURVIVAL SKILL.

THE LIGHT-AS-A-FEATHER FRIGATE BIRD HAS BECOME LESS OF A FISHER

AND MORE OF A THIEF.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: WITH THEIR UNMISTAKABLE SILHOUETTE, IT'S EASY TO IMAGINE

THESE SEABIRDS CRUISING THE WORLD'S OCEANS IN THE TIME OF

THE DINOSAURS.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: THE FRIGATE BIRD'S UNFORGETTABLE LOOK IS THANKS TO

ITS SEVEN TO EIGHT FOOT WINGSPAN AND FORKED TAIL.

THESE REMARKABLE FLYERS CAN TRAVEL FOR WEEKS ON END WITHOUT

REST.

BUT TO ACHIEVE SUCH A LIGHTNESS OF BEING, THEY'VE THROWN ANY

EXTRA WEIGHT OVERBOARD.

THEY HAVE MORE AIR IN THEIR BONES THAN ANY OTHER BIRD, WHICH

MEANS THEIR SKELETON IS EVEN LIGHTER THAN THEIR FEATHERS.

THEY HAVE TINY FEET.

AND THEY'VE DONE AWAY WITH THEIR OIL GLANDS, MEANING THESE

SEABIRDS ARE NOT WATERPROOF.

IF THEY GET WET, FRIGATEBIRDS CAN BECOME WATERLOGGED AND

DROWN.

IT'S A SERIOUS DRAWBACK WHEN YOUR RESTAURANT IS THE SEA.

BUT FRIGATEBIRDS HAVE FOUND A WAY TO DEAL WITH THIS PROBLEM.

STEAL THE CATCH.

DOWN BELOW, A PACK OF SAILFISH ARE HUNTING SARDINES, CHASING A

SMALL SCHOOL TO THE SURFACE.

IT'S A TRICK THE FRIGATEBIRDS HAVE LEARNED TO EXPLOIT.

A SAILFISH INJURES A SARDINE.

THE FRIGATE BIRD IS READY.

BUT FEEDING FRENZIES ARE HARD TO COME BY.

AND WHEN SURFACE FISH ARE IN SHORT SUPPLY, THE FRIGATES WILL

NEED TO RESORT TO MORE DEVIOUS TACTICS IN ORDER TO LAND A

CATCH.

THE GALAPAGOS ISLAND IS A HAVEN FOR A VARIETY OF NESTING

SEABIRDS.

THEY CAN'T MATCH THE FLYING EFFICIENCY OF THE FRIGATES, BUT

MOST ARE EXCELLENT DIVERS WITH A FULLY WATERPROOF PLUMAGE.

THEY CAN GET WET AND STILL FLY, UNLIKE THE FRIGATEBIRDS.

BUT THESE SEABIRDS CAN'T FISH IN PEACE.

TO TAKE HOME THEIR CATCH, THEY HAVE TO FIGHT OFF MID-AIR

ASSAULTS FROM THE FRIGATEBIRDS.

THE SOLE PURPOSE OF THESE ATTACKS IS TO MAKE THEM

REGURGITATE THEIR LOOT.

[MUSIC, BIRDS SQUAWKING]

DYLAN: THE BIRDS HOLD ON AS LONG AS THEY CAN, BUT THE HARASSMENT

ONLY ENDS WHEN THE FISH ARE SURRENDERED.

THE FRIGATEBIRD COULD EASILY BE MISTAKEN FOR A HEARTLESS OCEAN

TRAVELER.

BUT WHEN IT COMES TO RAISING THEIR OWN CHICKS, THEY ARE THE

AVIAN WORLD'S MOST DEDICATED PARENTS, PROVIDING AN EXTENDED

LEVEL OF CARE THAT'S LONGER THAN ANY OTHER BIRD.

THEY FEED THEIR YOUNG FOR AROUND SEVEN MONTHS AND SPEND MANY MORE

TEACHING THEM HOW TO SURVIVE THE OPEN OCEAN.

SURVIVAL IS FAR FROM GUARANTEED, BUT THOSE CHICKS THAT MAKE IT GO

ON TO SOAR ABOVE THE OCEAN IN AN UNFORGETTABLE WAY.

COMING UP, THESE COLORFUL SWIMMERS LIVE INSIDE A MASS OF

STINGING TENTACLES.

HOW DO THEY DO IT?

PLUS, TALK ABOUT A FISH OUT OF WATER.

MEET ONE OF NATURE'S TRULY TRANSITIONAL CHARACTERS.

AND THIS SEA CREATURE REALLY PACKS A PUNCH.

MORE WILD OCEAN DWELLERS WHEN EARTH ODYSSEY RETURNS.

NARRATOR: WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK TO THE MORE YOU KNOW ON NBC.

.

NARRATOR: WE NOW RETURN TO THE MORE YOU KNOW ON NBC.

[MUSIC] .

DYLAN: BEING SMALL IS A RISKY BUSINESS.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: SIZE MATTERS IN THE OCEAN FOOD CHAIN.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: LEARNING HOW TO EVADE PREDATORS IS ESSENTIAL IF YOU

WANT TO LIVE A LONG LIFE.

BUT SOME FISH HAVE DEVELOPED VERY CLEVER SURVIVAL STRATEGIES.

LIKE THE HARDY CLOWNFISH.

THEY OWE IT ALL TO THEIR VIP RELATIONSHIP WITH ANEMONES.

ANEMONES ARE PREDATORY MARINE ANIMALS LIKE CORAL, AND THEIR

TENTACLES ARE ALWAYS OUT.

THESE SOFT-BONED ANIMALS LIKE TO EAT SMALL FISH.

BUT CLOWNFISH HAVE FOUND A WAY TO LIVE IN HARMONY WITH THE

DEADLY STINGER, THANKS TO A COMPLEX CHEMICAL RELATIONSHIP

THAT IS FORGED EVEN BEFORE BIRTH.

A PAIR OF CLOWNFISH ARE LAYING THEIR EGGS RIGHT BESIDE THEIR

HOST ANEMONE.

THIS ALLOWS ITS SMELL TO BE IMPRINTED ON THEIR NEW BROOD.

THEY GUARD THE EGGS CLOSELY AS THEY MATURE.

A WEEK LATER, THE LARVAE ARE READY TO BREAK FREE AND FIND A

HOME OF THEIR OWN.

MOST WILL BECOME FISH FOOD AS THEY DRIFT ON THE CURRENTS.

BUT IF THEY CAN SURVIVE FOR TWO WEEKS, THEY'LL BE READY TO

SETTLE ON THE REEF.

AND IF THEY CAN FIND THE RIGHT ANEMONE, THEY'LL HAVE AN

EXCELLENT CHANCE OF LIVING A LONG AND PEACEFUL LIFE.

TO LIVE INSIDE THE TENTACLES, THE YOUNG CLOWNFISH HAVE TO

ACCLIMATIZE THEIR BODIES TO STINGING TENTACLES.

A PROTECTIVE MUCUS LAYER AROUND THEIR BODIES ALLOWS THEM TO

SURVIVE WHEN THEY ARE STUNG.

EVENTUALLY, THE ANEMONE WILL STOP FIRING ITS TINY DARTS OF

POISON, RECOGNIZING UTILIZING THE FISH AS PART OF ITSELF.

BUT EVEN GOOD TENANTS HAVE TO PAY RENT.

BUTTERFLY FISH LIKE TO EAT ANEMONES, AND THE CLOWNFISH ACT

LIKE SECURITY GUARDS.

CLOWNFISH CLEAN THEIR HOST, AND AS THE FISH HIDE IN THE

TENTACLES, THEY INCREASE WATER FLOW, IMPROVING OXYGEN SUPPLY.

AT NIGHT, SOME CLOWNFISH ACTIVELY FAN THEIR HOSTS TO HELP

THEM BREATHE.

THE PARTNERSHIP IS SO SUCCESSFUL THAT ALL 30 SPECIES OF CLOWNFISH

IN THE WILD CALL ANEMONES HOME.

IT'S A LONG-LASTING ALLIANCE ON THE REEF BATTLEGROUND.

COMING UP, IT FEELS LIKE STEPPING BACK IN TIME.

MEET A MODERN-DAY EVOLUTIONARY WONDER.

AND HOW DO YOU BEAT AN EIGHT-ARMED OPPONENT?

THIS UNDERSEA FIGHTER HAS A SECRET WEAPON.

MORE SEA STORIES WHEN EARTH ODYSSEY COMES RIGHT BACK.

NARRATOR: WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK TO THE MORE YOU KNOW ON NBC.

.

NARRATOR: WE NOW RETURN TO THE MORE YOU KNOW ON NBC.

[MUSIC] B.

DYLAN: SOME ANIMALS SEEM LIKE THROWBACKS TO A PREHISTORIC TIME

OR EXAMPLES OF EVOLUTION IN ACTION.

THE MUDSKIPPER IS ONE OF THEM.

MEET A FISH WHO IS HAPPY ON LAND AND NOT AFRAID TO DEFEND ITS

SQUISHY TERRITORY.

MANGROVES ARE THE INTERTIDAL WONDERLAND, PERFECT FOR THE

MUDSKIPPER'S UNIQUE BIOLOGY.

[MUSIC, WATER LAPPING]

DYLAN: THIS DISTINCTIVE FISH IS LIKE A WINDOW TO EVOLUTION 400

MILLION YEARS AGO.

A HALFWAY STEP BETWEEN THE LIFE IN THE WATER AND ON LAND.

SPECIALLY ADAPTED FINS PROPEL THEM ACROSS THE MUDFLATS.

AS LONG AS THEY STAY WET, MUDSKIPPERS CAN REMAIN OUT OF

THE WATER FOR EXTENDED PERIODS.

THEY CARRY MOISTURE INSIDE THEIR MOUTHS AND ENLARGED GILL SACS.

AND THEY CAN EXTRACT OXYGEN DIRECTLY FROM THEIR DAMP SKIN.

THAT MEANS AS LONG AS MUDSKIPPERS STAY WET, THESE

AMPHIBIOUS FISH CAN EFFECTIVELY BREATHE THROUGH THEIR MOUTHS.

AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES THEM SO SUCCESSFUL ON THESE MUDDY FLATS.

DURING HIGH TIDE, THE MUDSKIPPERS WALLOW IN THE WARM

SHALLOWS.

BUT AS THE WATERS RECEDE, THE TERRITORIAL MALE GETS A GOOD

LOOK AT THE COMPETITION.

AT LOW TIDE, THEY GET BUSY.

EACH HAS A U-SHAPED BURROW, SOME MORE THAN THREE FEET DEEP.

THEY WORK TO KEEP THAT BURROW OPEN, DESPITE THE CONSTANT

INFLUX OF WATER AND SEDIMENT.

IT'S HERE THAT A FEMALE WILL LAY HER EGGS.

THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE IS KEEPING INTRUDERS OUT.

SOME MUDSKIPPERS BUILD WALLS AROUND THEIR HOMES TO MARK OUT

THE NO-GO ZONE.

[WATER SPLASHING]

DYLAN: AND INVASIONS ARE NOT APPRECIATED.

TEMPERS RAGE WHEN A HOME INVADER REFUSES TO LEAVE.

[MUSIC, SQUELCHING]

DYLAN: THE FISH USE THEIR GAPING MOUTHS LIKE SUCKERS,

AIMING TO GET A HOLD.

LUCKILY, THESE FIGHTS ARE MOSTLY JUST A DISPLAY OF POWER AND

DOMINANCE.

A WINNING MALE WATCHES AS HIS CHALLENGER SLINKS AWAY.

MUDSKIPPER DADS WILL GUARD THE EGGS IN THEIR BURROW, WARDING

OFF ANY INTRUDERS UNTIL A NEW GENERATION HATCHES.

COMING UP, THIS CRUSTACEAN CAN STRIKE FASTER THAN A SPEEDING

BULLET.

AND THAT'S NO TALL TALE.

FIND OUT WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT WHEN EARTH ODYSSEY RETURNS.

NARRATOR: WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK TO THE MORE YOU KNOW ON NBC.

.

NARRATOR: WE NOW RETURN TO THE MORE YOU KNOW ON NBC.

[MUSIC] .

DYLAN: SOME SMALL MARINE CREATURES ARE ALWAYS READY FOR

A FIGHT.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: MANTIS SHRIMP ARE BOLD FOR THEIR SIZE BECAUSE THEY'RE

EQUIPPED WITH A SECRET WEAPON.

IT'S NOT THEIR EXTRAORDINARY EYES WHICH CAN SPOT PREY AND

PREDATOR IN A 360 DEGREE FIELD.

THEY HAVE A SPECIALIZED APPENDAGE,

WHICH MAKES THEM A FOE TO BE FEARED.

THE PEACOCK MANTIS SHRIMP HAS THE MOST POWERFUL PUNCH IN THE

ANIMAL KINGDOM.

DRIVEN BY A NETWORK OF EXOSKELETON SPRINGS, THE CLUB

CAN ACCELERATE FASTER THAN A SPEEDING BULLET.

SMASHING THROUGH THE TOUGH SHELL OF A CRUSTACEAN PREY.

THE MANTIS SHRIMP'S WEAPONS ARE USED FOR MORE THAN HUNTING.

THIS OCTOPUS IS ABOUT TO FEEL THE FURY OF THE BLUE-LEGGED

MANTIS SHRIMP.

IT'S FIERCELY TERRITORIAL.

EVEN WHEN THERE IS NOTHING TO DEFEND BUT A MUDDY PATCH OF SEA

FLOOR.

THE COLORFUL CRUSTACEAN RISES IN A THREATENING POSTURE.

THE MANTIS SHRIMP HAS ENTERED THE BOXING RING.

IT NEEDS THIS TRESPASSER TO UNDERSTAND ITS TERRITORIAL

LIMITS.

THE OCTOPUS GETS THE MESSAGE LOUD AND CLEAR.

HE RETREATS TO FIND ANOTHER BATTLEFIELD.

PERHAPS WITH AN ADVERSARY WHO'S NOT SO WELL EQUIPPED.

WE'VE JUST SEEN HOW AN ANIMAL'S LIFE CAN BE CHANGED IN AN

INSTANT ON LAND OR IN WATER.

I'M DYLAN DREYER.

WE HOPE YOU'LL COME BACK AGAIN FOR ANOTHER EXCITING EXPLORATION

OF THE ANIMAL KINGDOM, RIGHT HERE ON EARTH ODYSSEY.

[MUSIC]