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On the western coast
of South Africa lies a harsh
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00:00:08,141 --> 00:00:11,478
and unforgiving world.
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00:00:11,478 --> 00:00:13,413
Minimal rainfall
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00:00:13,413 --> 00:00:17,618
makes this land a challenging
place for creatures to inhabit.
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00:00:21,121 --> 00:00:24,725
For ten months of the year,
it's a desert.
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00:00:28,095 --> 00:00:31,398
But each year
for a short spurt of time,
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00:00:31,398 --> 00:00:35,502
the rains give birth
to a plethora of plant species.
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00:00:38,472 --> 00:00:40,540
And the land bursts open
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to reveal a bounty of life.
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00:00:46,079 --> 00:00:48,815
Transforming from desert
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00:00:48,815 --> 00:00:51,285
to floral oasis.
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00:00:55,155 --> 00:00:58,525
This is Namaqualand.
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♪♪
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00:01:10,570 --> 00:01:15,542
♪♪
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Lying in the corner
of the Karoo,
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Namaqualand is one of southern
Africa's botanical treasures.
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At just under
170,000 square miles,
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it's even bigger
than the state of California.
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00:01:54,781 --> 00:01:59,319
Every year,
Namaqualand leads two lives.
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00:02:02,022 --> 00:02:03,690
For the majority of the year,
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the semi-desert
offers very little sustenance.
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00:02:09,730 --> 00:02:11,732
Everything that lives here
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00:02:11,732 --> 00:02:14,735
is forced to match its needs
to the meager nature
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00:02:14,735 --> 00:02:18,338
of its environment.
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00:02:18,338 --> 00:02:21,341
Adopting fascinating
methods of survival
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00:02:21,341 --> 00:02:24,745
in order to live
in this hostile land.
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00:02:28,148 --> 00:02:31,551
It is a harsh and barren realm.
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00:02:36,223 --> 00:02:40,227
Life is a struggle
for every species.
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00:02:42,596 --> 00:02:46,533
But this is only one side
of Namaqualand.
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00:02:48,535 --> 00:02:52,406
The winter rains awaken
an entirely new version
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of this land.
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A land of abundance.
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For two months,
the region bursts with life.
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And the species that struggled
through the dry summer
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00:03:17,130 --> 00:03:18,632
are rewarded.
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00:03:29,743 --> 00:03:32,112
It becomes a haven,
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00:03:32,112 --> 00:03:36,283
providing generously
for all creatures.
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00:03:44,458 --> 00:03:49,463
But just as quickly
as it transforms to an oasis,
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00:03:49,463 --> 00:03:52,099
it reverts back to a desert.
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00:03:57,471 --> 00:04:00,140
And the struggle
to survive continues
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00:04:00,140 --> 00:04:02,375
for another ten months.
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00:04:11,751 --> 00:04:16,556
This is the double-sided life
of Namaqualand.
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♪
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00:04:45,051 --> 00:05:01,401
♪
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00:05:01,401 --> 00:05:03,470
It's summer
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and Namaqualand is bone dry.
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00:05:11,278 --> 00:05:16,283
Temperatures regularly creep
over 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
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The land is scorched,
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00:05:24,391 --> 00:05:27,794
And blisteringly hot winds
stir up dust clouds,
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making it difficult
for anything to grow.
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00:05:41,708 --> 00:05:44,044
But one particular creature
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relishes in the abundant sand
Namaqualand has on offer.
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00:05:57,357 --> 00:06:00,260
King of the underground -
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or in this case, queen.
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00:06:09,502 --> 00:06:12,472
Spending most of the time
buried in the sand,
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00:06:12,472 --> 00:06:16,109
Mole snakes are well adapted
to survive the dryness
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00:06:16,109 --> 00:06:17,744
of Namaqualand.
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00:06:20,213 --> 00:06:23,316
This particular female
is a mother.
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00:06:36,563 --> 00:06:38,765
In comparison
to most Mole snakes,
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00:06:38,765 --> 00:06:42,135
she has a
relatively small family.
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00:06:47,274 --> 00:06:51,678
Females can have
up to 95 offspring.
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00:06:54,047 --> 00:06:55,682
For these juveniles,
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00:06:55,682 --> 00:07:00,086
this arid time of year
is their opportunity for growth.
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00:07:05,292 --> 00:07:10,497
From the moment they were born,
they have been independent.
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00:07:12,165 --> 00:07:15,335
Slowly but surely, one by one,
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00:07:15,335 --> 00:07:20,040
they peel off
and venture out on their own.
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00:07:23,610 --> 00:07:26,313
Their patterned markings
will fade over time,
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00:07:26,313 --> 00:07:30,083
and soon they will be
the same shade as their mother.
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00:07:34,254 --> 00:07:37,023
These youngsters
will eat small lizards,
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00:07:37,023 --> 00:07:40,627
until they are large enough
to start hunting mammals.
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00:07:44,064 --> 00:07:48,368
Their mother
has no further duties.
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00:07:48,368 --> 00:07:51,738
She must now focus
on fending for herself.
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00:07:59,212 --> 00:08:01,381
Mole snakes
bury themselves in sand
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00:08:01,381 --> 00:08:04,517
to stay sheltered
from the relentless heat.
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00:08:06,753 --> 00:08:12,459
Her angular snout and small head
allow her to burrow deep.
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00:08:15,595 --> 00:08:17,497
But when she wants to move,
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00:08:17,497 --> 00:08:21,468
she needs the sun to heat up
her cold-blooded body.
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00:08:35,081 --> 00:08:38,385
Before she begins her search
for an unsuspecting Mole-rat,
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00:08:38,385 --> 00:08:41,388
she tests the chemical particles
in the air
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00:08:41,388 --> 00:08:44,457
by flicking her forked tongue -
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00:08:48,328 --> 00:08:53,133
Helping her to decide which way
she must go to find her prey,
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but also to avoid
potential danger.
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00:09:02,542 --> 00:09:05,211
The Mole snake is non-venomous
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and doesn't have many defense
strategies if danger approaches.
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She must live cautiously.
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She continues her search.
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00:10:06,072 --> 00:10:09,542
Emerging from his intricate
network of underground burrows,
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00:10:09,542 --> 00:10:13,646
a Mole-rat starts his search
for a new home.
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00:10:20,153 --> 00:10:23,089
He likes to lead
a solitary life.
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00:10:25,625 --> 00:10:28,761
But others have started
moving in to his neighborhood
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00:10:28,761 --> 00:10:33,533
so he's decided it's time to
construct a new home elsewhere.
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00:10:40,306 --> 00:10:43,443
Everything about his body is
designed to sustain
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a subterranean existence.
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00:10:48,715 --> 00:10:50,450
His protruding teeth
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allow him to carve his way
deep into the earth.
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00:10:57,190 --> 00:11:01,628
His pliant skin allows him to
squeeze through narrow burrows.
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And his prominent claws
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help him move the excavated
earth out of his way.
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00:11:15,808 --> 00:11:21,381
His day to day diet consists of
grass, roots and geophytes;
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00:11:21,381 --> 00:11:24,817
plants that survive the summer
by lying in bulb form
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beneath the soil.
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00:11:28,154 --> 00:11:33,459
But they are defenseless against
these poor sighted bandits.
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00:11:46,673 --> 00:11:48,508
After much searching
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00:11:48,508 --> 00:11:51,578
the Mole-rat has found
a suitable spot to set up camp
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00:11:51,578 --> 00:11:54,681
and he wastes no time
getting to work.
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00:12:07,393 --> 00:12:13,232
He's an expert digger and well
suited to this world of sand.
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00:12:19,539 --> 00:12:23,276
Considering their small sizes
of 12 inches,
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00:12:23,276 --> 00:12:26,245
their underground
homes are very large.
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00:12:36,589 --> 00:12:40,660
Some build burrows
up to 1000 feet long.
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00:12:42,161 --> 00:12:43,730
His burrow complete,
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00:12:43,730 --> 00:12:47,400
the Mole-rat retreats back
to safety underground.
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Good thing too.
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For over the dunes the Mole
snake is still on the hunt,
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00:13:02,582 --> 00:13:06,486
But the burrowers are not
the only rats on the menu.
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Brant's whistling rat is found
only in the south western region
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of southern Africa
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Where it has adapted
its diet and routine
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to suit the aridity
of Namaqualand.
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00:13:25,271 --> 00:13:27,206
During the long summer months
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resources are scarce,
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00:13:29,342 --> 00:13:32,445
so groups of rats
have evolved to cooperate
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to ensure their survival.
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00:13:38,317 --> 00:13:39,786
These rats work together
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00:13:39,786 --> 00:13:42,789
to build a complex system
of burrows.
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00:13:47,093 --> 00:13:48,361
Each structure
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00:13:48,361 --> 00:13:50,430
can have up to twenty entrances,
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00:13:50,430 --> 00:13:53,666
allowing the members of the
colony to make a quick escape
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00:13:53,666 --> 00:13:55,568
if danger is near.
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00:13:58,638 --> 00:14:03,376
Unlike most rodents, Brant's
whistling rats are diurnal.
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They need the security
of sunlight
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00:14:07,046 --> 00:14:10,283
in order to avoid
their nocturnal predators.
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00:14:13,720 --> 00:14:17,423
Their only warning system
is a distinct whistle,
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00:14:17,423 --> 00:14:20,460
which they emit
when feeling threatened.
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00:14:25,698 --> 00:14:31,237
As soon as other members of the
colony hear this warning alert,
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00:14:31,237 --> 00:14:34,407
they dash
into their nearby tunnels.
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00:14:41,247 --> 00:14:43,082
During the dry season,
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00:14:43,082 --> 00:14:46,552
these gregarious creatures
reside mostly below ground
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00:14:46,552 --> 00:14:49,522
in order to avoid
the stifling heat.
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00:14:51,591 --> 00:14:56,162
But they do need to forage
above ground occasionally.
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00:15:03,669 --> 00:15:05,605
Exclusively herbivorous,
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they eat mostly succulents
and bulbs in summer
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00:15:09,142 --> 00:15:12,612
and whatever other plant
material they can forage.
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00:15:14,480 --> 00:15:16,382
All the plants here
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00:15:16,382 --> 00:15:21,487
have also adapted to endure
Namaqualand's harsh conditions.
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00:15:21,487 --> 00:15:26,359
Shrubs grow long roots in order
to access underground moisture.
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00:15:29,529 --> 00:15:33,666
Succulents store water
in their leaves and stems.
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00:15:35,501 --> 00:15:37,603
But despite their adaptations
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00:15:37,603 --> 00:15:41,440
they're defenseless
against the rat's appetite.
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00:15:45,144 --> 00:15:46,579
It's May.
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00:15:47,480 --> 00:15:49,715
Winter is approaching.
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00:15:51,484 --> 00:15:54,253
The falling temperatures will
allow the whistling rats
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to spend more time above ground.
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And in a few months,
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floral treats
will feature in their diet.
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00:16:07,233 --> 00:16:11,170
But before any animal can begin
the springtime gorge,
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00:16:11,170 --> 00:16:14,307
the rains need to arrive.
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00:16:17,577 --> 00:16:22,415
The dry, barren lands
wait patiently.
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00:16:34,493 --> 00:16:37,530
At last they come.
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00:17:23,442 --> 00:17:26,612
The majority of Namaqualand's
annual rainfall
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occurs during June and July.
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00:17:40,426 --> 00:17:43,162
Moisture surges
through the landscape,
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allowing the desert
to breath once again.
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Following the winter rains,
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the land transforms
dramatically.
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00:18:04,684 --> 00:18:06,986
In the North of Namaqualand,
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00:18:06,986 --> 00:18:11,090
this sudden influx of water
is immediately visible.
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00:18:16,662 --> 00:18:18,698
The Nieuwoudtville waterfall
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flows rapidly
after the winter rains.
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00:18:36,315 --> 00:18:40,219
A black spitting cobra
basks in the sun.
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The flush of new life
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will provide it with many more
opportunities to feed.
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The waterfall serves as a refuge
for the animals of the region
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for the next two months;
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00:18:59,038 --> 00:19:03,042
A welcome break
from the ten months of drought.
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00:19:15,454 --> 00:19:17,223
The low winter temperatures
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00:19:17,223 --> 00:19:21,227
allow the plant life to soak up
the available moisture.
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00:19:31,704 --> 00:19:33,672
After a ten month slumber,
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00:19:33,672 --> 00:19:39,378
Namaqualand restarts its annual
routine of rapid growth.
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Bringing the land to life.
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00:19:46,652 --> 00:19:50,456
The flowers burst into bloom
across the desert,
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blanketing the landscape
in a kaleidoscope of colors.
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The region turns into a utopia,
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00:20:15,681 --> 00:20:17,550
with weird and wonderful flowers
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00:20:17,550 --> 00:20:20,319
speckled
across the desert floor.
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00:20:37,536 --> 00:20:40,506
These plants utilize
this time of moisture
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00:20:40,506 --> 00:20:43,309
to germinate
and spread their seeds.
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Once the earth
has soaked up all the rain,
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some of this flora
will die in a matter of weeks.
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00:20:57,123 --> 00:21:00,392
These seeds
then lie dormant in the soil,
190
00:21:00,392 --> 00:21:04,096
waiting for the ensuing
winter rains.
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00:21:07,700 --> 00:21:10,369
And the cycle recommences.
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00:21:14,540 --> 00:21:17,610
Some even lie dormant for years,
193
00:21:17,610 --> 00:21:22,181
waiting for the right amount
of rain to coax them to life.
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00:21:30,623 --> 00:21:35,461
It takes resilience and patience
to survive here.
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00:21:42,601 --> 00:21:44,637
The plants' coping strategies
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00:21:44,637 --> 00:21:46,672
are not
the only intriguing aspect
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00:21:46,672 --> 00:21:49,308
of Namaqualand's floral life.
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00:21:59,652 --> 00:22:03,355
The sheer number of species
in this expanse
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00:22:03,355 --> 00:22:06,692
proves how unique
this land really is.
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00:22:12,131 --> 00:22:16,035
An astounding
3,800 species of plants
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00:22:16,035 --> 00:22:19,505
cover this area in spring.
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00:22:23,609 --> 00:22:25,811
Almost 30% of these
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00:22:25,811 --> 00:22:29,381
are found nowhere else on earth.
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00:22:36,822 --> 00:22:39,191
Namaqualand truly is
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00:22:39,191 --> 00:22:42,661
an incredible haven
of biodiversity.
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00:22:45,798 --> 00:22:49,401
Although the winter rainfall
triggers life in Namaqualand,
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00:22:49,401 --> 00:22:54,773
the flowers also depend on other
helpers to secure their futures.
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00:22:56,709 --> 00:23:00,179
Whether it be
the beaks of sunbirds
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00:23:02,114 --> 00:23:04,516
The tongues of flies
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00:23:06,719 --> 00:23:09,688
Or the body hairs of beetles
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00:23:12,191 --> 00:23:15,127
Every pollinator
plays a crucial role
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00:23:15,127 --> 00:23:18,597
in the maintenance
of Namaqualand's garden.
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00:23:23,402 --> 00:23:26,105
If the rain is the compost,
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00:23:26,105 --> 00:23:29,775
the pollinators
are the gardeners.
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00:23:32,411 --> 00:23:34,780
There are far more
species of flowers
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00:23:34,780 --> 00:23:38,484
than there are pollinators,
217
00:23:38,484 --> 00:23:43,455
So every plant competes to
attract the insects and birds,
218
00:23:43,455 --> 00:23:47,693
adopting brilliant colors
and flashy patterns.
219
00:23:50,729 --> 00:23:53,565
It's a race against time
for these flowers,
220
00:23:53,565 --> 00:23:56,602
and only the attractive win.
221
00:24:09,181 --> 00:24:13,552
Monkey beetles use visual cues
as a pollination guide.
222
00:24:24,229 --> 00:24:25,764
They use these flowers
223
00:24:25,764 --> 00:24:29,034
not only as a food source,
224
00:24:29,034 --> 00:24:32,137
but also as a mating site.
225
00:24:35,474 --> 00:24:40,446
And some flowers have evolved
to take full advantage of this.
226
00:24:42,381 --> 00:24:47,086
Various black marks, otherwise
known as "beetle marks",
227
00:24:47,086 --> 00:24:50,055
can be seen
on some species of flowers.
228
00:24:51,623 --> 00:24:54,660
These markings
are both ingenious,
229
00:24:54,660 --> 00:24:56,662
and deceptive.
230
00:25:00,165 --> 00:25:03,702
The beetles gravitate towards
these distinctive plants,
231
00:25:03,702 --> 00:25:07,373
tricked by the promise
of a potential mate.
232
00:25:08,707 --> 00:25:11,176
After rolling around
in the pollen,
233
00:25:11,176 --> 00:25:13,412
and discovering no such mate,
234
00:25:13,412 --> 00:25:16,448
the beetles
have fulfilled their function.
235
00:25:19,251 --> 00:25:21,487
Their numerous wiry body hairs
236
00:25:21,487 --> 00:25:26,358
distribute the pollen as they
flutter from flower to flower.
237
00:25:34,733 --> 00:25:38,737
In this way the flowers have
evolved a cunning method
238
00:25:38,737 --> 00:25:41,140
to ensure their future.
239
00:25:47,746 --> 00:25:50,716
While monkey beetles
are able to pollinate
240
00:25:50,716 --> 00:25:53,485
any flower of their choosing,
241
00:25:53,485 --> 00:25:56,789
other insects are more specific.
242
00:26:00,492 --> 00:26:03,095
The Namaqualand
tangle-veined fly
243
00:26:03,095 --> 00:26:05,230
is only able to pollinate plants
244
00:26:05,230 --> 00:26:08,500
that can host
his larger than average tongue.
245
00:26:24,783 --> 00:26:27,119
Although this non retractable
246
00:26:27,119 --> 00:26:31,323
2 inch long appendage may seem
like an inconvenience,
247
00:26:31,323 --> 00:26:35,727
it benefits him substantially.
248
00:26:35,727 --> 00:26:42,367
He is the sole pollinator of the
long tubed, Meidestert flower.
249
00:26:43,769 --> 00:26:47,539
The flower and the fly
have coevolved,
250
00:26:47,539 --> 00:26:49,641
forming a close mutualism.
251
00:26:51,643 --> 00:26:55,113
The fly is guaranteed
sweet, sugary nectar
252
00:26:55,113 --> 00:26:56,748
at the base of the bloom,
253
00:26:56,748 --> 00:26:59,985
which only he has access to
254
00:26:59,985 --> 00:27:03,055
while the flower
has an exclusive pollinator
255
00:27:03,055 --> 00:27:06,024
and doesn't
have to compete with others.
256
00:27:10,028 --> 00:27:15,367
These flies and flowers are
found only in South Africa.
257
00:27:19,638 --> 00:27:23,542
Although they have private
access to the Meidestert flower,
258
00:27:23,542 --> 00:27:29,014
the craft of pollinating them
may take some time to perfect.
259
00:27:29,014 --> 00:27:31,450
Having a tongue
bigger than one's body
260
00:27:31,450 --> 00:27:34,586
can prove difficult to maneuver.
261
00:27:37,389 --> 00:27:40,058
While Namaqualand's
plants and pollinators
262
00:27:40,058 --> 00:27:41,693
have evolved hand in hand
263
00:27:41,693 --> 00:27:43,629
there is one relationship
264
00:27:43,629 --> 00:27:49,535
that has a much greater effect
on the landscape than any other.
265
00:27:49,535 --> 00:27:53,171
The Gorteria diffusa
is a species of flower,
266
00:27:53,171 --> 00:27:56,608
commonly called
the Beetle daisy.
267
00:27:57,442 --> 00:27:59,478
This particular species
268
00:27:59,478 --> 00:28:02,114
stands out
from other Namaqualand flowers
269
00:28:02,114 --> 00:28:04,383
for one specific reason.
270
00:28:07,252 --> 00:28:12,291
Over time, it has morphed into
15 different versions
271
00:28:12,291 --> 00:28:14,393
of the same orange flower.
272
00:28:17,629 --> 00:28:22,768
But every single version
attracts the same creature.
273
00:28:22,768 --> 00:28:25,237
The Megapalpus fly.
274
00:28:28,173 --> 00:28:31,343
When plants adapt
into different variations,
275
00:28:31,343 --> 00:28:35,347
it's usually in an attempt to
attract various pollinators,
276
00:28:35,347 --> 00:28:39,251
increasing their chance
of being pollinated.
277
00:28:41,653 --> 00:28:45,724
The Gorteria's extraordinary
adaptation is therefore unique
278
00:28:45,724 --> 00:28:48,594
because it's not caused
by an attempt to attract
279
00:28:48,594 --> 00:28:50,629
different pollinators.
280
00:28:54,633 --> 00:28:57,803
Rather, the different versions
get pollinated
281
00:28:57,803 --> 00:29:01,940
by the same species
of fly in different ways.
282
00:29:03,208 --> 00:29:05,410
One particular version
of the flower
283
00:29:05,410 --> 00:29:08,614
mimics the body of a fly
so accurately
284
00:29:08,614 --> 00:29:11,583
that the male often ends up
attempting to mate
285
00:29:11,583 --> 00:29:14,086
with the
raised spot on the petals.
286
00:29:16,622 --> 00:29:19,257
He gets completely
covered in pollen,
287
00:29:19,257 --> 00:29:22,527
and helps to
pollinate other beetle daisies.
288
00:29:24,062 --> 00:29:26,298
Another version of the Gorteria
289
00:29:26,298 --> 00:29:29,468
has adopted
a very different strategy.
290
00:29:31,703 --> 00:29:34,506
When the fly lands
in this flower
291
00:29:34,506 --> 00:29:39,444
the petals close, capturing
the fly inside for the night.
292
00:29:41,713 --> 00:29:44,716
But this is not
an act of predation.
293
00:29:46,351 --> 00:29:48,186
The flower does this
294
00:29:48,186 --> 00:29:51,223
so that the fly will get
thoroughly coated in pollen
295
00:29:51,223 --> 00:29:52,724
throughout the night.
296
00:29:55,761 --> 00:29:59,564
The petals even have
dark colors on the outside,
297
00:29:59,564 --> 00:30:03,235
so that the fly will be heated
up fast when the first
298
00:30:03,235 --> 00:30:04,736
morning light breaks.
299
00:30:11,143 --> 00:30:13,478
Not only
does the fly have a safe,
300
00:30:13,478 --> 00:30:15,647
warm place to spend the night,
301
00:30:15,647 --> 00:30:19,518
but it also gets a breakfast
of pollen upon awakening.
302
00:30:27,626 --> 00:30:30,729
These flowers
make up the majority
303
00:30:30,729 --> 00:30:33,565
of Namaqualand's orange hue.
304
00:30:38,336 --> 00:30:42,474
The Megapalpus fly
is their sole pollinator,
305
00:30:42,474 --> 00:30:44,843
so if this fly
were to disappear,
306
00:30:44,843 --> 00:30:49,247
much of Namaqualand's
orange glory would be lost.
307
00:30:54,820 --> 00:30:59,725
September is a frantic time of
spring feeding and pollinating
308
00:30:59,725 --> 00:31:02,194
for the insects of Namaqualand
309
00:31:04,563 --> 00:31:09,267
and others are quick to take
advantage of the abundance.
310
00:31:12,370 --> 00:31:16,208
Opportunistic cattle egrets
follow herds of antelope,
311
00:31:16,208 --> 00:31:17,609
eating the bugs
312
00:31:17,609 --> 00:31:20,512
that are disturbed
by the roaming animals.
313
00:31:33,291 --> 00:31:37,729
Scorpions
are also on the menu.
314
00:31:37,729 --> 00:31:42,334
But their venom can be deadly.
315
00:31:42,334 --> 00:31:46,671
Fortunately, there's a way for
the egrets to judge the toxicity
316
00:31:46,671 --> 00:31:49,040
of the arachnid.
317
00:31:51,643 --> 00:31:55,747
The bigger the pincers,
the less venomous it is.
318
00:31:57,682 --> 00:32:01,052
So the egrets
pick their meals wisely.
319
00:32:04,422 --> 00:32:06,158
Although not lethal,
320
00:32:06,158 --> 00:32:09,161
the snack can still pinch back.
321
00:32:13,598 --> 00:32:17,269
As soon as the egret finds
a comfortable way to hold it,
322
00:32:17,269 --> 00:32:19,371
he swallows it whole.
323
00:32:23,308 --> 00:32:28,380
His highly acidic stomach
then digests it with ease.
324
00:32:31,716 --> 00:32:35,554
Birds can't afford to hold
excess weight when they eat,
325
00:32:35,554 --> 00:32:38,557
otherwise
they wouldn't be able to fly.
326
00:32:42,727 --> 00:32:46,765
So they need to digest the meal
as quickly as possible.
327
00:32:52,337 --> 00:32:55,407
This way
they gain maximum energy
328
00:32:55,407 --> 00:32:58,176
with minimum consequences.
329
00:33:09,254 --> 00:33:13,258
It's a time
of abundance for all.
330
00:33:17,162 --> 00:33:20,031
The bigger mammals
take this opportunity
331
00:33:20,031 --> 00:33:21,600
to raise their young.
332
00:33:30,609 --> 00:33:33,712
And their dung
helps to fertilize the flowers,
333
00:33:33,712 --> 00:33:35,714
which will foster the new growth
334
00:33:35,714 --> 00:33:39,751
that will continue
through the rest of spring.
335
00:33:50,495 --> 00:33:53,598
There are areas of Namaqualand
that support life
336
00:33:53,598 --> 00:33:55,367
all year round.
337
00:33:59,738 --> 00:34:04,409
The Quiver tree grows in times
of want and of plenty.
338
00:34:09,281 --> 00:34:14,219
Surprisingly, the quiver tree
is not in fact, a tree.
339
00:34:15,620 --> 00:34:20,392
But rather the ultimate
matriarch of aloes;
340
00:34:20,392 --> 00:34:22,260
Plants that are characterized
341
00:34:22,260 --> 00:34:25,397
by their succulent,
rosette-shaped leaves.
342
00:34:35,206 --> 00:34:37,709
In the past,
bushmen used the plants
343
00:34:37,709 --> 00:34:40,445
to make quivers
for their hunting arrows,
344
00:34:40,445 --> 00:34:42,347
hence the name.
345
00:34:46,084 --> 00:34:47,719
Like all aloes,
346
00:34:47,719 --> 00:34:51,156
the Quiver tree is well adapted
to the harsh environment
347
00:34:51,156 --> 00:34:53,158
of the semi-desert.
348
00:34:55,593 --> 00:34:57,362
The fibrous stem
349
00:34:57,362 --> 00:35:00,398
soaks up the erratic rainfall
during the summer,
350
00:35:02,634 --> 00:35:06,338
while a thin layer
of whitish powder on the bark
351
00:35:06,338 --> 00:35:09,107
reflects the suns powerful rays.
352
00:35:10,508 --> 00:35:14,179
The succulent leaves store
the soaked up moisture,
353
00:35:14,179 --> 00:35:17,449
and their elevation
prevents evaporation.
354
00:35:21,252 --> 00:35:24,189
Because this plant
is a flowering aloe,
355
00:35:24,189 --> 00:35:28,360
it needs to be pollinated.
356
00:35:28,360 --> 00:35:31,563
So it produces copious amounts
of sweet nectar
357
00:35:31,563 --> 00:35:36,034
that few birds
or insects can refuse.
358
00:35:37,802 --> 00:35:39,771
60 miles south west
359
00:35:39,771 --> 00:35:42,774
of the fields of flowers
and alien forests,
360
00:35:42,774 --> 00:35:47,012
Namaqualand reveals
yet another landscape.
361
00:35:51,149 --> 00:35:56,588
Stretches of white pebbles
strewn across the desert floor.
362
00:36:03,128 --> 00:36:07,766
Only dwarf plants and succulents
grow in the saline soils
363
00:36:07,766 --> 00:36:10,969
of these quartz fields.
364
00:36:16,074 --> 00:36:19,110
Miniature landscapes,
365
00:36:19,110 --> 00:36:22,313
dotted with miniature plants,
366
00:36:22,313 --> 00:36:27,452
which are all perfectly adapted
to this habitat.
367
00:36:27,452 --> 00:36:31,523
The Bababoudjie,
or in English, "baby's bottom",
368
00:36:31,523 --> 00:36:35,994
is a succulent found only in the
quartz fields of Namaqualand.
369
00:36:56,381 --> 00:37:00,018
It's developed
a remarkable survival strategy,
370
00:37:00,018 --> 00:37:03,688
which allows it
to call this place home.
371
00:37:06,157 --> 00:37:10,261
In order to hide from hungry
herbivores, it disguises itself
372
00:37:10,261 --> 00:37:13,698
as one of the grey-white rocks
that surround it.
373
00:37:15,733 --> 00:37:21,573
And hiding in plain sight
isn't just for plants.
374
00:37:21,573 --> 00:37:27,745
These stony plains host very
specific and unusual creatures.
375
00:37:29,380 --> 00:37:32,283
Which often go unnoticed.
376
00:37:38,123 --> 00:37:42,293
Camouflaged perfectly in the
white, semi-translucent fields,
377
00:37:42,293 --> 00:37:46,498
the stone grasshopper
is a master of disguise.
378
00:37:53,271 --> 00:37:55,140
Everything about his body
379
00:37:55,140 --> 00:37:58,510
keeps him concealed
in the quartz fields.
380
00:38:01,579 --> 00:38:05,216
Parts of him
even look slightly chipped,
381
00:38:05,216 --> 00:38:09,287
mimicking the flawed shapes
of the stones.
382
00:38:12,590 --> 00:38:14,726
The tiny hairs on his legs
383
00:38:14,726 --> 00:38:18,663
smooth the contours
of his shadow.
384
00:38:22,333 --> 00:38:26,037
When feeling threatened,
he can flatten his antennae
385
00:38:26,037 --> 00:38:29,040
to enhance
his rock-like appearance.
386
00:38:32,277 --> 00:38:37,415
He is Namaqualand's
ultimate impersonator.
387
00:38:46,124 --> 00:38:50,094
Combing the stone fields
for unsuspecting grasshoppers,
388
00:38:50,094 --> 00:38:54,399
the Red-headed centipede
uses speed and endurance
389
00:38:54,399 --> 00:38:56,334
as a predation method.
390
00:39:00,438 --> 00:39:03,241
Covering large areas
in short periods,
391
00:39:03,241 --> 00:39:06,411
he hopes
to bump into a potential meal.
392
00:39:12,984 --> 00:39:15,220
He's a vicious predator,
393
00:39:15,220 --> 00:39:18,523
and will attack
any insect or animal smaller
394
00:39:18,523 --> 00:39:21,593
than his immense 8 inch body.
395
00:39:45,617 --> 00:39:48,086
Upon finding the injured hopper,
396
00:39:48,086 --> 00:39:49,654
he bites the victim
397
00:39:49,654 --> 00:39:54,292
injecting him with venom
and devours him immediately.
398
00:40:06,571 --> 00:40:10,108
Unlike his camouflaged
counterpart,
399
00:40:10,108 --> 00:40:14,312
the Foam grasshopper
has evolved to fight back.
400
00:40:17,782 --> 00:40:19,550
He gets his defense
401
00:40:19,550 --> 00:40:23,054
from eating certain plants
the land has on offer.
402
00:40:31,062 --> 00:40:33,831
Feeding mostly
on poisonous milkweed,
403
00:40:33,831 --> 00:40:37,068
the foam grasshopper
ingests the toxins
404
00:40:37,068 --> 00:40:39,737
and stores them in his joints.
405
00:40:46,844 --> 00:40:48,646
When threatened,
406
00:40:48,646 --> 00:40:52,216
he exudes this poison
in the form of lethal foam.
407
00:41:05,229 --> 00:41:09,400
This striking insect
flaunts his colors boldly.
408
00:41:12,403 --> 00:41:15,039
It's a commonly understood
rule in nature,
409
00:41:15,039 --> 00:41:19,444
that the more brightly colored
an insect, the more venomous.
410
00:41:22,113 --> 00:41:25,083
He forages through the flowers
of Namaqualand
411
00:41:25,083 --> 00:41:27,685
without the fear of being eaten.
412
00:41:28,820 --> 00:41:30,588
And if he is,
413
00:41:30,588 --> 00:41:34,492
the foolish predator
will pay the ultimate price.
414
00:41:37,695 --> 00:41:42,100
But not all defense adaptations
require poison.
415
00:41:44,736 --> 00:41:47,338
More like the stone grasshopper,
416
00:41:47,338 --> 00:41:51,442
the Namaqua speckled padloper
stays out of danger's way
417
00:41:51,442 --> 00:41:52,744
by hiding.
418
00:42:00,518 --> 00:42:03,121
Trudging
across the Namaqua landscape
419
00:42:03,121 --> 00:42:07,125
takes an incredibly long time
for this pocket-sized resident.
420
00:42:12,196 --> 00:42:15,299
Never growing bigger
than 3.5 inches,
421
00:42:15,299 --> 00:42:19,203
he is the smallest tortoise
on earth.
422
00:42:23,374 --> 00:42:28,713
His flattened, grey-brown shell
enables him to hide perfectly,
423
00:42:28,713 --> 00:42:31,549
camouflaged in rocky crevices.
424
00:42:40,658 --> 00:42:45,129
In the hot summers, he preys
on the hardy succulents.
425
00:42:58,676 --> 00:43:04,048
In spring he is rewarded with
hoards of floral delicacies.
426
00:43:09,454 --> 00:43:13,024
He doesn't hold back.
427
00:43:13,024 --> 00:43:16,461
These flowers
won't be here for long.
428
00:43:20,465 --> 00:43:23,067
The tortoise gorges himself
on the treats
429
00:43:23,067 --> 00:43:26,404
that only appear once a year.
430
00:43:31,476 --> 00:43:33,644
Like many others in Namaqualand,
431
00:43:33,644 --> 00:43:37,482
he lives
nowhere else on the planet.
432
00:43:39,717 --> 00:43:43,054
Along with his many other
endemic counterparts,
433
00:43:43,054 --> 00:43:45,056
the Namaqua speckled padloper
434
00:43:45,056 --> 00:43:50,027
is adapted to thrive in this
specific environment.
435
00:44:02,273 --> 00:44:06,277
Species in Namaqualand have
developed over generations
436
00:44:06,277 --> 00:44:08,579
to ensure that their adaptations
437
00:44:08,579 --> 00:44:12,316
allow them
to live in this biome.
438
00:44:33,371 --> 00:44:36,707
Spring here hosts
one of the most magnificent
439
00:44:36,707 --> 00:44:41,546
natural transformations
the world has to offer.
440
00:44:48,152 --> 00:44:50,354
From desert
441
00:44:50,354 --> 00:44:54,725
to oasis for a short
spurt of time each year.
442
00:45:01,365 --> 00:45:03,601
The landscape's
polarized existence
443
00:45:03,601 --> 00:45:07,271
is a testament
to nature's ability to transform
444
00:45:07,271 --> 00:45:09,307
and adapt.
445
00:45:17,615 --> 00:45:19,517
To this land
446
00:45:19,517 --> 00:45:21,052
of famine,
447
00:45:21,052 --> 00:45:25,756
and feast.
448
00:45:25,756 --> 00:45:36,033
♪
449
00:45:36,033 --> 00:45:51,782
♪
450
00:45:51,782 --> 00:45:57,788
♪♪
451
00:45:57,788 --> 00:46:03,728
♪♪
452
00:46:03,728 --> 00:46:10,968
♪♪
35263
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