Original subtitles

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

WATCHING TELEVISION THAT IS EDUCATIONAL AND INFORMATIONAL.

THE MORE YOU KNOW ON NBC.

DYLAN: HI, EVERYONE, I'M DYLAN DREYER.

TODAY WE'RE EMBARKING ON A QUEST AROUND THE WORLD.

THIS IS "EARTH ODYSSEY".

TODAY WE'RE HEADED DOWN TO SOUTH AMERICA TO DISCOVER THE

INCREDIBLE NATIVE ANIMALS LIVING THERE.

DEEP IN THE AMAZON, WE'LL SEE HOW FLOODING AFFECTS EVERYTHING

FROM THE FOREST FLOOR TO THE CANOPY CEILING.

AND LATER, IT'S OFF TO THE GALAPAGOS, WHERE THIS LIZARD HAS

A SPECIAL WAY TO STAY HYDRATED.

PLUS, WE DISCOVER THAT TO EAT WELL, THIS COLORFUL CHARACTER

HAS TO EAT SMART.

BUT FIRST, WE'LL SEE WHY THE PINK RIVER DOLPHIN PREFERS TO

STAY CLOSE TO THE ACTION.

ALL OF THIS AND MORE ON TODAY'S "EARTH ODYSSEY".

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: WHEN IT COMES TO WILDLIFE, SOUTH AMERICA BOASTS

SOME OF THE MOST UNIQUE ANIMALS ON THE PLANET.

WITH SO MANY DIFFERENT REGIONS ISOLATED FROM ONE ANOTHER,

NATIVE ANIMAL SPECIES HAVE HAD TO GET CREATIVE TO FIND WAYS TO

THRIVE IN THEIR SPECIFIC SLICE OF THE WILD.

THIS IS CERTAINLY THE CASE ON THE AMAZON RIVER, WHERE ONE

AMAZING ANIMAL LIKES TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OTHERS' HARD WORK.

IN THE AMAZONIAN METROPOLIS OF MANAUS, FISHERMEN TAKE TO THE

WATER EVERY DAY.

THEY HAUL THEIR NETS INTO THE WATER AND WAIT FOR THE CATCH OF

THE DAY...

...UNAWARE OF THE PREDATOR LURKING BELOW...

...THE PINK RIVER DOLPHIN.

IT IS ONE OF THE AMAZON'S MOST ICONIC ANIMALS WITH LOCALS

BELIEVING THAT THEY POSSESS MAGICAL POWERS.

AND SOMETIMES WITH MAGIC, MISCHIEF IS SURE TO FOLLOW.

THESE DOLPHINS HAVE LEARNED THAT THE FISHERMAN'S HAUL MAKES THE

PERFECT FAST FOOD DINING EXPERIENCE.

WITHIN MINUTES OF THE NET BEING IN THE WATER, IT IS SURROUNDED

BY RIVER DOLPHINS HOPING FOR AN EASY MEAL.

TAKING ADVANTAGE OF FISHERMEN IS JUST ONE BRILLIANT WAY THESE

INTELLIGENT MAMMALS HAVE ADAPTED TO LIFE NEAR A BIG CITY.

HOWEVER, WHEN IT COMES TO DOING THINGS THEMSELVES, PINK RIVER

DOLPHINS HAVE HAD MILLIONS OF YEARS TO PERFECT THEIR SURVIVAL

STRATEGY.

THE KEY IS THEIR HUNTING PROWESS.

THEY USE ECHOLOCATION TO HELP THEM NAVIGATE UNDER THE MURKY

WATER.

THEIR CLICKS AND BUZZES ARE FOCUSED INTO POWERFUL SONAR BY

THEIR BULGING FOREHEADS.

ALTHOUGH ALL DOLPHINS ECHOLOCATE, PINK RIVER DOLPHINS

DO SO AT A HIGHER FREQUENCY.

IN FACT, THEY ARE SO SENSITIVE AND PRECISE, THEY CAN DETECT

OBJECTS AS SMALL AS A PIN.

ONCE THEY FIND A SHOAL OF FISH, WHISKER-LIKE BRISTLES ON THEIR

SNOUTS HELP THEM ZERO IN ON A TARGET.

DESPITE THE CHALLENGES OF SHARING THEIR ENVIRONMENT WITH

HUMANS, THESE STREET-SMART DOLPHINS GET BY JUST FINE.

COMING UP, WE HEAD TO THE PANTANAL, WHERE THIS GIANT

PARROT GOES NUTS FOR THEIR FAVORITE FOOD.

AND LATER, HOW THIS LEGENDARY LIZARD AVOIDS THE STING OF AN

EMPTY STOMACH.

PLUS, FOR THIS MIGHTY INSECT, STRENGTH COMES IN NUMBERS.

THIS AND MORE WHEN WE RETURN TO "EARTH ODYSSEY".

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

DYLAN: DEEP IN SOUTH AMERICA LIES THE WORLD'S LARGEST

FRESHWATER WETLANDS, THE PANTANAL.

ALTHOUGH HOME TO MANY SURPRISING CREATURES, THERE LIVES ONE

ANIMAL THAT TRULY RELIES ON ITS INTELLIGENCE TO FIND THE RICHEST

PICKINGS AROUND...

...THE HYACINTH MACAW.

[BIRD SQUAWKING]

IT'S THE WORLD'S LARGEST PARROT, AND THREE-QUARTERS OF

THE WORLD'S POPULATION OF THESE BIRDS LIVE HERE.

THESE BLUE-CLAD BIRDS THRIVE IN THIS REGION DUE TO ONE PLENTIFUL

FOOD SOURCE, PALM NUTS.

THIS LARGE BIRD FEEDS ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY ON THESE NUTS.

TO GET TO THE RICHES INSIDE THESE TOUGH OUTER SHELLS, THEY

FIRST NEED A HELPING HAND FROM AN UNLIKELY SOURCE...

...CATTLE.

PASSING COWS PARTIALLY DIGEST FALLEN NUTS, REMOVING THE HUSKS.

THE BIRDS THEN CLAIM THEIR PRIZE AND CRACK OPEN THE SHELL...

...TOUGH WORK EVEN AFTER THEY'VE BEEN DE-HUSKED.

BUT THIS PARROT IS BUILT FOR THE CHALLENGE.

A THIRD OF ITS MUSCLES ARE CONCENTRATED IN ITS HEAD SO IT

CAN POWER ITS MONSTROUS MANDIBLES TO BREAK OPEN THE NUT.

ONCE BRUTE FORCE HAS CRACKED THE SHELL, THIS HIGHLY INTELLIGENT

PARROT USES ITS POWERFUL TONGUE TO DIG OUT THE PRECIOUS KERNELS

INSIDE.

IT TAKES A LITTLE PATIENCE.

BUT EVENTUALLY, IT SUCCEEDS.

THANKS TO THEIR INTELLIGENCE AND DETERMINATION, THE PARROTS MAKE

THE MOST OF THE PANTANAL'S PALM NUTS.

[THUNDER RUMBLING]

TO THRIVE IN OUR PLANET'S FORESTS AND JUNGLES, ANIMALS

HAVE ADAPTED TO A LIFE IN THE TREES...

...USING INCREDIBLE AGILITY...

...AMAZING SENSES...

...AND SOME VERY CLEVER THINKING.

THESE SPECIES HAVE OVERCOME THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES OF THEIR

ENVIRONMENT.

IN THIS SECRET WORLD, THE RAREST, STRANGEST,

AND THE MOST UNEXPECTED CREATURES MAKE THEIR HOME...

...CREATING A HABITAT THAT SUPPORTS MORE LIFE THAN ANYWHERE

ELSE ON EARTH.

COMING UP, THIS LIZARD HAS A UNIQUE WAY TO STAVE OFF HUNGER,

AND THE IMPRESSIVE NATURE OF ONE OF THE SMALLEST CREATURES IN THE

AMAZON.

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

DYLAN: SIX HUNDRED MILES OFF THE COAST OF ECUADOR IS AN

ARCHIPELAGO CALLED THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS, WHERE THE THEORY OF

EVOLUTION WAS BORN.

ALMOST 200 YEARS AGO, CHARLES DARWIN NOTICED THAT PLANTS AND

ANIMALS ON THESE ISOLATED ISLANDS WERE SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT

FROM THEIR MAINLAND COUNTERPARTS WITH FEATURES MAKING THEM

PERFECTLY SUITED TO THEIR ISLAND HOME.

THE ADAPTABILITY OF THOSE ANIMALS INSPIRED A REVOLUTIONARY

WAY OF THINKING AND AN EXPLANATION FOR ONE IGUANA'S

SPIKEY SPECIALTY.

ON THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS, AN INGENIOUS ANIMAL HAS FOUND A

SOLUTION TO A UNIQUE PROBLEM, MAKING SURE IT NEVER GOES

HUNGRY.

ON THE SOUTH PLAZA ISLAND ROAMS A PREHISTORIC-LOOKING BEAST.

MEET THE LAND IGUANA...

...A LARGE, STOCKY LIZARD THAT CAN GROW MORE THAN THREE FEET

LONG AND WEIGH UP TO 30 POUNDS.

THESE REPTILES MAINLY FEED ON LOW-GROWING PLANTS AND SHRUBS,

WHICH PROVIDE THEM WITH HYDRATION DURING THE ISLAND'S

DRY SEASONS.

THEIR FAVORITE SNACK IS THE JUICY PRICKLY PEAR CACTI.

THESE PLANTS HAVE EXTRA LONG TRUNKS WITH FLESHY PADS AND

FLOWERS, MAKING THESE VERY SUCCULENT SUCCULENTS.

HOWEVER, THEY ARE COVERED IN SHARP SPINES...

...A TRICKY TREAT TO EAT.

BUT THE IGUANA HAS FOUND A CLEVER WAY AROUND THIS.

IT ROLLS THE FRUIT IN SOIL, REMOVING MOST OF THE SPINES AND

MAKING IT A LITTLE EASIER TO CHEW.

HOWEVER, THE OLDER THESE PLANTS GET, THE MORE IGUANA HAS TO

ADAPT.

OVER TIME, THE SPINES ON THE TRUNK BECOME REPLACED BY A

THICK, SCALY BARK.

THESE OLDER PLANTS BECOME TOO TALL FOR THE IGUANAS TO REACH,

BUT THESE HEARTY LIZARDS HAVE ANOTHER TACTIC UP THEIR SLEEVE.

FIRST, EACH IGUANA CLAIMS A TREE.

THEN THEY SIT PATIENTLY IN ITS SHADE WAITING FOR THE RIGHT

FRUIT TO DROP.

EXTREMELY PATIENT, THEY WILL WAIT FOR HOURS, DAYS, EVEN

SOMETIMES UP TO A MONTH UNTIL FINALLY,

SUCCESS.

BUT THERE'S A PROBLEM.

DUE TO THE LARGE NUMBER OF IGUANAS ON THE ISLAND, FEEDING

TERRITORIES OFTEN OVERLAP.

CLAIMING FALLEN FRUIT IS NOT A STRAIGHTFORWARD PROCESS.

THIS LIZARD BOBS HIS HEAD TOWARDS THE INTRUDER,

A SIGN TO STAY AWAY.

UNDETERRED, THIS BOLD TRESPASSER STEALS HIS NEIGHBOR'S BOUNTY.

SOMETIMES IT PAYS TO BE QUICK AS WELL AS QUICK-WITTED.

COMING UP, STRENGTH IN NUMBERS ISN'T THE ONLY SUPERPOWER THESE

BRAWNY BUGS HAVE AT THEIR DISPOSAL.

THAT AND MORE WHEN WE RETURN TO "EARTH ODYSSEY".

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

DYLAN: EVERY YEAR DURING THE RAINY SEASON, THE AMAZON RIVER

FLOODS, AND WATER LEVELS RISE MORE THAN 30 FEET.

THESE FLOODWATERS BRING ABOUT CHANGE TO EVERY LIVING THING

FROM THE BIGGEST TO THE SMALLEST, INCLUDING THIS COLONY

OF FIRE ANTS.

THE RISING WATER HAS FORCED THESE ANTS OUT OF THEIR

UNDERGROUND HOME, AND NOW THEY ARE BECOMING AN EASY MEAL

DESPITE THEIR PAINFUL STING.

THIS TREE WILL PROVIDE A SAFE HAVEN UNTIL THE WATERS FALL AND

THEY CAN RETURN TO THE FOREST FLOOR.

THE RESILIENT ANTS QUICKLY MOVE IN TO A VACANT CRACK IN THE

BARK.

ONE OF SOUTH AMERICA'S LARGEST ANIMALS LURKS IN THESE WATERS.

THE AMAZONIAN MANATEE IS AN ICONIC SYMBOL.

HIDING OUT IN THE QUIET BACKWATERS, THEY GORGE ON THE

FOOD THAT ARRIVES WITH THE FLOODWATERS.

FOR THE MANATEE, THIS IS A TIME OF PLENTY...

...AND ALSO A TIME TO REAR THEIR YOUNG.

THESE SHY MAMMALS GIVE BIRTH TO A SINGLE CALF ONCE EVERY TWO

YEARS.

THE MOTHER WILL SPEND TIME TEACHING THE YOUNGSTER THE BEST

ROUTES THROUGH THE MAZE OF RIVER CHANNELS.

THE CALF WILL RELY ON ITS MOTHER'S KNOWLEDGE AND SUPPORT

AS IT CONTINUES TO GROW.

BACK ON LAND, A SPECIES OF ANT WITH A SHARP WIT IS TAKING

ADVANTAGE OF THE RECENT FLOODWATERS.

LEAFCUTTER ANTS SWARM THROUGH THE TREES.

ABLE TO CARRY PIECES OF LEAF WEIGHING 20 TIMES THEIR

BODYWEIGHT, THEY ARE BORN TO WORK.

THESE ARE NO ORDINARY ANTS.

IT'S BELIEVED THEY'RE A SEPARATE SPECIES TO THE ONES WHO NEST

UNDERGROUND, AND THEY'VE DEVELOPED A UNIQUE BEHAVIOR.

THEY'VE SWAPPED THE FOREST FLOOR FOR THE TREETOPS.

BY BUILDING THEIR NESTS IN THE CANOPY, THEY AVOID THE ANNUAL

FLOODS.

SO, DESPITE THE RISING WATERS, THEY CONTINUE UNDISTURBED.

COLONIES CAN CONTAIN UP TO EIGHT MILLION INDIVIDUALS, MAKING IT

ONE OF THE MOST DOMINANT CREATURES IN SOUTH AMERICA AND

ONE OF THE RIVER ISLAND'S MOST RESILIENT RESIDENTS.

WORKER ANTS ARE SENT OUT TO COLLECT SUPPLIES.

FORAGING FAR AND WIDE, THEY'RE ABLE TO FIND THEIR WAY HOME BY

LAYING DOWN A PHEROMONE TRAIL.

THE PHEROMONE IS SO POWERFUL, ONE GRAM OF THE SCENT WOULD BE

ENOUGH TO LAY AN ANT TRAIL ALL THE WAY AROUND THE WORLD.

ONLY THE FRESHEST AND JUICIEST LEAVES ARE SELECTED.

POWERFUL JAWS SLICE THROUGH THE CELLULOSE WITH EASE.

ONCE LOADED UP, THE ANTS THEN BEGIN THEIR JOURNEY BACK TO

THE NEST.

LEAFCUTTER ANTS CULTIVATE A SPECIAL FUNGUS GARDEN DEEP

WITHIN THE NEST AND ARE ALMOST ENTIRELY DEPENDENT ON THE FUNGUS

FOR FOOD.

MAINTAINING THE GARDEN IS CRUCIAL TO THE SURVIVAL OF

THE COLONY.

ONLY THE QUEEN IS ABLE TO PRODUCE OFFSPRING.

SHE IS CAPABLE OF LAYING THOUSANDS OF EGGS PER DAY,

MOST OF WHICH ARE DESTINED TO BECOME WORKERS.

THE ANTS ARE TRUE FOREST SPECIALISTS, AND OUT OF THE

REACH OF THE FLOODWATERS, THEY CONTINUE TO DOMINATE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON OUR JOURNEY TO SOUTH AMERICA.

FROM THE AMAZON RAINFOREST TO THE ISLANDS OF THE GALAPAGOS,

THIS CONTINENT IS HOME TO AN INCREDIBLE MENAGERIE OF ANIMALS

PERFECTLY SUITED TO THRIVE IN THIS SOUTH AMERICAN WILD.

I'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME FOR ANOTHER ADVENTURE ON

"EARTH ODYSSEY".

[MUSIC]