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: I'M DYLAN DREYER, AND THIS IS "EARTH ODYSSEY".

TODAY WE'RE ON A QUEST TO FIND THE FUNKIEST FEATURES IN THE

ANIMAL KINGDOM, LIKE THE HIGH-CLASS HEADWEAR OF THIS

EGYPTIAN SAND-SURFING REPTILE.

AND BENEATH THE WAVES, IT TAKES SOME UNIQUE HORSEPOWER FOR THIS

SPECIES TO LAY THEIR EGGS.

PLUS, WE HANG OUT WITH SOME HIGH-CLIMBING CARNIVORES.

AND ELEPHANTS AREN'T THE ONLY MAMMALS THAT USE THEIR TRUNKS TO

THRIVE IN THE WILD.

ALL OF THIS AND MUCH MORE COMING UP TODAY ON "EARTH ODYSSEY".

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: EVERY WILD SPECIES HAS DEVELOPED SPECIFIC TRAITS THAT

HELP THEM THRIVE IN THEIR UNIQUE ENVIRONMENTS.

THESE EVOLUTIONARY ADAPTATIONS ARE VITAL TO THEIR SURVIVAL, BUT

THEY CAN ALSO BE THEIR DEFINING FEATURE, SOME BIZARRE, SOME

EXTREME, BUT ALL OF THEM FANTASTICALLY FUNCTIONAL AND

EVEN A LITTLE FUNKY.

AND THERE ARE FEW BETTER EXAMPLES THAN THE SAIGA ANTELOPE

THAT HAVE A NOSE FOR THE PECULIAR.

IN NATURE, MOST SPECIES HAVE EVOLVED TRAITS AND BEHAVIORS

THAT ARE CLEARLY A RESULT OF THE HABITAT IN WHICH THEY LIVE, BUT

THERE ARE MANY STRANGE CREATURES THAT HAVE BAFFLED SCIENTISTS FOR

CENTURIES.

HERE IN RUSSIA LIVES ONE OF THE MOST UNUSUAL.

THIS IS THE SAIGA ANTELOPE.

ITS LARGE, CARTOON-LIKE NOSE RESEMBLES A SHORTENED ELEPHANT

TRUNK, BUT THERE'S MORE TO THIS COMICAL APPENDAGE THAN MEETS THE

EYE.

ITS NOSTRILS ARE LINED WITH HAIRS, MUCOUS, AND GLANDS, WHICH

NOT ONLY WARM UP INHALED WINTER AIR, BUT ALSO FILTER OUT DUST

DURING THE ARID SUMMER MONTHS, AN ESSENTIAL ADAPTATION OF THE

STEPPE, WHERE SEASONAL CHANGES CAN BE SEVERE.

AS THE END OF SUMMER APPROACHES, THE GRASSES THEY FEED ON HAVE

COMPLETELY DRIED OUT.

SO, THE SAIGA MUST TRAVEL FAR AND WIDE TO FIND WATER.

AND THEY'RE IN LUCK.

THIS FRESHWATER LAKE WILL KEEP THE HERD HYDRATED IN THE

PUNISHING HEAT, BUT THIS IS NO TIME TO RELAX.

PREDATORS TRACK DOWN PREY WITH EASE ON THE FLAT, OPEN

GRASSLAND.

AND THERE IS NO COVER FOR THE SAIGA TO SEEK SHELTER.

SOMETHING APPROACHES THE WATER, AND THE SAIGA MAKE A QUICK EXIT.

FORMING LARGE HERDS PROVIDES SOME PROTECTION, BUT THEIR

SURPRISINGLY FAST LEGS ARE THEIR BEST DEFENSE.

AT FULL PACE, SAIGA ARE FASTER THAN A RACEHORSE, UP TO 50 MILES

PER HOUR.

BUT IT'S A FALSE ALARM.

THIS TIME, IT'S JUST A VERY THIRSTY YOUNG FOX, WHICH IS NO

THREAT TO THE HERD.

THE STRANGE-LOOKING CREATURES QUICKLY RETURN TO THE LAKE TO

QUENCH THEIR OWN THIRST.

COMING UP, WE'LL STOP OFF IN THE PHILIPPINES TO SEE HOW THIS

QUIRKY CLIMBER STAYS COMFY IN THE CANOPY.

THEN, WE DISCOVER HOW THIS FISH IS A HORSE OF ANOTHER COLOR.

PLUS, HOW EGYPT'S DESERTS ARE LITERALLY SWIMMING WITH THE

WEIRD AND WILD.

ALL OF THIS WHEN WE RETURN ON "EARTH ODYSSEY".

.

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

DYLAN: WELCOME BACK TO "EARTH ODYSSEY", WHERE THE JUNGLES OF

THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS OF PALAWAN HIDE A VERY

UNUSUAL-LOOKING CREATURE.

THIS BINTURONG IS ON THE PROWL FOR FOOD.

WITH HIS STOCKY BODY AND SMALL, TUFTED EARS, HE'S ALSO KNOWN AS

A BEARCAT.

BUT HE'S NOT BUILT FOR LIFE ON THE FOREST FLOOR.

INSTEAD, HE'S MORE AT HOME IN THE BRANCHES ABOVE.

SEMI-RETRACTABLE CLAWS MAKE SCALING TALL TREES LOOK EASY.

HE ALSO HAS A PREHENSILE TAIL, ONE OF ONLY TWO CARNIVORES IN

THE WORLD WITH THIS UNUSUAL FEATURE.

THE TAIL WORKS LIKE A FIFTH HAND, HELPING HIM GRIP, BALANCE,

AND MOVE THROUGH THE CANOPY.

BUT HIS KEEN SENSE OF SMELL IS WHAT MAKES CANOPY LIVING A

BREEZE.

HE'S SNIFFED OUT A POTENTIAL MEAL.

POWERFUL JAWS SHRED BARK EASILY, REVEALING THE GRUBS HIDDEN

UNDERNEATH.

FRUIT, BIRDS, AND SMALL RODENTS ARE ALSO ON THE MENU.

HOWEVER, HE'S CAUGHT THE SCENT OF HIS FAVORITE SNACK, EGGS.

LONG, SENSITIVE WHISKERS AND HIS NATURAL AGILITY HELP HIM TO

TRACK DOWN TREATS LIKE THIS HIDDEN HIGH UP AMONG THE

BRANCHES.

IN FACT, HIS FEET WILL RARELY TOUCH THE GROUND.

THIS BINTURONG' S ANATOMY AND DEXTERITY MAKE HIM PERFECTLY

ADAPTED TO LIFE IN THE CANOPY.

BUT THE BEARCAT IS NOT THE ONLY ANIMAL WITH FASCINATING FEATURES

LIVING AT HIGH ALTITUDES.

THE HIMALAYAN MOUNTAIN RANGE IS ONE OF THE YOUNGEST ON THE

PLANET, BUT IT'S STILL A WORLD FULL OF MYSTERY AND UNDISCOVERED

WONDERS.

AND IN THE SHADOW OF ONE OF INDIA'S HIGHEST PEAKS, NANDA

DEVI, LIES A HIDDEN VALLEY WITH ITS OWN UNIQUE MICROCLIMATE.

AS SPRING ARRIVES, ONE FASCINATING CREATURE BEGINS TO

EMERGE.

NOT ALL ASIATIC BLACK BEARS HIBERNATE, BUT IN COLDER REGIONS

SUCH AS THIS, THEY'RE FORCED TO REMAIN IN THEIR DENS FOR UP TO

FIVE MONTHS OF THE YEAR.

HE MAY BE THE SAME SIZE AS HIS AMERICAN COUSINS, BUT THAT'S

WHERE THE SIMILARITIES END.

HE HAS A SHAGGY BLACK COAT WITH A DISTINCTIVE CREAMY,

CRESCENT-SHAPED MARK ON HIS CHEST, EARNING HIM THE NICKNAME

MOON BEAR.

BUT ONE OF THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCES IS HIS DIET.

DESPITE BEING ARMED WITH TWO-INCH-LONG CURVED CLAWS AND

CANINE TEETH DESIGNED FOR TEARING MEAT, THIS PREDATOR IS

PRIMARILY VEGETARIAN.

GRASSES, FRUITS, AND NUTS MAKE UP THE MAJORITY OF HIS DIET,

ALONG WITH THE OCCASIONAL INSECT.

AND HIS INCREDIBLY ACUTE SENSE OF SMELL CAN DETECT HONEY FROM

MORE THAN THREE MILES AWAY.

[BEAR SNIFFING]

DURING THE AUTUMN MONTHS, THE BEAR WILL CONSUME ACORNS,

WALNUTS, AND OTHER FRUITS THAT HAVE A HIGH FAT CONTENT,

ENSURING HE WILL BE SUSTAINED THROUGHOUT THE WINTER.

WHILE IT MIGHT BE AN UNUSUAL CHOICE FOR A BEAR THIS SIZE,

GOING VEGETARIAN MEANS HE CAN FLOURISH IN THIS ENVIRONMENT

WITHOUT EVER NEEDING TO EXPEND ENERGY HUNTING.

WHEN WE RETURN, THIS EYE-CATCHING FISH IS SADDLED

WITH RESPONSIBILITY.

AND LATER, THESE EGYPTIAN LOCAL LIZARDS ARE AS MYSTERIOUS AS THE

PYRAMIDS.

ALL OF THIS AND MORE COMING UP TODAY ON "EARTH ODYSSEY".

.

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

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THE SEAHORSE IS ONE OF THE MOST ICONIC CREATURES IN OUR

OCEANS, AND THEY'RE ALSO ONE OF THE MOST BIZARRE.

WITH A HEAD LIKE A STALLION, INDEPENDENTLY MOVING EYES, A

SMALL, TOOTHLESS MOUTH, AND A SPIRAL TAIL, THESE ANIMALS ARE

TRULY UNIQUE.

BUT SEAHORSES ALSO HAVE NO STOMACHS, AND WHEN IT COMES TO

PRODUCING THEIR OFFSPRING, THE REAL FUNKY FEATURES BEGIN

TO SHOW.

SOME CREATURES HAVE EVOLVED TO REPRODUCE IN A WHOLE NEW WAY,

AND DOING THINGS DIFFERENTLY MAY JUST BE THE SECRET TO THEIR

SUCCESS.

ON THE SOUTHERN COAST OF SOUTH AFRICA, THE KNYSNA ESTUARY

SUPPORTS A NUMBER OF ENDEMIC SPECIES, INCLUDING THE MOST

ENDANGERED SEAHORSE IN THE WORLD.

THIS CAPE SEAHORSE HAS THE SMALLEST KNOWN GEOGRAPHIC RANGE

OF ITS KIND, OCCURRING IN JUST A HANDFUL OF ESTUARIES ALONG THE

SOUTH AFRICAN COAST.

IT'S THE ONLY SEAHORSE KNOWN TO EXCLUSIVELY INHABIT ESTUARIES,

AND WITHIN THE SUBMERGED VEGETATION, SOMETHING

EXTRAORDINARY IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN.

UNIQUELY, IT'S THE MALES WHO BECOME PREGNANT AND GIVE BIRTH

TO THE BABIES.

THIS ALLOWS THE FEMALE TO MAKE MORE EGGS STRAIGHTAWAY AND

THEREFORE REPRODUCE QUICKER.

INTERNAL FERTILIZATION OCCURS IN THE MALE, AND HIS POUCH TISSUES

HAVE CAPILLARIES THAT SUPPLY THE EMBRYOS WITH OXYGEN AND VITAL

FLUIDS.

AFTER A NUMBER OF WEEKS, THE FATHER BEGINS TO GIVE BIRTH.

BUT THIS CAN BE A LONG PROCESS WITH CONTRACTIONS LASTING UP TO

12 HOURS.

THE YOUNG FRY WILL OFTEN GRASP ONTO NEARBY WEEDS WITH THEIR

PREHENSILE TAILS...

...PREVENTING THEM FROM BEING WASHED AWAY BY STRONG CURRENTS

AND WAVES.

THIS NEW FATHER WILL EVENTUALLY GIVE BIRTH TO UP TO 200 BABIES.

AND OVER THE COMING WEEKS, THEY'LL BRAVE THE ESTUARY WATERS

UNTIL THEY TOO ARE ABLE TO MATE.

BUT THIS IS NO TIME FOR THE FATHER TO RELAX.

A FEW HOURS AFTER THE BIRTH, THE FEMALE WILL DEPOSIT MORE EGGS

INTO HIS POUCH TO START THE PROCESS ALL OVER AGAIN.

SO, A MALE COULD DELIVER BABIES IN THE MORNING AND GET PREGNANT

AGAIN THE SAME DAY, CONTINUING ONE OF THE MOST UNIQUE LIFE

CYCLES IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM.

COMING UP, FOR THESE RARE EGYPTIAN REPTILES, LIFE ON THE

SAND IS NO DAY AT THE BEACH WHEN WE RETURN TO "EARTH ODYSSEY".

.

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

DYLAN: EGYPT IS A COUNTRY SYNONYMOUS WITH PHARAOHS,

PYRAMIDS, AND ABOVE ALL, DESERT.

SITUATED IN NORTH AFRICA, IT IS SURROUNDED BY TWO MAJOR SEAS.

TO THE NORTH, THE MEDITERRANEAN, AND TO THE EAST, THE RED.

BUT THESE VAST BODIES OF WATER PLAY LITTLE PART IN FUELING THE

HUGE ARRAY OF LIFE FOUND WITHIN EGYPT'S SAND-COVERED CENTER.

WITH AN ANNUAL RAINFALL OF JUST OVER 30 INCHES, OFTEN FAR LESS,

REMARKABLY, THIS REGION ALSO LAYS CLAIM TO ONE OF THE WORLD'S

EARLIEST AND LONGEST-LASTING CIVILIZATIONS.

ANCIENT EGYPTIANS BELIEVED THAT CREATURES HAD POWER OVER NATURE,

CONTROLLING THE SUN, THE MOON, THE DAY, AND NIGHT.

AND ONE IN PARTICULAR WAS SEEN AS LORD OF THE WATER, THE KEY TO

SURVIVING THIS HARSH DESERT LIFE.

POSSIBLY THE MOST INFLUENTIAL CREATURE THROUGHOUT EGYPT'S

ANCIENT HISTORY IS THE SNAKE.

WITH ITS DISTINCTIVE SIDEWINDING MOVEMENT AND UNIQUE HORN-LIKE

PROTRUSIONS, THE HORNED VIPER IS ONE OF THE MOST EASILY

RECOGNIZABLE SNAKES OF THE DESERT.

BECAUSE THE SAND IS LOOSE AND OFFERS LITTLE GRIP, THE VIPER

CONTRACTS ITS MUSCLES AND FLINGS ITS BODY SIDEWAYS.

THIS WAY, ONLY TWO POINTS OF ITS BODY REMAIN IN CONTACT WITH THE

GROUND WHEN TRAVELING ACROSS THE DUNES.

DESPITE GROWING TO JUST OVER 20 INCHES, HORNED VIPERS STILL PACK

A VENOMOUS PUNCH.

WITHOUT TREATMENT, A BITE CAN BE FATAL TO HUMANS.

IT'S THOUGHT THESE HORNS MAY PROTECT THE SNAKE'S EYES AS WELL

AS BREAK UP ITS OUTLINE AGAINST THE DESERT TERRAIN.

SO REVERED WAS THIS SPECIES, EGYPTIANS EVEN EMBALMED THEIR

BODIES.

THIS ACT WAS A SIGN OF DEVOTION TO THE SNAKE GODS AND A WAY OF

EARNING THEIR PROTECTION.

PREFERRING TO HUNT AT NIGHT, THIS INDIVIDUAL SEEKS SHELTER

FROM THE MORNING SUN.

HOWEVER, ANOTHER REPTILE IS ONLY JUST WAKING UP.

THIS LIZARD, ALSO KNOWN AS A SKINK, WOULD MAKE AN IDEAL MEAL

FOR A VIPER.

SHORT, STUBBY LEGS AND A THICK, SQUARE-SHAPED BODY AREN'T

OBVIOUS ATTRIBUTES FOR SPEED.

AND WITH NOWHERE TO HIDE, THE OUTCOME OF THIS DUEL LOOKS SET.

BUT WHAT IT LACKS IN ATHLETIC APPEARANCE, THIS LIZARD MORE

THAN MAKES UP FOR IN STYLE.

A TORPEDO-SHAPED SNOUT, SMOOTH, SHINY SCALES, AND PADDLE-LIKE

FEET OFFER CLUES TO ONE OF NATURE'S GREATEST DISAPPEARING

ACTS.

NOW YOU SEE IT...

...NOW YOU DON'T.

ALSO KNOWN AS A SANDFISH, THE SKINK LITERALLY SWIMS THROUGH

THE SAND WHENEVER FACED WITH DANGER.

BUT IT ISN'T JUST LIZARDS THAT UTILIZE THE DESERT'S VAST

CONCEALMENT RESOURCE.

SAND BOAS ARE ALSO BUILT FOR BURROWING.

A STOUT BODY, SMALL EYES, AND HARD SCALES PROTECT THEIR SKIN

FROM THE ABRASIVE SAND.

HOWEVER, THIS RELATIVELY SMALL, NON-VENOMOUS SNAKE EMPLOYS

ANOTHER UNIQUE DEFENSE TACTIC.

TO CONFUSE PREDATORS, THE SAND BOA LEAVES PART OF ITS BODY

EXPOSED.

IT'S HEAD-SHAPED TAIL IS ARMORED WITH TOUGH SCALES.

THIS LESS VULNERABLE BODY PART CAN WITHSTAND MOST ATTACKS,

GIVING THE SNAKE TIME TO REACT OR FLEE.

JUST ONE EXTRA MOMENT CAN MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN THE WILD

AND IS ONLY POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF THIS UNUSUAL ADAPTATION.

THANKS FOR JOINING US AS WE EXPLORED THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF

THE WEIRD AND THE WILD.

FROM ANTELOPE TRUNKS TO DEVIL'S HORNS, TO SAND-DIVING SNOUTS,

THESE CRUCIAL ADAPTATIONS MAY LOOK BIZARRE, BUT THEY ENSURE

SUCCESSFUL SURVIVAL FOR EARTH'S MOST UNUSUAL SPECIES.

I'LL SEE YOU ON OUR NEXT ADVENTURE RIGHT HERE ON

"EARTH ODYSSEY".

[MUSIC]