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.

GET READY FOR AN EPIC ADVENTURE AROUND THE GLOBE.

THIS IS "EARTH ODYSSEY".

TODAY, WE'RE HEADED TO THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE TO EXPLORE

THE UNIQUE REGIONS BELOW THE EQUATOR.

IN AFRICA, THIS CHAMELEON KNOWS A MOUTHWATERING WAY TO BEAT

THE HEAT.

WE'LL SEE HOW THE ISLANDS OF NEW ZEALAND ARE HOME TO THE BEST

DRESSED BIRDS AROUND.

PLUS, THIS SEA CREATURE HAS A UNIQUE WAY OF MAKING ITS

PRESENCE FELT.

BUT FIRST, WE DISCOVER AN ANIMAL THAT HAS QUITE A FEW LEGS UP ON

THE COMPETITION.

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

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE MAKES UP HALF OF THE EARTH'S

TOTAL SURFACE AREA, BUT ONLY ABOUT 32 PERCENT OF OUR PLANET'S

LAND MASS.

WELL, WHAT IT LACKS IN LAND, IT MORE THAN MAKES UP FOR WITH

WILDLIFE.

THE ECOSYSTEMS SOUTH OF THE EQUATOR HOST SOME OF THE MOST

INCREDIBLE ANIMAL WONDERS IN THE WORLD, WHERE EVEN IN THE

SMALLEST TIDE POOLS, YOU CAN FIND BREATHTAKING BEASTS.

IN THE ANIMAL WORLD, IMAGE CAN BE EVERYTHING.

AMONG THE OCEAN'S COUNTLESS SPECIES, MANY SEEK TO STAND OUT

WITH THEIR STRIKING LOOKS.

BUT OTHERS USE THEIR APPEARANCE TO STAY OUT OF SIGHT.

AS THE TIDE GOES OUT ALONG THE SOUTH AFRICAN COAST, VAST ROCK

POOLS BEGIN TO EMERGE.

THE RETREATING WAVES LEAVE BEHIND COUNTLESS SEA CREATURES,

NOW TRAPPED IN THE POOLS.

THEY COME IN ALL SHAPES AND SIZES AND MOST RELY ON THE ROCKS

AND CREVICES TO HOLE UP UNTIL THE TIDE RETURNS.

BUT ONE IS HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT.

THE OCTOPUS IS A MASTER OF CAMOUFLAGE.

THE COLOR AND TEXTURE OF ITS SKIN CAN QUICKLY CHANGE TO MATCH

ITS SURROUNDINGS.

AN ESSENTIAL ADAPTATION FOR AVOIDING PREDATORS.

BUT ALSO, AMBUSHING PREY.

THIS FEMALE IS ON THE LOOKOUT FOR ANY CRABS UNFORTUNATE ENOUGH

TO SHARE THE SAME ROCK POOL AS HER.

SHE JETS HERSELF AT SPEEDS UP TO 25 MILES PER HOUR, BY RAPIDLY

DRAWING WATER INTO HER MANTLE AND EXPELLING IT THROUGH A

TUBE-LIKE SIPHON.

AND HER LACK OF BONES ENABLES HER TO FIT IN EXTREMELY SMALL

SPACES.

THERE'S NOWHERE TO HIDE FROM THIS RELENTLESS PREDATOR.

BEFORE LONG, SHE'S CLEANED OUT THE ROCK POOL, BUT SHE'S STILL

HUNGRY.

IT WILL BE HOURS BEFORE THE TIDE COMES IN.

LUCKILY, THE OCTOPUS HAS ANOTHER EVEN MORE UNUSUAL ABILITY TO

HELP AVOID THE WAIT.

CLIMBING OUT OF THE WATER, POWERFUL TENTACLES HELP HER

MANEUVER ACROSS THE ROCKS AND SHELLS.

SHE KNOWS THAT THE NEARBY POOLS STILL HAVE PLENTY TO OFFER.

NOTHING WILL COME BETWEEN THIS EXTRAORDINARY PREDATOR AND HER

PREY.

THE OCTOPUS IS HAPPY BEING A FISH OUT OF WATER.

BUT SOMETIMES CREATURES APPEAR SO OUT OF PLACE IT SEEMS NATURE

HAS MADE A MISTAKE.

HERE IN THE HEART OF SOUTH AMERICA, AMID THE FLOODED

FORESTS OF THE RIO NEGRO LIVES ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST UNUSUAL

CREATURES.

THE SLOTH.

IT MIGHT HAVE A UNIQUE APPEARANCE BUT IT'S NOT JUST ITS

FEATURES THAT SET IT APART.

SLOTHS ARE ALSO THE SLOWEST MAMMALS ON EARTH.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THIS THREE-TOED SLOTH TRAVELS AT A TOP SPEED OF SIX

AND A HALF FEET PER MINUTE THROUGH THE TREES.

HE'S SO SEDENTARY THAT ALGAE GROWS ON HIS FURRY COAT, GIVING

HIM A GREENISH TINT, WHICH IS USEFUL CAMOUFLAGE IN THE CANOPY.

HE'S BUILT FOR LIFE IN THE TREETOPS, SPENDING NEARLY ALL

HIS TIME HANGING FROM THE BRANCHES WITH A POWERFUL GRIP,

AIDED BY HIS LONG CLAWS.

BUT HEAVY RAIN BEGINS TO FALL ACROSS THE AMAZON AND THE SPRING

FLOODWATERS HAVE ALREADY BEGUN TO RISE.

THOUSANDS OF SQUARE MILES OF RAINFORESTS ARE EVENTUALLY

FLOODED.

AND DESPITE THE DANGERS, HE'S BEEN FORCED TO BRAVE THE WATERS

IN SEARCH OF A NEW HOME.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: A SLOTH MAY BE SLOW AND CUMBERSOME IN THE TREES, BUT

THEY'RE SURPRISINGLY CAPABLE SWIMMERS.

DUE TO THEIR INCREDIBLY SLOW DIGESTIVE RATE, ALL SLOTHS BOAST

AN ENORMOUS MULTICHAMBERED STOMACH.

THIS BIG BAG OF FERMENTING LEAVES CREATES A LOT OF GAS,

ACTING AS A GIANT FLOTATION DEVICE.

AND THE LONG ARMS MAKE EFFECTIVE PADDLES.

HE MOVES THREE TIMES FASTER THAN ON LAND.

BUT NOT FAST ENOUGH TO GO UNNOTICED.

THE GREEN ANACONDA IS A FORMIDABLE AMAZON PREDATOR.

OFTEN CATCHING LARGE CAPYBARA AND THE OCCASIONAL CAYMAN.

SO A VULNERABLE SLOTH IS AN OPPORTUNITY TOO GOOD TO MISS.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: FINALLY, HE MAKES IT TO A SUITABLE TREE AND MAKES THE

LONG CLIMB TO SAFETY.

COMING UP, WE HEAD TO NEW ZEALAND WHERE A PECULIAR PENGUIN

SPECIES HAS TRADED LIFE ON THE ICE FOR LIFE IN THE TREES.

AND LATER, THIS STINGING SENSATION HAS A CREATIVE WAY TO

FIND A MEAL.

THEN IT'S OFF TO THE DESERT WHERE A CLEVER CHAMELEON SHAKES

OFF THE HEAT FROM LOCAL PREDATORS.

ALL WHEN WE RETURN TO "EARTH ODYSSEY".

.

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

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THE RUGGED COAST OF THE SNARES ISLANDS, NEW ZEALAND.

HOME TO A VERY SPECIAL COLONY OF BIRDS.

SNARES PENGUINS.

SNARES PENGUINS MAY BE BUILT FOR A LIFE AT SEA, BUT THIS COLONY

HAS CARVED A UNIQUE EXISTENCE ON THESE FORESTED ISLANDS.

AFTER A BUSY DAY CATCHING FISH, THIS FEMALE IS ON HER WAY BACK

TO HER NEST TO FEED HER YOUNG.

BUT THIS PENGUIN'S DAILY COMMUTE IS NO ORDINARY JOURNEY.

THE FIRST THINGS SHE MUST OVERCOME IS A SHEER ROCK FACE.

DESPITE HAVING NO ARMS, PENGUINS ARE SURPRISINGLY GOOD CLIMBERS.

BUT IT'S NOT OVER YET.

NOW, SHE MUST VENTURE INTO HIGHLY UNUSUAL TERRITORY,

ESPECIALLY FOR A PENGUIN.

HER HOME IS HIDDEN DEEP IN THIS FOREST.

THESE PENGUINS HAVE ESTABLISHED A LARGE COLONY AMONGST THE

TREES, WHERE THEY CAN FIND SHELTER AND BUILD THEIR NESTS.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THIS SECRET WORLD PROVIDES A SAFE PLACE TO RAISE

THEIR YOUNG, AWAY FROM THE DANGERS OF THE COAST.

BUT HER JOURNEY IS STILL NOT OVER.

SHE FINDS HER WAY THROUGH THE MAZE OF WELL-WORN PATHS.

REMEMBERING EVERY TWIST AND TURN.

SHE'S FINALLY MADE IT.

AFTER WADDLING MORE THAN HALF A MILE INLAND, SHE REACHES THE

FOREST CLEARING WHERE HER PARTNER AND CHICK AWAIT.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: AFTER HER EPIC JOURNEY, SHE'S FINALLY HOME.

AND SOMEONE IS VERY PLEASED TO SEE HER.

SHE MUST MAKE THIS TRIP EVERYDAY FOR THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

BUT IT'S A SMALL PRICE TO PAY FOR THIS SAFE HAVEN IN THE

FOREST.

COMING UP, WE HEAD TO THE COAST OF SOUTH AFRICA WHERE THE WORLD

UNDER THE WAVES IS AS WILD AS ANY ON LAND.

AND THIS CHAMELEON KNOWS JUST WHAT TO WEAR TO BLEND IN.

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

.

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

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THE COUNTRIES IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE HAVE MUCH

MORE MILD CLIMATES THAN THOSE IN THE NORTH.

THESE TEMPERATE ENVIRONMENTS MEAN THERE ARE MORE LUSH AND

DIVERSE ANIMAL COMMUNITIES.

BUT THIS BIODIVERSITY DOESN'T STOP AT THE WATER'S EDGE.

THE MILD CLIMATES AFFECT LIFE IN THE WATER, TOO.

EXPLAINING WHY SO MANY OF THE MAGNIFICENT CORAL REEFS, LIKE

THE ONE WE'RE ABOUT TO EXPLORE ARE FOUND SOUTH OF THE EQUATOR.

OFF THE COAST OF SOUTH AFRICA IS THE SODWANA REEF SYSTEM.

IT'S HOME TO A SEA CREATURE WITH AN UNCONVENTIONAL

ADAPTATION.

WITH MORE THAN 1,000 SPECIES OF FISH, THIS REEF IS ONE OF THE

HEALTHIEST AND MOST DIVERSE IN EXISTENCE.

BUT SPACE IS HIGHLY SOUGHT AFTER IN THIS OVERCROWDED ECOSYSTEM

AND DANGER CAN COME FROM ANY DIRECTION, SO ONE REEF RESIDENT

HAS HAD TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX WHEN CHOOSING A HOME.

ACROSS THE CORALS, VAST COLONIES OF ANEMONES SWAY WITH THE

CURRENT.

THEY MAY BE SIMPLE SEA CREATURES, BUT THEY ARE FAR FROM

HARMLESS.

HUNGRY FISH MIGHT BE TEMPTED BY THEIR ALLURING, SOFT TENTACLES,

BUT THE SLIGHTEST TOUCH WILL TRIGGER THEM, FIRING A

HARPOONLIKE FILAMENT INTO THEIR PREY.

INJECTING A PARALYZING NEUROTOXIN.

THE HELPLESS VICTIM IS THEN GUIDED INTO THE MOUTH BY THE

TENTACLES, TO MEET A GRISLY END.

MOST SEA CREATURES KNOW TO GIVE THE ANEMONES A WIDE BERTH.

BUT ONE SPECIES CHOOSES TO IGNORE THE WARNING SIGNS.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: UNLIKE ALL OTHER FISH ON THE REEF, THESE CLOWNFISH DON'T

APPEAR TO BE FAZED BY THE STINGING TENTACLES.

IN FACT, THEY'RE COMPLETELY IMMUNE TO THE TOXINS THE

ANEMONES PRODUCE, THANKS TO A MUCUS LAYER COVERING THEIR

BODIES.

CONSEQUENTIALLY, THEY HAVE DEVELOPED A UNIQUE SYMBIOTIC

RELATIONSHIP.

THEY REMOVE ANY PARASITES AND DRIVE AWAY INTRUDERS FROM THEIR

HOME, WHILE THE ANEMONE PROVIDES SHELTER FOR THE CLOWNFISH, AS

WELL AS PROTECTION FROM THEIR PREDATORS.

IT'S AN UNUSUAL ALLIANCE BUT ONE WHERE BOTH PARTIES REAP THE

BENEFITS.

IN THIS TIME, FEMALES WILL LAY UP TO 1,000 EGGS NEARBY AND THE

MALE WILL STAND GUARD UNTIL THEY HATCH.

THANKS TO THEIR EXTRAORDINARY IMMUNITY, THEIR YOUNG WILL GROW

UP IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT AND EVENTUALLY FIND ANEMONES OF

THEIR OWN TO CALL HOME.

COMING UP, WE SCOUR THE AFRICAN DESERT IN SEARCH OF ONE OF THE

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE'S HIDE AND SEEK SPECIALISTS WHEN WE RETURN

ON "EARTH ODYSSEY".

.

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

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THE COASTAL DESERT OF NAMIB.

CHARACTERIZED BY TOWERING RED SAND DUNES.

MANY BELIEVE IT'S THE WORLD'S OLDEST DESERT.

ALTHOUGH, IT DOESN'T HAVE THE ABUNDANCE OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS

FOUND IN OTHER PARTS OF THE CONTINENT, THE NAMIB STILL

BOASTS AN IMPRESSIVE VARIETY OF LIFE.

SPECIALLY ADAPTED ELEPHANTS AND CRITICALLY ENDANGERED BLACK

RHINOS ROAM THE DESOLATE LANDSCAPE.

BUT ONE OF THE NAMIB'S MOST INGENIOUS ANIMAL ODDITIES IS A

FAR SMALLER CREATURE.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THE NAMAQUA CHAMELEON.

UNLIKE OTHER CHAMELEONS, HE'S TRADED LIFE IN THE TREES FOR

LIFE ON THE DUNES.

AND HAS EVOLVED SEVERAL UNIQUE ADAPTATIONS TO ADJUST TO THE

ENVIRONMENT.

WHILE MOST CHAMELEONS CHANGE COLOR FOR THREAT DISPLAYS,

COURTSHIP, AND CAMOUFLAGE, THE NAMAQUA USES THIS ABILITY TO

HELP REGULATE HIS TEMPERATURE, BY ABSORBING THE HEAT OF THE

DAY.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: AND CHANGING TO A LIGHTER COLOR REFLECTS THE SUN'S

RAYS WHEN HE NEEDS TO COOL DOWN.

THIS GIVES THE CHAMELEON A UNIQUE ADVANTAGE OVER OTHER

DESERT ANIMALS.

HE'S ALSO THE ONLY CHAMELEON ABLE TO SPREAD HIS TOES APART.

OTHER SPECIES HAVE THEIR TOES FUSED TOGETHER LIKE TONGS, TO

HELP GRIP ONTO BRANCHES IN THE FOREST.

BUT THIS IS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT WAY OF LIFE.

THE DETACHED TOES GIVE HIM THE ABILITY TO MOVE ACROSS THE FLAT

OPEN GROUND, AN ESSENTIAL TRAIT IF HE IS TO HAVE ANY CHANCE OF

AVOIDING DESERT PREDATORS.

INCLUDING HAWKS AND EAGLES.

THANKFULLY, IT'S JUST A HARMLESS DUNE LARK.

NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT THIS TIME.

NAMAQUA CHAMELEONS DEPEND ON A DIET OF DESERT INSECTS.

SO, THIS PASSING BEETLE IS EXACTLY WHAT HE IS LOOKING FOR.

HIS FAST LEGS ALLOW HIM TO CHASE DOWN THE INSECT AND EVENTUALLY

GET CLOSE ENOUGH TO STRIKE.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THIS CHAMELEON CAN HUNT DOWN AS MANY AS 200 BEETLES IN A

SINGLE DAY.

NOT BAD FOR A SPECIES USUALLY ASSOCIATED WITH MOVING LAZILY

THROUGH THE TREES.

THE CHAMELEON'S UNIQUE ADAPTATIONS HELP IT SURVIVE IN

THE SCORCHING HEAT OF THE NAMIB DESERT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US ON OUR JOURNEY THROUGH THE

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE.

THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE GLOBE IS FULL OF THE REMOTE,

MYSTERIOUS, AND UNDISCOVERED REGIONS THAT HAVE CAPTURED

MANKIND'S CURIOSITY FOR CENTURIES.

AND I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN ME AGAIN TO EXPLORE SOME MORE NEXT TIME

ON "EARTH ODYSSEY".

[MUSIC]