Original subtitles

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ANNOUNCER: 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, AND WE'RE ABOUT TO

EMBARK ON ANOTHER "EARTH ODYSSEY."

ON TODAY'S EPISODE, WE RETURN TO THE GALAPAGOS

ISLANDS, AN UNSPOILED WILDERNESS WITH AN

EXTRAORDINARY DIVERSITY OF ANIMALS AND PLANTS FOUND

NOWHERE ELSE ON EARTH.

WATCH AS THIS GALAPAGOS NATIVE DIVES FOR HIS

DINNER.

AND LATER, HOW MANY PUSHUPS DOES IT TAKE TO

IMPRESS YOUR FRIENDS?

THIS LIZARD TAKES ON THE CHALLENGE.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: HERE AT RIPLEY'S AQUARIUM OF THE SMOKIES IS

A GROUP OF ATLANTIC MUDSKIPPERS.

THESE FISH LIVE IN THE MANGROVE SWAMPS OF WESTERN

AFRICA.

NEVER STRAYING FAR FROM THE WATER, MUDSKIPPERS

SURVIVE BY TREKKING ACROSS SAND OR MUD IN SEARCH OF

SMALL CRABS AND INSECTS FOR FOOD.

IN THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS, THERE'S A BIRD WHO PREFERS

TO HUNT CLOSE TO HOME AS WELL.

KEEPING AN EYE ON THE SHORELINE, THE CORMORANT

HAS ADAPTED TO LIFE ON AND OFF THE ROCKY COAST BY

DIVING DEEP FOR HIS CATCH.

LET'S TRAVEL TOGETHER TO THIS WILDLIFE WONDERLAND

TO MEET THIS BIRD IN PERSON.

THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS ARE LOCATED HUNDREDS OF MILES

OFF THE COAST OF ECUADOR IN SOUTH AMERICA.

THERE ARE 13 PRIMARY ISLANDS AND AT LEAST A

HUNDRED ROCKY REEFS THAT JUT OUT THE SEA, EACH LAND

MASS CREATED FROM VOLCANIC ACTIVITY...

...LAVA EXPLODING TO THE EARTH'S SURFACE, SLOWLY

COOLING, FORMING NEW ISLANDS.

SOME ISLANDS LOOK LIKE A WASTELAND, A PLACE WHERE

NOTHING COULD SURVIVE.

OTHERS ARE MORE LIKE A FERTILE PLAYGROUND FOR AN

INCREDIBLE DIVERSITY OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS.

WITH VERY LITTLE HUMAN INTERFERENCE OVER

THOUSANDS OF YEARS, THESE ISLANDS SERVE AS A UNIQUE

PLACE TO STUDY NATURE FOR SCIENTISTS.

ON THE GALAPAGOS, ANIMALS DEVELOP CERTAIN TRAITS

THAT HELP THEM SURVIVE.

THIS THEORY OF EVOLUTION IS BY NATURAL SELECTION,

A THEORY FIRST PROPOSED BY A YOUNG BOTANIST NAMED

CHARLES DARWIN.

HE VISITED THE GALAPAGOS MORE THAN 150 YEARS AGO ON

HIS WAY TO SOUTH AMERICA.

IN ADDITION TO ITS INHABITANTS, DARWIN

STUDIED THE VOLCANIC ISLANDS THEMSELVES.

THERE WERE NO VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS DURING HIS

VISIT, BUT HIS SCIENTIFIC OBSERVATIONS CHANGED THE

WAY WE UNDERSTOOD THE THEORIES BEHIND THESE

PHENOMENONS.

ISABELLA IS THE LARGEST VOLCANIC ISLAND IN THE

GALAPAGOS.

IT HAS SIX VOLCANOES THAT OVERLAP, SEVERAL OF WHICH

ARE STILL SIMMERING BENEATH THE EARTH'S

SURFACE.

IT'S ALSO HOME TO A KEY PLAYER IN THE THEORY OF

EVOLUTION.

THIS BIRD IS CALLED THE CORMORANT.

THEY'RE FOUND ALL OVER THE WORLD, BUT HERE ON THE

GALAPAGOS, THE CORMORANT HAS LOST ITS ABILITY TO

FLY.

THE BIRD'S WINGS ARE TOO SMALL FOR ITS BODY, YET

ITS LEGS ARE STRONGER THAN OTHER TYPES OF CORMORANTS.

IT ALSO HAS ENLARGED FEET, TRAITS THAT GIVE IT A

DEFINITIVE ADVANTAGE AS IT DIVES FOR ITS DINNER.

THE CORMORANT FEEDS ON THE OCEAN'S BOUNTY, NEVER

SWIMMING FARTHER THAN A FOOTBALL FIELD AWAY FROM

THE SHORELINE.

THESE BIRDS PREFER TO FEAST ON OCTOPUS AND

BITE-SIZED FISH.

IT'S BELIEVED THAT THIS PARTICULAR CORMORANT MUST

HAVE FLOWN TO THE ISLANDS AT SOME POINT MANY YEARS

AGO.

ONCE HERE, IT WAS MAROONED FROM ITS WINGED COUSINS,

BUT THE GALAPAGOS OFFERED THESE BIRDS PLENTY TO EAT,

SO THEY STUCK AROUND, EVENTUALLY BECOMING THE

LARGEST CORMORANT SPECIES IN THE WORLD DESPITE THEIR

DIMINUTIVE WINGS.

CORMORANTS MAKE THEIR NESTS WITH SEAWEED ON TOP

OF THE LAVA ROCKS.

EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE MOSTLY DECORATIVE AT THIS

POINT, THE GALAPAGOS CORMORANTS WILL HOLD THEIR

WINGS OUT TO DRY, THOUGHT TO BE A CARRYOVER FROM AN

AGE OLD HABIT.

THE CLEANING RITUALS OF THIS GALAPAGOS NATIVE KEEP

THE INSECT POPULATION UNDER CONTROL.

THE LAVA LIZARD OFFERS FREE GROOMING SERVICES TO

THE SEA LIONS, WHO POPULATE THE ISLAND'S

SHORELINES.

THE LAVA LIZARD LIVES FOR ABOUT TEN YEARS AND TAKES

ON SEVERAL MATES DURING ITS LIFETIME.

TO CATCH THE ATTENTION OF A PASSING FEMALE, THE MALE

WILL PUT ON A SHOW.

HE'LL DO PUSHUPS AND BOB HIS HEAD UP AND DOWN,

TRYING HARD TO MAKE A GOOD IMPRESSION.

BUT FOR THIS FEMALE LIZARD, HIS BEST EFFORTS

ARE JUST NOT GOOD ENOUGH.

SHE REJECTS HIS ADVANCES.

SHE TURNS HER BACK AND FLIPS HER TAIL UP AS IF TO

SAY, "MOVE ON.

NO ONE IS IMPRESSED."

BUT WHAT IS UNDENIABLY IMPRESSIVE ARE THE

GALAPAGOS ISLANDS.

THEY TEEM WITH LIFE FOUND NOWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD,

A NATURAL LABORATORY TO STUDY ADAPTATION AND

SURVIVAL.

COMING UP ON EARTH ODYSSEY, FIND OUT HOW

THESE ELEGANT AVIATORS KEEP THEIR ROSY GLOW.

.

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

ANNOUNCER: THIS EPISODE OF "EARTH ODYSSEY" WITH DYLAN

DREYER IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY RIPLEY'S AQUARIUMS.

DYLAN: IN THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS, THERE'S LITTLE

HUMAN INTERACTION.

THE OUTLOOK FOR WILDLIFE IS NATURALLY OPTIMISTIC.

IF YOU TRAVEL INLAND TO ONE OF ISABELLA'S LAGOONS,

LIFE LOOKS DOWNRIGHT ROSY, AT LEAST THE BIRDS DO.

ONE OF THE MOST RECOGNIZABLE BIRDS ON

EARTH LIVES HERE, THE GREATER FLAMINGOES.

IT'S THOUGHT THAT THESE FLAMINGOES ORIGINATED FROM

THE CARIBBEAN ISLANDS TO SET UP A COLONY.

IT'S A TINY GROUP, JUST SIX HUNDRED, COMPARED TO

OTHER POPULATIONS IN THE WORLD THAT CAN BE AS LARGE

AS TEN THOUSAND.

BUT THE FLAMINGOES HERE ENJOY THE SAME SHELLFISH

AS ELSEWHERE.

THEY FLIP THEIR HEADS UPSIDE-DOWN, SIFTING THE

SILKY WATER IN THEIR BEAKS.

AT A RATE OF 20 MOUTHFULS A SECOND, FLAMINGOES SEEK

OUT BRINY SHRIMP AND OTHER BABY CRUSTACEANS.

THOSE PINK SHRIMP ARE WHAT GIVE THE FLAMINGO ITS

AMAZING COLOR.

WITH SUCH A SMALL POPULATION, FINDING A MATE

FOR A LIFETIME TAKES ON A DIFFERENT CHALLENGE.

THESE FLAMINGOES RENEW THEIR COMMITMENT TO EACH

OTHER VERY PUBLICLY.

LIKE A BALLET, THE BIRDS BOB THEIR HEADS, SALUTE

EACH OTHER WITH THEIR WINGS, TURNING THEIR HEADS

ON CUE...

...ALL IMPORTANT RITUALS THAT REMIND EACH PAIR HOW

MUCH THEY MEAN TO ONE ANOTHER.

ONE OF THE NEWEST GALAPAGOS ISLANDS IS

FERNANDINA.

COVERED IN BLACK LAVA ROCKS, IT LOOKS LIKE THE

LAST PLACE ON EARTH TO FIND ANY LIVING CREATURE,

YET HERE IT IS.

LAVA CACTUS ARE CONSIDERED A COLONIZER SPECIES.

IT'S ONE OF THE FIRST TO APPEAR WHEN NOTHING ELSE

WILL GROW.

THEIR SEEDS ARE DROPPED BY BIRDS OR CARRIED BY THE

WIND FROM OLDER ISLANDS, BUT THESE CACTI ARE NOT

ALONE ON FERNANDINA.

THERE'S ANOTHER PRICKLY CHARACTER WHO PREFERS THE

ROCKY SHORES OF THE GALAPAGOS.

THE MARINE IGUANAS CAN LIVE VIRTUALLY ANYWHERE ON

THE ISLANDS.

THERE ARE 250,000 THAT CALL THE GALAPAGOS HOME.

THIS GIANT SWIMMING DRAGON IS THE WORLD'S ONLY

SPECIES OF MARINE LIZARD.

IT'S THOUGHT THAT A GROUP OF SOUTH AMERICAN LAND

IGUANAS DRIFTED OUT TO SEA ON A PIECE OF DEBRIS,

FINDING THEIR WAY TO THE GALAPAGOS.

BUT ONCE THERE, FOOD WAS SCARCE ON LAND, SO THEY

DIVED STRAIGHT IN TO FIND A WAY TO SURVIVE.

THE MARINE IGUANAS ARE VEGETARIANS, SCRAPING AWAY

AT THE RED AND GREEN ALGAE GROWING UNDERWATER ON DEEP

SEA ROCKS.

WHATEVER IT TAKES, NATURE FINDS A WAY TO EVOLVE AND

ADAPT.

WHEN "EARTH ODYSSEY" RETURNS, THESE BIRDS HAVE

AN INFLATED SENSE OF IMPORTANCE WHEN IT COMES

TO SHARING A NEST.

.

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

DYLAN: JUST BECAUSE PENGUINS ARE BIRDS DOESN'T

MEAN THEY'RE DESTINED TO FLY.

THESE DAPPER FELLOWS ARE MUCH HAPPIER IN THE WATER

THAN IN THE AIR.

THEIR SMALL WINGS ARE ACTUALLY FLIPPERS THAT

HELP THEM MASTER THE OCEAN CURRENTS; HOWEVER, THE

BIRDS YOU'RE ABOUT TO SEE IN THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS

ARE CERTAINLY THE MASTERS OF THE SKY.

THEY CAN STAY ALOFT FOR INCREDIBLE PERIODS OF

TIME.

IT'S THE LANDING THAT TRIPS THEM UP.

LET'S SEE HOW THESE FRIGATEBIRDS TOUCH DOWN

WITH TACT.

JUST OFF THE MAIN GALAPAGOS ISLAND OF SANTA

CRUZ ON NORTH SEYMOUR ISLAND, THESE AERIAL

HIGH-FLYERS CAN STAY IN THE AIR FOR MORE THAN A

WEEK.

HIGH ABOVE THE WATER, THE FRIGATEBIRDS ARE THE

MASTERS OF THE SKIES.

THEIR WINGS CAN STRETCH MORE THAN EIGHT FEET

ACROSS.

STRONG BREAST MUSCLES KEEP THESE ENORMOUS BIRDS

ALOFT, STEERING THEIR BODIES WITH FORKED TAILS.

BUT THAT'S JUST PART OF THEIR SUPER-SIZED APPEAL.

WAIT UNTIL YOU SEE THE REAL SHOWSTOPPER.

THIS FEMALE IS COMING DOWN TO LAND.

THE BIRDS BELOW CRY OUT FOR HER COMPANY.

SHE'S GOT A TOUGH DECISION TO MAKE.

ONCE THE BIRDS SPOT HER, EACH ONE CALLS TO HER.

[BIRDS SQUAWKING]

THEY INFLATE THEIR ENORMOUS RED THROAT

POUCHES.

THE RED BALLOONS BLOW UP AS THE COMPETITION TO GET

HER ATTENTION GETS TOUGHER.

[SQUAWKING CONTINUES]

FINALLY, SHE MAKES HER DECISION.

[SQUAWKING CONTINUES]

SHE LANDS NEARBY TO NEST.

THE MALE FRIGATE WILL GO COLLECT TWIGS AND

BRANCHES.

THE FRIGATEBIRDS MAY BE MASTERS OF THE SKIES, BUT

TAKEOFF AND LANDING IS ANOTHER STORY.

WITH SUCH SHORT LEGS, THEY CAN'T WALK OR SWIM.

THEY CAN'T EVEN TAKEOFF ON FLAT LAND.

SOMETIMES THE ONLY OPTION IS TO STEAL A FEW TWIGS

FROM A PASSING NEIGHBOR.

[BIRDS SQUAWKING]

THIS PAIR WILL RAISE THEIR BABY BIRD TOGETHER.

THE FRIGATEBIRDS SPEND MORE TIME RAISING THEIR

YOUNG THAN ANY OTHER BIRD SPECIES.

THE DADS STICK AROUND FOR THE FIRST THREE MONTHS,

AND THEN THE MOTHERS WILL FEED AND RAISE THEIR

CHICKS FOR A YEAR-AND-A-HALF.

SANTA CRUZ IS AN ISLAND OF EXTREME CLIMATES.

THOUGHT TO BE ABOUT TWO MILLION YEARS OLD, ITS

ISLAND PEAKS REACH HIGH ENOUGH TO CREATE RAIN

CLOUDS, BUT DOWN BELOW, THE LOWER PLAINS BATTLE

DROUGHT WITH LITTLE WATER REACHING THE GROUND.

CACTUS FORESTS DO WELL IN THIS CHALLENGING

ENVIRONMENT.

GREEN SUCCULENT STEMS AND LEAVES STORE WATER FOR THE

CACTUS WHEN RESOURCES ARE SCARCE.

THESE PRICKLY PLANTS PROTECT THEIR WATER SUPPLY

FROM INVADERS WITH AN ARMOR OF SPINES; HOWEVER,

THERE IS ONE GALAPAGOS NATIVE WHO SEEMS UNPHASED

BY THE DANGEROUS SHELL.

THE CACTUS FINCH BRAVELY FEEDS ON THE FLOWERS,

GOING AS FAR AS BUILDING A NEST ON ITS SPIKY LEAVES.

THESE FINCHES, WITH THEIR ABILITY TO ADAPT AND

THRIVE UNDER EXTRAORDINARY CONDITIONS, ARE A CRITICAL

PART OF THE PUZZLE FOR SCIENTISTS WHO STUDY THE

EVOLUTION OF SPECIES.

COMING UP, THE ANIMALS AREN'T THE ONLY ONES WHO

MUST ADAPT TO SURVIVE.

FIND OUT HOW THIS PLANT MANAGES TO KEEP CLEAR OF

DANGER BELOW.

.

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

DYLAN: A DAY ON THE GALAPAGOS CAN FEEL LIKE

BEING STRANDED ON A DESERT ISLAND, BUT IN THIS CASE,

THE ISLANDS ARE HOTSPOTS OF VOLCANIC ACTIVITY...

...WITH SIMMERING LAVA JUST BELOW THE SURFACE.

ON THE TINY SOUTH PLAZA ISLAND, CHALLENGING

CONDITIONS FORCE THESE PLANTS TO ADAPT IN ORDER

TO SURVIVE.

THIS PRICKLY PEAR CACTUS KEEPS ITS TASTY FLOWERS

AND PADS SAFE BY GROWING AN EXTRA LONG TRUNK, JUST

OUT OF REACH FOR A NOTORIOUS THIEF, THE LAND

IGUANA.

CHARLES DARWIN CALLED THESE FEARSOME-LOOKING

CREATURES HIDEOUS.

BRUTISH ANIMALS, THESE IGUANAS CAN GROW MORE THAN

THREE FEET LONG AND WEIGH NEARLY 30 POUNDS.

THEY PREFER LOW-GROWING BUSHES AND PLANTS THEY CAN

EASILY REACH DURING TIMES OF DROUGHT.

BUT OLDER PRICKLY PEAR CACTUS IS STILL A DELICACY

AND WORTH THE WAIT.

THERE'S NO WAY TO REACH THE FRUIT OF THE OLDER

TREES, SO THE IGUANAS WILL CLAIM A TREE AND SIT

PATIENTLY UNDERNEATH, WAITING FOR THE RIPE FRUIT

TO FALL.

THE IGUANAS CAN SIT THERE IN THE PLANT'S SHADE FOR A

MONTH.

ONCE THE FRUIT FALLS, THE IGUANAS ROLL THE FRUIT IN

SOIL TO REMOVE THE SPINES.

A FEW PRICKS OF PAIN WON'T SLOW DOWN THIS HUNGRY

IGUANA.

THE CACTUS CAN GROW TALLER EACH SEASON, PERHAPS

TRYING TO OUTWIT THE LAND IGUANAS ON THE ISLAND, A

CONSTANT BATTLE TO SEE WHO HAS THE STRENGTH TO

SURVIVE ON THESE OUTPOSTS OF CIVILIZATION.

THANKS FOR JOINING ME ON THIS FASCINATING TRIP TO

THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS.

FORGED BY VOLCANOES AND LEFT TO EVOLVE, THESE

ISLANDS AND THEIR WILDLIFE ARE A SPECTACULAR NATURAL

LABORATORY FOR SCIENTISTS.

IT'S INCREDIBLE TO SEE NATURE TAKE OVER IN A PART

OF THE WORLD LEFT UNTOUCHED BY HUMANS.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME ON "EARTH ODYSSEY."

[MUSIC]