Original subtitles

.

- NARRATOR: WHEN YOU SEE THIS - SYMBOL YOU KNOW YOU'RE WATCHING

TELEVISION THAT IS EDUCATIONAL

AND INFORMATIONAL.

THE MORE YOU KNOW ON NBC.

- DYLAN: WELCOME TO "EARTH - ODYSSEY".

I'M DYLAN DREYER.

GET READY TO TRAVEL AROUND

THE WORLD.

- ON TODAY'S "EARTH - ODYSSEY", WE VISIT SOME OF

OUR FAVORITE ISLANDS FROM

ALL OVER THE WORLD AND

EXPLORE WHAT CALLS THESE

PRIMATE PARADISES HOME.

- WE BEGIN IN THE HEART OF - THE AMAZON WHERE RIVER

ISLANDS HOLD MORE THAN

JUST WATER.

PLUS, WE FLY TO THE

PHILIPPINES TO MEET AN

ANIMAL WHO LOOKS LIKE A

MONKEY, SOUNDS LIKE A

MONKEY, BUT IS ANYTHING

BUT A MONKEY.

AND LATER, IT'S SLOTH

SEASON.

[MUSIC]

- DYLAN: ISLAND CHAINS - THROUGHOUT THE WORLD HAVE

A SPECIAL TOPOGRAPHY THAT

MAKES THEM UNIQUELY SUITED

TO HOST A DAZZLING ARRAY

OF WILDLIFE.

TODAY, WE'RE VISITING TWO

OF THEM SEPARATED BY MORE

THAN TEN THOUSAND MILES,

THE PHILIPPINES IN

SOUTHEAST ASIA, WHICH IS

THE SECOND LARGEST

ARCHIPELAGO ON EARTH, AND

THE ISLANDS OF THE AMAZON

SURROUNDED BY THE LARGEST

RIVER ON EARTH.

- ALTHOUGH WORLDS APART, - THESE NATURAL WONDERS FEEL

REMARKABLY SIMILAR AND

SHARE AN ECOSYSTEM THAT

SUSTAINS SOME OF THE MOST

INCREDIBLE ANIMALS ON OUR

PLANET.

THE AMAZON RAINFOREST COVERS

MORE THAN 2 MILLION SQUARE

MILES OF OUR PLANET.

- SPRAWLING ACROSS ALMOST - HALF OF THE SOUTH AMERICAN

CONTINENT, IT IS FED BY

THE MIGHTY AMAZON RIVER.

AND AT ITS HEART ARE A

GROUP OF ISLANDS KNOWN AS

THE ANAVILHANAS AND MARIUA

ARCHIPELAGOS.

MORE THAN ONE THOUSAND

ISLANDS STRETCH ALONG THE

RIO NEGRO BRANCH OF THE

AMAZON RIVER AND TOGETHER

MAKE UP THE LARGEST

COLLECTION OF RIVER

ISLANDS IN THE WORLD.

- THOUSANDS OF MILES FROM - THE NEAREST OCEAN, THESE

RIVER ISLANDS ARE

UNIQUE...

- ...SURROUNDED NOT BY CORAL - REEFS AND CRYSTAL CLEAR

WATERS, BUT BY FLOODED

FORESTS AND HIDDEN

DANGERS.

- THIS IS HOME TO SOME OF - THE MOST UNUSUAL CREATURES

IN THE WORLD.

FLOODED FOR SIX MONTHS OF

THE YEAR, THE ISLANDS ARE

A MASS OF SUBMERGED TREES

AND WANDERING VINES.

THIS IS A WORLD LIKE NO

OTHER.

THE FOREST FLOOR BECOMES

THE RIVERBED.

FISH FEED FROM THE

TREETOPS, AND

CANOPY-DWELLERS ARE

STALKED BY CREATURES THAT

LURK BENEATH.

- IT'S MAY, AND THE - FLOODWATERS ARE STARTING

TO RISE.

- THE LIVES OF THE ANIMALS - THAT CALL THE ISLANDS HOME

TAKE A DRAMATIC TURN.

ONLY TWO PRIMATES LIVE

HERE, RED HOWLER MONKEYS

AND THE MORE COMMON

SQUIRREL MONKEYS, WHO HAVE

THE RUN OF THE CANOPY.

- BECAUSE THEY SPEND MUCH OF - THE YEAR CUT OFF FROM THE

MAINLAND, THEY'VE LEARNED

TO ADAPT TO LIFE ABOVE THE

WATER.

- IT'S EARLY MORNING, AND A - LARGE GROUP IS HEADING OUT

ON A FORAGING EXPEDITION.

- THE MONKEYS MAKE THE MOST - OF THE DAYLIGHT HOURS AS

THEY MOVE THROUGH THE

CANOPY.

- THEY'RE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR - FRUITS, FLOWERS, AND

INSECTS THAT MAKE UP THEIR

DIET.

LONG TAILS PROVIDE THEM

WITH EXCELLENT BALANCE.

AND AIDED BY NIMBLE HANDS

AND FEET, THEY'RE ABLE TO

INVESTIGATE ANY

OPPORTUNITY.

BUT THE CANOPY OFFERS SLIM

PICKINGS.

- SURROUNDED BY WATER, THE - ARCHIPELAGOS DO NOT

SUPPORT THE ABUNDANCE OF

FOOD THAT IS AVAILABLE TO

MONKEYS ELSEWHERE IN THE

AMAZON.

- SOME OF THE YOUNG MALES - AREN'T IMPRESSED WITH

WHAT'S OFFERED.

SO THEY DECIDE TO VENTURE

DOWN DEEPER INSIDE THE

FLOODED FOREST.

THE REWARDS ARE WORTH IT.

YOUNG MONKEYS HAVE

INCREDIBLY GOOD EYESIGHT,

AND THEY'RE ABLE TO SPOT

FOOD AMONGST THE DENSE

VEGETATION WITH EASE.

THEY FOUND A FAVORITE.

THESE FLOWERS' SWEET

NECTAR IS IRRESISTIBLE.

- AFTER A FRANTIC MORNING - FORAGING, ONE OF THE

YOUNGSTERS IS DESPERATE

FOR A DRINK, BUT IT'S

RISKY BUSINESS.

BLACK CAIMAN LURK BELOW.

[MONKEYS SCREECHING]

- DYLAN: AN ALARM CALL - ALERTS HIM TO THE DANGER,

BUT HE IS NOT OUT OF

TROUBLE YET.

- THE SLIGHTEST SLIP COULD - BE FATAL FOR THE PLUCKY

PRIMATE.

- FINALLY, HE MAKES IT BACK - TO THE CANOPY WHERE HE IS

SAFE FOR NOW.

COMING UP, WE EXPLORE

WHAT'S IN THE TREES AND

FOLLOW THE LIFE OF ONE

COURAGEOUS CATERPILLAR.

PLUS, GET READY TO LIGHT

UP THE SKY WITH SOME OF

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL INSECTS

IN THE WORLD.

.

NARRATOR: WE NOW RETURN TO THE

MORE YOU KNOW ON NBC

- DYLAN: THE PHILIPPINES ARE - HOME TO ALL SORTS OF

STRANGE SPECIES, LIKE AN

INSECT WITH AN APPETITE

FOR POISON.

A TREE NYMPH CATERPILLAR

CLIMBS ITS FAVORITE PLANT,

A DOGBANE.

TO TRY AND STOP INSECTS

EATING THEM, DOGBANES

FLUSH THEIR LEAVES WITH

TOXINS, BUT IT'S A TACTIC

WHICH DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK.

- POISON MAKES THE PLANTS - MORE DESIRABLE TO THE TREE

NYMPH CATERPILLAR, NOT

LESS.

IT CAREFULLY SEVERS THE

STEM CARRYING THE TOXINS

SO IT CONSUMES ONLY A

NON-LETHAL DOSE AS IT EATS

THE LEAF.

- THE CATERPILLAR CUNNINGLY - ADOPTS THE PLANT'S

SELF-DEFENSE TACTIC.

IT NOW CARRIES THE TOXINS,

WHICH SHOULD DETER

PREDATORS.

- AFTER ABOUT TWO WEEKS, THE - CATERPILLAR DOUBLES IN

SIZE.

IT WEAVES A SILK PAD ON A

LEAF AND SUSPENDS ITSELF

USING BARBED HOOKS ON ITS

REAR.

WHAT HAPPENS NOW IS A

BIOLOGICAL MIRACLE.

- ENZYMES DIGEST THE - CATERPILLAR'S TISSUE,

EFFECTIVELY LIQUIDIZING

ITS INSIDES.

THE CATERPILLAR SLOWLY

SHEDS ITS SKIN TO REVEAL A

GOLDEN CHRYSALIS.

AT FIRST, THE CHRYSALIS IS

SOFT AND SKIN-LIKE.

BUT IT QUICKLY TOUGHENS TO

FORM A PROTECTIVE COCOON.

- IN THE SAFETY OF ITS - HARDENED HOME, IT WAITS

FOR CELLS IN ITS LIQUID

CENTER TO SLOWLY CHANGE.

TWO WEEKS PASS.

- THE CATERPILLAR IS NOW - READY FOR THE FINAL STAGE

OF A MIRACULOUS

TRANSFORMATION.

- ONE OF THE PHILIPPINES' - MOST SPECTACULAR

BUTTERFLIES, THE TREE

NYMPH SLOWLY ENTERS THE

WORLD.

FREE OF ITS CRAMPED

COCOON, IT GENTLY PUFFS UP

ITS PAPERY WINGS.

- ITS FRAGILE BODY SLOWLY - DRIES IN THE WARM

SUNSHINE.

FINALLY, IT'S TIME FOR ITS

FIRST FLIGHT.

BUT FREEDOM IS

SHORT-LIVED.

AN ORB WEAVER SPIDER

STRIKES.

ITS WEB IS MORE THAN THREE

FEET WIDE AND ALMOST

INVISIBLE.

THE OUTCOME SEEMS

INEVITABLE, BUT ALL IS NOT

WHAT IT SEEMS.

- SOMETHING ABOUT THE - BUTTERFLY DOESN'T TASTE

QUITE RIGHT.

ONE LAST LOOK, AND THE

SPIDER CUTS ITS CAPTIVE

FREE.

THE TOXINS FROM THE

DOGBANE PLANT THE

BUTTERFLY ATE WHEN IT WAS

A CATERPILLAR HAVE SAVED

ITS LIFE.

IT'S COMPLETELY

UNPALATABLE TO THE SPIDER.

- THIS INGENIOUS TRICK HAS - EARNED THE TREE NYMPH

ANOTHER NAME, THE LUCKY

BUTTERFLY.

- THE ORB WEAVER IS LEFT - WAITING FOR A MORE

APPETIZING CATCH.

COMING UP NEXT, THERE'S

ALWAYS SOMETHING FUN TO

- EXPLORE IN THE - PHILIPPINES, SO DON'T

BLINK OR YOU MIGHT MISS

SOMETHING.

AND LATER, WE DISCOVER THE

FAST TIMES OF THE LIFE OF

AN AMAZONIAN SLOTH.

.

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

DYLAN: WELCOME BACK.

THERE'S A BEAUTIFUL INSECT

THAT CAN LIGHT UP ANY

NIGHT SKY, THE FIREFLY.

SOME ADULT FIREFLIES

AROUND THE WORLD DON'T

LIGHT UP, BUT IN THE

PHILIPPINES, THEY CREATE A

SHOW THAT ILLUMINATES THE

NIGHT SKY, AND THEY AREN'T

JUST DOING IT FOR LOOKS.

EACH LIGHT IS ACTUALLY A

FORM OF COMMUNICATION.

LET'S HEAD BACK TO THE

PHILIPPINES AND SEE WHAT

EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT.

- WE'RE BACK IN THE - FASCINATING ISLAND CHAIN

OF THE PHILIPPINES.

THESE SMALL INSECTS LOOK

FAIRLY UNREMARKABLE DURING

THE DAY, BUT AS THE SUN

SETS, THEY SHOW A VERY

DIFFERENT SIDE.

DARKNESS DESCENDS, AND

GHOSTLY LIGHTS FLASH.

THE INSECTS ARE FIREFLIES,

AND NIGHTTIME IS WHEN THEY

SHINE.

THE LIGHTS ARE A COURTSHIP

DISPLAY, A SIGN MALES WANT

TO MATE.

- FLASHES ARE CAUSED BY A - CHEMICAL REACTION INSIDE

THE FLY'S BODY.

- IT'S THOUGHT THAT BY - DISPLAYING AT THE SAME

TIME, MALES HAVE A GREATER

CHANCE OF ATTRACTING A

FEMALE.

- THEIR MASS EFFECT RIVALS - THE BRIGHTEST STARS IN THE

NIGHTTIME SKY.

THE SHIMMERING DISPLAY

SLOWLY DRAWS TO A CLOSE.

- NOW IS THE TIME WHEN THE - PHILIPPINES' MOST

CELEBRATED AND SECRETIVE

PREDATOR COMES OUT OF

HIDING...

...THE PHILIPPINE TARSIER.

IT'S SO TINY, IT WOULD FIT

INSIDE A HUMAN HAND, AND

IT ONLY STIRS AFTER DARK.

THE TARSIER IS ONE OF THE

WORLD'S SMALLEST PRIMATES,

BUT IT HAS THE BIGGEST

EYES RELATIVE TO BODY SIZE

OF ANY MAMMAL.

UNSURPRISINGLY, IT HAS

SUPERB SIGHT.

A CRICKET IS

WELL-CAMOUFLAGED, BUT NOT

WELL ENOUGH.

THE TARSIER'S HEARING IS

SUPERB, TOO.

IT PINPOINTS THE CRICKET'S

POSITION...

...AND STRIKES.

- THE CRICKET DOESN'T SENSE - DANGER UNTIL IT'S TOO

LATE.

- THE NAME TARSIER COMES - FROM ITS UNUSUALLY LONG

TARSUS, OR ANKLE BONES,

WHICH WORK LIKE SHOCK

ABSORBERS.

THEY HELP IT TO JUMP

QUICKLY AND LAND QUIETLY.

AS IT HOLDS THE CRICKET,

IT'S CLEAR HOW TINY THE

TARSIER IS AND HOW HUNGRY.

SPECIAL ADHESIVE DISCS ON

ITS FEET HELP IT STICK TO

BRANCHES WHILE IT EATS AND

KEEPS WATCH.

ITS EYES ARE BIGGER THAN

ITS BRAIN AND ITS STOMACH.

THEY'RE FIXED IN ITS SKULL

AND CAN'T MOVE, BUT IT CAN

SPIN ITS HEAD THROUGH 180

DEGREES LIKE AN OWL, AND

THAT HELPS IT SPOT MANY

MORE FEEDING

OPPORTUNITIES.

A CRICKET PROVIDES A BIG

MEAL, BUT IT'S MERELY AN

APPETIZER.

- THE TARSIER LAUNCHES A - FEEDING FRENZY TO RIVAL

THE MOST FEROCIOUS

PREDATOR.

- ONE OF THE ISLAND'S - TINIEST PREDATORS IS AMONG

ITS DEADLIEST.

A LONG NIGHT'S HUNTING HAS

ONLY JUST BEGUN.

- THE PHILIPPINES ARE HOME - TO SOME OF THE RAREST

ANIMALS ON EARTH AND SOME

OF THE MOST UNUSUAL.

- MANY OF THESE ANCIENT - ISLANDS ARE ISOLATED AND

UNDISTURBED.

AS A RESULT, UNIQUE

SPECIES HAVE FLOURISHED

UNINTERRUPTED BY THE

MODERN WORLD.

COMING UP NEXT, SLOTHS ARE

TYPICALLY SLOW-MOVING

MAMMALS, BUT WHAT HAPPENS

WHEN THEY NEED TO MAKE A

RUN FOR IT?

FIND OUT NEXT ON "EARTH

ODYSSEY".

.

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

DYLAN: WELCOME BACK TO

"EARTH ODYSSEY".

- GIANT REPTILES ARE NOT THE - ONLY PREDATORS PATROLLING

THESE WATERWAYS.

NONE HAS A MORE FEARSOME

REPUTATION THAN A PIRANHA.

- BLOOD IN THE WATER WILL - WHIP THEM INTO A FEEDING

FRENZY.

THESE RED-BELLIED PIRANHAS

ARE EFFICIENT WORKERS.

JAWS FILLED WITH

RAZOR-SHARP TEETH ARE

DESIGNED TO MAKE QUICK

WORK OF THEIR MEAL.

AS THE WATERS CONTINUE TO

RISE, MANY ANIMALS WILL

BECOME CUT OFF.

- A THREE-TOED SLOTH IS - FORCED TO BRAVE THE

TREACHEROUS WATERS IN

SEARCH OF A NEW HOME.

DESPITE THE DANGERS, IT

HAS NO CHOICE.

BUILT FOR LIFE IN THE

TREETOPS, SLOTHS ARE

SURPRISINGLY GOOD

SWIMMERS.

THEY PADDLE EFFICIENTLY

WITH THEIR LONG ARMS AND

ARE ABLE TO MOVE MUCH

FASTER THAN THEY DO ON

LAND.

BUT NOT QUICKLY ENOUGH TO

GO UNNOTICED.

GREEN ANACONDA ARE ALWAYS

ON THE LOOKOUT FOR AN EASY

MEAL.

THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TOO

GOOD TO BE MISSED FOR ONE

OF THE FOREST'S DEADLIEST

PREDATORS.

- CHEMORECEPTORS ON THE - SNAKE'S TONGUE HELP IT

TRACK ITS PREYS MOVEMENTS

THROUGH THE WATER.

FINALLY, THE SLOTH MAKES

IT TO A SUITABLE TREE, BUT

IT'S A LONG WAY TO THE

TOP, AND TIME IS AGAINST

IT.

BUT THIS SLOTH IS LUCKY TO

GET AWAY.

- THANK YOU FOR JOINING US - ON THIS INCREDIBLE JOURNEY

TO THE PHILIPPINES AND THE

AMAZON ISLANDS, TWO ISLAND

CHAINS THAT PROVIDE HOMES

FOR SOME OF THE MOST

ADAPTABLE AND FASCINATING

ANIMALS ON EARTH.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME

FOR ANOTHER "EARTH

ODYSSEY".

[MUSIC]