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00:00When you see this symbol, you know you're watching television that's educational and
00:10informational. The more you know on NBC. Hey everyone, I'm Chanel Jones. Grab your
00:17binoculars. We are on the lookout for captivating colorful animals right now on Wild Child.
00:23On today's episode, we'll meet some colorful characters like this quick change artist.
00:30And these baby cheetahs come equipped with a furry mane that's intended to deceive.
00:35Plus, a crown of red transforms these elegant cranes.
00:40And a butterfly guaranteed to catch your eye.
00:45All this and much more just ahead on Wild Child.
01:00Animal coloration serves many purposes in the wild. It can help predators and prey hide from each other, keep animals warm or cool, and even advertise just how attractive a mate they might be.
01:23And while some animals seem unaware of their true colors, others are natural standouts.
01:32No matter the season, blending in with the environment is a vital adaptation for creatures great and small.
01:42One kind of animal renowned for its color-changing abilities is the chameleon.
01:51They might change color for camouflage or when the temperature changes, but mostly it seems these adaptable reptiles are sending social signals to other chameleons.
02:01Each eye can move and look around independently, giving them a 360-degree view of their surroundings.
02:14So there's no sneaking up on a chameleon.
02:18This baby already knows that slow and steady wins the race.
02:28By taking its time, it's less likely to attract any unwanted attention.
02:36Their strong grippy tails help them hold on tight while sneaking around the branches.
02:42And when it comes to grabbing a meal, a chameleon's tongue is designed for speed, distance, and accuracy.
02:53They can stretch out to one and a half times the length of their body.
02:58Now that's a superpower.
03:02Another reptile that has specialized adaptations is the Gila monster.
03:08The largest lizard in the U.S., these reptiles are designed to survive lean times.
03:21And that's where their behinds come in.
03:25If there's no food, they can survive off the fat stored in their tails.
03:30These desert reptiles only need to eat a few times a year.
03:42Defense-wise, Gila monsters are totally covered by armor-like scales.
03:51But they can also deliver a painful bite and a dose of venom through grooves in their teeth.
04:00They can also deliver a few times.
04:04Seen from far away, its distinctive colors help it blend in.
04:07But seen up close, its high contrast skin pattern serves as a warning to predators that is carrying venom.
04:16Now that's a message worth heating.
04:23It's time to meet a standout bird of summer.
04:26One that dances, sings, and has a soft spot for romance.
04:41Sandhill cranes are easily identified by their long, slender bodies, unique calls, and their
04:48vibrant cap of red feathers, their crowning glory.
04:52Their whole life story is also a bit of a love story.
04:59True romantics, these birds mate for life.
05:04A pair could easily be together for two decades or more.
05:09Females will usually lay two eggs in a nest made from dry plant materials, both parents
05:15sharing incubation duties for 30 days.
05:18When the chicks emerge, they only slightly resemble the adults.
05:25Despite their fluffy down and small size, a hatchling can be up and exploring the wetlands
05:31within 24 hours.
05:33Like most new parents, the first few weeks are a busy time, sourcing as much food as possible
05:46for their fast-growing chicks.
05:49Being omnivores, they're not picky eaters, as anything and everything is on their menu.
05:57Sandhill crane chicks are in no rush to move out of the nest.
06:02They usually stay with the adults until they're 9 to 10 months old, before they join a nomadic
06:08flock of cranes their own age.
06:12These elegant birds can start to look for the love of their life from the age of two
06:17to start off another generation.
06:21Coming up, how color, camouflage, and disguise help keep this fur baby safe on the savannah.
06:27And it's hard to hide where he stripes this bright, so what's that black and white really for?
06:34And this little serval has its unusual eye on you.
06:39All this and much more when Wild Child comes right back.
06:42We'll be right back to The More You Know on NBC.
06:54We now return to The More You Know on NBC.
06:57The African savannah has some of the most productive grasslands on earth,
07:11harboring many animal communities.
07:15While some animals are famous for their distinctive markings,
07:19others are known for their remarkable speed.
07:23When these young cubs grow up, they'll be known for both.
07:31Cheetahs start their lives as part of a litter.
07:34Mothers usually have three cubs, sometimes more.
07:39About a week after they're born, they're finally strong enough to walk around.
07:44And from here, their feline speed only increases.
07:48Eventually, the engines on these young cats will be able to accelerate up to 70 miles per hour in just three seconds.
08:00That's faster than some sports cars.
08:04But for now, some of these cubs are happy just to park themselves on the grass.
08:10Or on mom.
08:12Cheetah cubs are born with a special mane of fur, which helps them blend in with their grassy surroundings.
08:21But it's also a disguise.
08:24Their mane makes them look a lot like the highly aggressive honey badger.
08:29This impression can help steer any would-be predators away.
08:32It's an example of how color can be protective and help create an illusion.
08:39Cheetah cubs spend their first year learning basic life skills, like prowling from their mother.
08:49Out in the open like this, you can really see how effective their natural camouflage is.
08:56The cubs practically disappear in the long, dry grasses.
09:04Apart from stealth and speed, cheetahs also have exceptional eyesight.
09:10That's useful when these apex predators are scouting around for a meal.
09:16It all adds up to survival of the fittest.
09:20Or in this case, the fastest.
09:26Living in dry conditions means many animals opt for earth tones to help them blend in.
09:40That includes this stealthy hunter, a serval, a wild cat from southern Africa.
09:49With their golden spotted fur, they look a little like a small cheetah.
09:56The distinctive eye mark on their ears may also help fool the serval's own predators.
10:05Late afternoon is when these small felines come out in search of a meal.
10:12Their dappled coats help them pull off a similar disappearing act as they prowl through the long grass.
10:26The fur patterns on these black-spotted hyenas allow them to blend in well with their parched brown homeland.
10:47Zebras, on the other hand, have adapted to these arid surroundings a little differently.
10:52Some scientists think a zebra's distinctive black and white coat is a diversionary tactic,
11:01making it tough for one zebra to be singled out in a herd.
11:06But new research shows the stripes may actually help discourage biting flies,
11:11a common zebra pest that weakens the animal.
11:14Just one of many clever adaptations to living on the remarkable plains of Africa.
11:23Coming up, this butterfly is famous for looking fabulous.
11:28Plus, we unmask the identity of this cute forest dweller.
11:32And some folks say this ladybug is really a love bug.
11:36Find out more when Wild Child comes right back.
11:39We'll be right back to The More You Know on NBC.
11:48We now return to The More You Know on NBC.
11:57Eye-catching animals like a scarlet macabre or a green chameleon are real standouts.
12:02But every animal's colorful adaptations serve a specific purpose, even if their coat is mouse gray.
12:09Let's explore how color, camouflage, and some clever strategies can make a big difference for wild creatures and their colorful kids.
12:19During the warmer months of the year, the summer gardens and meadows of the United Kingdom are often visited by these flittering beauties.
12:27Peacock butterflies are insects with fascinating life cycles.
12:36This batch of tiny black caterpillars have only recently emerged.
12:42It takes the eggs just 10 days to hatch.
12:46They often spin a silky tent to protect themselves.
12:50These are hungry little critters and tend to feed together until they are large enough to disperse.
13:06Peacock butterflies are easily identified by the dramatic eyespots decorating the backs of their wings.
13:13These patterns are thought to be a defense mechanism to confuse any would-be predators.
13:21That's not their only trick.
13:24By converting their blood sugar into a kind of natural antifreeze,
13:28these hardy insects can hibernate through the winter.
13:33Capable of surviving almost an entire year,
13:37this species is one of the longest living butterflies in the U.K.
13:41A world away lets meet a very unusual wild child.
13:51It looks like a raccoon, but in fact, it's the aptly named raccoon dog.
13:59These interesting canids are indigenous to many parts of Eastern Asia.
14:04Pups are born in large litters, and both parents raise them.
14:10So when mom and dad are away searching for food, the babies huddle together.
14:16Well, usually.
14:19This little one looks like it's playing hide-and-seek.
14:23At four weeks old, the pups are weaned,
14:26and their striking facial patterns start to develop.
14:33These juveniles are sniffing around,
14:35practicing their foraging skills,
14:37looking for small prey in edible plant material.
14:40In Japanese folklore, raccoon dogs, or tanuki, are very popular.
14:51Statues of them are often placed outside shops and restaurants for good luck.
14:56But these mass dogs are wild and not suitable for pets.
15:01If luck is on their side,
15:02they can enjoy roaming the forests of East Asia for about seven years.
15:08Coming up, a tropical creature who makes the most of fiery red.
15:13Plus, can a bright red beetle help you find your own true love?
15:18We'll unpack the folklore.
15:20Stay with us.
15:23We'll be right back to The More You Know on NBC.
15:29We now return to The More You Know on NBC.
15:32The first rays of light are streaming over the horizon,
15:44encouraging the coastal rainforest animals to stir.
15:50The first species to grace the skies this morning
15:53is the national bird of Trinidad and Tobago,
15:56the vibrant scarlet ibis.
15:59High in the treetops,
16:03a mother is trying to tidy up the nest,
16:06but her chick is making the job difficult.
16:10Even baby birds are good at getting under their parents' feet.
16:13Another distinctive forest dweller really brightens up the place,
16:21albeit in a small way.
16:25What we in the U.S. call the ladybug
16:28is also known as the ladybird.
16:30This iconic beetle begins its life inside a small egg laid on a leaf.
16:39But when the larvae hatch,
16:41they waste no time actively hunting down their favorite foods,
16:47larvae and aphids.
16:49By dining on these pesky sap-sucking insects,
16:53ladybugs make themselves very popular with gardeners.
17:01At this phase, ladybug larvae only faintly resemble their showy adult selves.
17:07After several weeks, the ladybug larvae attach themselves to a plant and begin to pupate.
17:16Their seven-day metamorphosis is fascinating to watch.
17:25Mature ladybugs come with two sets of wings,
17:29a delicate inner pair covered by leathery outer wings.
17:33As pretty as ladybugs are,
17:36their familiar red-dome backs and black spots
17:39are actually a warning to any would-be predators.
17:44The brighter they are, the more toxic the beetle.
17:48These beetles may be tiny,
17:49but their influence across cultures is big.
17:53Ladybugs are credited with helping humans in love,
17:56fertility, and raising crops.
17:59In Europe, they were once considered matchmakers,
18:02so if a ladybug lands on you,
18:05take a good look at who it lands on next.
18:09We are so glad you could join us for a look at some of Earth's most colorful creature kits.
18:14Wherever you live, you probably get to see an animal or two every day.
18:18From a honeybee to a squirrel to a cardinal,
18:21each creature has its own special look.
18:24Who knows which colorful creature you'll see next?
18:26I'm Chanel Jones.
18:28Join us to spot even more amazing animals next time on Wild Child.
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