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00:05When you see this symbol, you know you're watching television that's educational and
00:10informational. The more you know on NBC. Hi everyone, I'm Dylan Dreyer. It's time to
00:17discover some of the coolest reptiles and amphibians around. This is Earth Odyssey.
00:24Coming up, the rarest color in nature really stands out in a sea of sand. Find out why it
00:31matters to this species. And life in the trees isn't as safe as it seems. Plus, froggy goes
00:41according. Tiny suitors shake a leg. And what it's like to be under the sea with a gentle
00:48green giant. Warming up to cold-blooded creatures starting now on Earth Odyssey.
01:15At first glance, they can seem creepy and crawly, but reptiles are complex and fascinating creatures.
01:22Depending on the species, they can shed their skin, grow a new tail, live for 150 years, or swim
01:30thousands of miles across the open ocean. In our first story, we discover a desert dweller
01:36with a knack for turning blue. The Middle East is among the hottest and driest places on the planet.
01:45After a long, cold desert night, cold-blooded animals need to re-energize fast. This lizard does his
01:53morning sun-worshiping in a canyon where ordinary rocks and stones have been transformed into something
02:00magnificent. Petra. Facing east, sunrise reveals this ancient civilization.
02:19Basking on rock faces, the unmistakable Sinai Agama lizard needs to warm up quickly for a morning of showmanship.
02:36It's mating season, so he is searching for a podium on which to perform.
02:49Like other Agama lizards, his nods and push-ups are a sign of his dominance.
03:01But it is his color that really gives him a leg up. Turning blue during mating season helps him stand
03:09out
03:10and attract a suitor's attention.
03:19With age, the vivid blue covers more and more of his body and increases his chances.
03:25But attracting attention can also work against you in Jordan's deserts.
03:34This Persian horned viper has a taste for lizards.
03:54Being nocturnal, this is his last opportunity to eat before the sun grows too strong.
04:09Stunted short horns mean these snakes are often known as false horned vipers.
04:15But underestimating this assassin could be your last mistake.
04:18He packs enough venom to cause paralysis in a human.
04:37One bite is all he needs to bring down his prey.
04:47For an ambush, stealth is critical.
04:59The bobbing blue Agama should keep his wits about him.
05:27But it's getting late for the false horned viper.
05:30However, avoiding overheating is critical.
05:32Hunting will have to wait until the sun's energies slip away and night falls once again.
05:43Coming up, how these macaques alert each other when danger is near.
05:50Plus, this tiny species is a real show off when it comes to love.
05:56And the world's largest sea turtle needs a hiding place fast.
06:00How cold-blooded creatures adapt when Earth Odyssey comes right back.
06:09We'll be right back to The More You Know on NBC.
06:14We now return to The More You Know on NBC.
06:31Down India's western coast stretches a nearly thousand-mile-long mountain chain known as the Western Ghats.
06:43It is deep in the summer monsoon season.
06:47The forests here are home to more than 30% of India's spectacular wildlife, including its largest snake species.
06:57The Indian python can be more than 10 feet long.
07:03She's not venomous, but she can kill almost any animal in these mountains.
07:11Hunting in the trees that line the slopes.
07:20Up above is one of India's most endangered primates, the magnificent lion-tailed macaque.
07:34Fewer than 4,000 remain in the wild.
07:45They spread out across the mountain forest, searching for fruit.
07:50This alpha male's main job is to watch over his troop.
07:53He's unaware that they are also being watched.
08:16Distracted monkeys present opportunity.
08:19The python is large enough to bring down a wild boar.
08:22A lion-tailed macaque won't put up much of a fight.
08:29But the alpha sees her coming.
08:39The python's cover is blown.
08:44The macaques can refocus on foraging.
08:47And in the Western Ghats, the summer monsoon is jackfruit season.
08:53Growing at elevations of more than 5,000 feet, they're the largest tree-borne fruits in the world.
09:00Weighing up to 40 pounds, one is enough to feed an entire troop of macaques.
09:05But they prefer to feed on the ripest fruit, so they rely on an unlikely helper to tell them when
09:12a jackfruit is ready to eat.
09:15A giant Indian squirrel forages nearby.
09:20She has a keen sense of smell and can easily sniff out ripe fruit.
09:28The macaques watch her every move.
09:31This is what the troop has been waiting for.
09:36They surround the squirrel, intimidating it with their calls, ready to muscle in and steal the fruit.
09:43She's forced to surrender, a sneaky and successful tactic to harvest a heavily favored food in this mountain habitat.
09:54Coming up, humans are not the only animals who dance to impress.
09:59Check out these moves.
10:02And it's sharks versus turtles.
10:04Fantastic cold-blooded creatures on the Great Barrier Reef when Earth Odyssey returns.
10:15We'll be right back to The More You Know on NBC.
10:21We now return to The More You Know on NBC.
10:36You might not think of snakes, lizards, turtles and frogs as particularly charismatic,
10:41but it turns out these cold-blooded creatures speak their own kind of love language.
10:48Let's meet a tiny amphibian who's really got the moves.
10:52The Western Ghats Mountains in India are recognized as one of the wettest places on Earth.
10:59As the land heats up during the summer, it pulls in water-laden air from the ocean.
11:04Turrets of water then fall over the mountains.
11:10This monsoon drenches the Western Ghats for six months of the year.
11:15And these wet conditions are ideal for amphibians.
11:24One tiny species found nowhere else has carved out a niche along a mountain stream.
11:30This young male dancing frog lives here year-round.
11:45As the summer monsoon comes to an end, his calls signal the start of the breeding season.
11:54But before he can secure a mate, he must establish and defend a territory.
12:10His bright white vocal sac has caught the attention of a rival male.
12:15Both frogs are just under an inch long.
12:19But there's only room for one of them along this stretch of stream.
12:24Who that is will be decided, not with a fight, but with a flash dance.
12:38First, the foot tap.
12:44His opponent responds with his own beat.
12:52The young male decides to bring out the big guns.
12:58He stretches his hind limb to its full length, spreading out his toes to expose the flashy webbing.
13:20It's a show of strength and breeding prowess.
13:28A female is quietly observing.
13:33Now the two males have an audience.
13:36So there's even more reason to impress.
13:42Time to take this dance to the next level.
13:49Determined not to lose the first contest of the season, the young male's dance moves get physical.
14:15The female likes what she sees.
14:22The young king of the dance floor has secured his territory and found his partner.
14:30Passing on his winning dance moves to the next generation.
14:37Coming up, how this gardener of the sea keeps its coral habitat blooming.
14:42A little reef diving when Earth Odyssey returns.
14:49We'll be right back to The More You Know on NBC.
14:56We now return to The More You Know on NBC.
15:11Running along Australia's northeastern shoreline is one of the world's natural wonders.
15:17This is the largest coral reef system on Earth.
15:23The Great Barrier Reef.
15:28Stretching for more than 1,200 miles, it's the largest living structure on Earth.
15:35So big, it's even visible from space.
15:50With around 9,000 species living here, every creature plays a role in the function of this diverse habitat.
15:57That includes the only turtle in the ocean that survives completely on plants as an adult.
16:08This green turtle is young, but she'll grow up to be one of the biggest turtles on the planet.
16:15Able to navigate the world's oceans.
16:27For now, the coral reef is her home.
16:48And this thriving sea garden is in her care.
17:01Grazing on the sea floor, she helps control the growth of algae.
17:05She'll eat only the tops of the plants and leave the roots.
17:09This allows the coral to access more sunlight for photosynthesis, promoting its growth.
17:17Australia's Great Barrier Reef supports tens of thousands of green turtles.
17:25But there are also more than 80 species of sharks living here, most of which hunt at night.
17:37She must hide before it gets dark.
17:47With so many turtles sharing the reef, shelter is at a premium.
17:55This time, she's in luck.
17:58A free coral hideout.
18:05But another turtle is claiming this safe haven, so she'll need to find new accommodations.
18:10And fast.
18:18As the sun begins to set, every hiding spot is taken.
18:39Finally, she finds one.
18:45And there's another challenger.
18:48But this time, the young green turtle holds her own.
18:52Staying hidden is vital to surviving the night, here in the Great Barrier Reef.
18:59Biologists say that cold-blooded reptiles evolved into warm-blooded avian dinosaurs about 150 million years ago.
19:07Today, they're better known as birds.
19:10So who knows what fascinating creatures lie ahead in our future.
19:14I'm Dylan Dreyer. We'll see you next time on Earth Odyssey.
19:17We'll see.
19:46ELECTRIC
19:53Transcription by CastingWords
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