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Explores how resilient species thrive in the Sahara Desert, the Nile Delta, and the Red Sea. The region is a stunning bridge of continents, where arid, harsh environments support an unexpected diversity of life...
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00:02Egypt, the heart of the Middle East.
00:07A sea of sand, harboring desiccated dunes, reflects an eternal baking sun.
00:17Life within this desolate landscape appears impossible.
00:22But beneath the surface, Egypt is very much alive.
00:32Animals rule the land, the surrounding seas and waters, along with the skies.
00:44Although ancient civilizations have all but disappeared,
00:49the creatures that sculpted dynasty upon dynasty continue to thrive.
01:03To be continued.
01:04To be continued.
01:35Transcription by CastingWords
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02:38Ancient Egyptians believed that creatures had power over nature, controlling the sun,
02:44the moon, the day and night. And one in particular was seen as the lord of the water, the key
02:54to surviving this harsh desert life.
03:10Possibly the most influential creature throughout Egypt's ancient history is the snake.
03:27With its distinctive side winding movement and unique horn-like protrusions,
03:37the horned viper is one of the most easily recognizable snakes of the desert.
03:51Because the sand is loose and offers little grip, the viper contracts its muscles and flings its body sideways.
04:02This way, only two points of its body remain in contact with the ground when traveling across the dunes.
04:12Despite growing to just 60 centimeters long, horned vipers still pack a venomous punch.
04:19Without treatment, a bite can be fatal to humans.
04:25It's thought these horns may protect the snake's eyes, as well as break up its outline against the desert terrain.
04:38So revered was this species, Egyptians even embalmed their bodies.
04:45This act was a sign of devotion to the snake gods, and a way of earning their protection.
04:54Preferring to hunt at night, this individual seeks shelter from the morning sun.
05:03However, another reptile is only just waking up.
05:14This lizard, also known as a skink, would make an ideal meal for a viper.
05:27Short, stubby legs and a thick, square-shaped body aren't obvious attributes of speed.
05:34And with nowhere to hide, the outcome of this duel looks set.
05:43But what it lacks in athletic appearance, the lizard more than makes up for in style.
05:51A torpedo-shaped snout, smooth, shiny scales and paddle-like feet,
05:57offer clues to one of nature's greatest disappearing acts.
06:05Now you see it.
06:10Now you don't.
06:17Also known as a sandfish, the skink literally swims through the sand, whenever faced with danger.
06:31It isn't just lizards that utilise the desert's vast concealment resource.
06:45Sand boas are also built for borrowing.
06:52A stout body, small eyes and hard scales, protect their skin from the abrasive substrate.
07:03However, this relatively small, non-venomous snake employs another unique defence tactic.
07:11To confuse predators, the sand boas leaves part of its body exposed.
07:19Its head-shaped tail is armoured with tough scales.
07:24This less vulnerable body part can withstand most attacks, giving the snake time to react or flee.
07:46One serpent, however, needs little in the way of disguise or protection.
07:58Growing to just under three metres long, the Egyptian cobra is the largest snake of the region.
08:09And the most deadly.
08:14Its venom is so powerful, it would kill a fully grown elephant in just three hours.
08:25Once bitten, the victim's nervous system is quickly paralysed, shutting down the ability to breathe.
08:35Along with small mammals and lizards, other snakes are also on this hunter's menu.
08:51This buzzard thinks it's homed in on breakfast.
08:56But the cobra has a unique trick up its sleeve.
09:02After rearing up, it flattens its neck to look even larger and intimidate the predator.
09:11This classic hooded pose is achieved through elongated ribs that extend the loose skin behind the cobra's neck.
09:23The display works.
09:26The buzzard decides to give this potential meal a miss.
09:41Egypt lays claim to one of the earliest known civilised societies.
09:48Established approximately 5,000 years ago.
09:54One creature, however, predates any human arrival by several million years.
10:07The Nile crocodile has remained unchanged since the days of the dinosaur.
10:17Reaching a length of 5 meters and weighing around 400 kilos, it's the second largest reptile on the planet.
10:29A powerful jaw, full of sharp conical teeth, enables it to kill almost any creature within its range.
10:36droop of a fish-proofed creature.
10:41A gallant of a fish-to-fish.
10:56More information and food-to-fish.
11:05The Nile crocodile
11:06crocodiles were also revered.
11:09They inhabited temple ponds, were adorned with gold bracelets and fed the finest of meats.
11:20Locals also believed that the crocodile's tears created the lifeline of their society,
11:27the longest river in the world, the Nile.
11:33The Nile meant everything to the Egyptians.
11:40As well as providing drinking water and irrigation for crops, once a year the river miraculously
11:46flooded.
11:50The surrounding farmland benefited from the layer of rich, fertile silt left behind once
11:56the water retreated.
12:01This predictable flood cycle allowed staple food crops like wheat and barley to be farmed
12:07on a large scale.
12:11Keeping the crocodile god happy was key to survival.
12:18Some years, the flood failed to arrive, and thousands of people starved.
12:31As night draws in, the desert temperature drops dramatically from just above 40 Celsius to
12:38below 10, or can cover more than a meter in a single jump.
12:46Reaching speeds of almost 25 kilometers an hour.
12:51Even the fastest snake in the world, the black mamba, isn't able to keep up with that.
12:58Used for grabbing and tearing up prey.
13:03Compared to other scorpion, it is possibly the most venomous scorpion on the planet.
13:17This individual has spotted a potential meal.
13:20Instead, camel spiders rely on speed, stealth, and a pair of powerful, oversized jaws to subdue
13:28their prey.
13:31Relative to size, they have the largest jaws of any creature on the planet.
13:38They are the great white sharks of the arachnid world.
13:44Camel spiders shy away from the desert sun.
13:47So every few days, they dig a new burrow in which to shelter during the day.
13:55This bulldozer method of shifting sand and rocks ensures the job is done swiftly.
14:13With the battle over, it seems venom has triumphed over brute force.
14:20The subdued victim is dismembered.
14:32The cooler night air draws out other desert-dwelling creatures, including a unique mammal that has
14:40also evolved to avoid the need to drink.
14:47The fennec fox is not only the smallest fox in the world, it's also the smallest member of
14:53the dog family.
14:58A beetle scuttling across the sand stands little chance of avoiding this predator.
14:58With a body length of around 30 centimeters, it can weigh less than a kilo.
15:06Oversized ears not only provide excellent hearing, they also dissipate body heat.
15:17A beetle scuttling across the sand stands little chance of avoiding this predator.
15:26The fennec's highly sensitive ears can even locate prey moving underground.
15:37Most meals are obtained through digging.
15:44Scorpions are a favorite meal.
15:48The fox's small, needle-sharp teeth are quick to disable their defensive stings.
16:05Although the river Nile has offered a lifeline to Egypt's residents for thousands of years,
16:11a more recent feature has become a haven for the region's abundant wildlife.
16:20At 550 kilometers long and 35 wide, Lake Nasa is one of the largest man-made lakes in the world.
16:32Around 50 years ago, the river Nile was dammed to create this enormous reservoir.
16:39This brought an end to the often unpredictable flood levels further downstream.
16:48Ancient Egyptians believed the annual deluge of fast-flowing water was a gift from the gods.
16:57They had no idea.
16:59Its origin lies almost 3,000 kilometers further south.
17:06Approximately 90% of the Nile's water originates from the Ethiopian highlands, which receive
17:13around 2,000 millimeters of rain each year.
17:28Its along these tiny tributaries that fertile soils are washed downstream, before entering
17:34the longest river on the planet.
17:36the end of the Earth.
18:06Nile prevents the silt-rich water from traveling further downstream. Instead, Lake Nasser and
18:15its wildlife benefits from the millions of tons of sediment deposited here each year.
18:27One creature benefits from Lake Nasser's shoreline more than most. Nile crocodiles don't reach
18:38sexual maturity until around 10 years old. This female's liaison with a male two months
18:48ago was a success. The lake's sandy shore is perfect for excavating her nest.
19:09After reaching a depth of around 50 centimeters, she starts to lay. Approximately 50 eggs are
19:23deposited in the nesting chamber. Finally, they're covered with sand. It will be three months
19:42until her youngsters are ready to hatch. Until then, she'll remain close, fiercely guarding
19:51the site. Birds have also capitalized on Lake Nasser's vast ecosystem. Around 100 separate species
20:18have been recorded living along these shores.
20:35herons. Herons specialize in hunting fish and are masters of effortless flight.
20:48ancient Egyptians associated these majestic birds with the rising sun. They named it Bennu,
20:58the ascending one. The heron is said to be the original phoenix, born out of the much later
21:05greek myth. It was first thought this delta winged pose facing the sun was purely a way of drying
21:29or warming their wings. Except the rapid panting actually points to the heron trying to cool down.
21:42It now appears this individual is creating a hostile temperature for parasites, taking refuge
21:48underneath its wings. Lake Nasser didn't exist in ancient times. But another body of water did play a crucial role
22:01in supporting life in the region. Egypt's Red Sea was created around 30 million years ago, when the Arabian
22:15tectonic plate broke away from the African continent. In ancient times, transporting goods over land
22:24proved difficult. But the Red Sea provided Egypt with easy access to Africa and the Far East.
22:42With no natural rivers feeding in fresh water, the Red Sea is one of the most saline bodies of water
22:49in the world.
23:02The aquatic creatures and coral reefs living here have adapted to life in salty water.
23:16Around 10% of fish species found in the Red Sea don't exist anywhere else.
23:34One particular sea serpent was held in high regard in ancient times.
23:44Egyptians offered eels to Atom, the creator god.
23:54Their mummified remains were then buried in bronze boxes.
24:04Giant moray eels can grow to a length of 3 meters.
24:15This opening and closing of the mouth ensures a steady flow of water across its gills.
24:25Morays usually hunt at night, using their excellent sense of smell to track down and ambush prey.
24:44Garden eels live in colonies of up to a thousand individuals.
24:53Growing up to 40 centimeters long, they feed on plankton and any small fish that happen to pass by.
25:04Using their tails, they burrow into the seabed.
25:09This becomes the permanent home which they never leave.
25:16As well as providing a solid anchor, these holes provide the perfect retreat from predators.
25:32This giant actually poses no threat to garden eels.
25:42Whale sharks are the largest fish in the world.
25:49Growing over 20 meters long and weighing up to 34 tons.
25:57Remarkably, they survive on a diet of tiny plankton.
26:08Traveling at a modest 5 kilometers an hour, they can sift over 100 liters of water every minute.
26:25Find filters, also known as gill rakers, trap anything edible over a millimeter wide.
26:52Closer to land, a wash of green lines the shore.
27:04Mangroves have evolved to flourish where other plants are unable to survive.
27:11Their specialized roots filter out the salt from the seawater, which would otherwise kill off most plants.
27:28Any salt that is taken up is excreted through the leaves.
27:37All plant roots require oxygen, but in water-saturated soil, there is virtually no air available.
27:47Mangroves have developed a unique way of coping.
27:52Specialized breathing roots protrude above the ground to absorb oxygen at low tide.
28:00This dense network of roots not only helps stabilize the fragile coastal sands,
28:06it also provides a safe haven for many shore-dwelling creatures.
28:22Male fiddler crabs have an oversized claw.
28:32This violin-playing motion of the small claw, moving over the large when feeding, has given rise to their common
28:39name.
28:42Female fiddler crabs are more equally balanced than males.
28:49They can feed twice as first, spitting out pellets of sand once any organic material has been sifted out.
29:05This frantic waving is all about attracting a mate.
29:15Females prefer males with larger claws and a higher wave rate.
29:21The faster the rhythm, the greater chance of outdoing the competition.
29:32These giant claws are also used in displays of dominance and fighting prowess.
29:41Stealing a smaller male's burrow is a daily activity in fiddler society.
30:00Approximately 2,000 years ago, trade routes were set up between harbors on the Red Sea and the major cities
30:06on the Nile.
30:15Merchants faced journeys at more than 300 kilometers across baking deserts.
30:22And only one creature made these missions possible.
30:36Fully laden, camels can cover up to 30 kilometers a day.
30:47They can go without food or water for up to a week.
30:56But the traders' journey took at least 10 days.
31:01Even the so-called ship of the desert would need to drink.
31:12Fortunately, even in the heart of nowhere, fresh water can still be found.
31:20Egypt contains a major part of the world's largest fossil water reserve, the Nubian Aquifer.
31:27An estimated 150,000 cubic kilometers of fresh water lies trapped beneath the Eastern Sahara Desert.
31:3650,000 years ago, the climate here was much milder.
31:42When temperatures increased, the land turned to dust.
31:51However, rainwater trapped within the sandstone bedrock remained.
32:00Today, many lakes and springs lie dotted across the parched landscape.
32:09And one particular tree acts as a flag to these life-rich zones.
32:23The acacia is possibly the hardiest tree on the planet.
32:36It endures dry desert temperatures in excess of 50 degrees Celsius, as well as frost.
32:52Although the riverbeds in this region have long since dried up.
33:01The acacia obtains its water needs another way.
33:16Its roots can extend up to 80 meters below ground, in order to access the aquifer.
33:26Little wonder the ancient Egyptians labeled this species, the tree of life.
33:40Sap-sucking thorn bugs blend into the acacia's spiny branches, while painted lady butterflies also move in to feed.
34:03This offering of nectar is crucial to the tree's survival.
34:11As it depends heavily on insects for pollination.
34:28Oriental hornets capitalize on spring water that has made its way to the surface.
34:48For thousands of years, oases like these have been a lifeline to the desert's creatures.
34:56As it depends on the surface of the earth, the sea of the sea of the sea of the sea
35:13of the sea of the sea.
35:23Ancient Egypt's dynastic line came to an abrupt end
35:26after it succumbed to Roman control.
35:33However, the lord of the waters unbroken lineage continues
35:372,000 years on.
35:50Having stood guard for more than 12 weeks,
35:52this female Nile crocodile receives her cue.
36:14A mouth, designed for crushing bone and tearing flesh,
36:18suddenly becomes a gentle cradle.
36:31Her maternal instincts are so strong,
36:34she gently carries her babies to the water.
36:47Nile crocodiles are around 30 centimetres long when first hatched,
36:51and will double in size the first year.
37:02Although they can hunt for themselves,
37:04for the next two years,
37:06their mother will continue to protect them.
37:09By then, they'll be over a metre long,
37:13and be big enough to stand up for themselves.
37:33Egypt is a land of legacy.
37:37Sacred tombs, ancient dunes,
37:40and, above all, life.
37:44For thousands of years,
37:47creatures have dominated these desert sands,
37:50ruling the surrounding waters,
37:53even sculpting the beliefs of man.
37:58While human generations come and go,
38:01the wildlife here stands strong.
38:06Egypt's desert dynasty of animal kings and queens continues to live on.
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