- 23 hours ago
Uncovering surprising undersea relationships and connections as sharks befriend fish and whales play with dolphins....
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AnimalsTranscript
00:00The world's oceans are full of wonder.
00:04An alien world waiting to be explored.
00:10A place of extraordinary life forms,
00:14with intriguing social lives
00:18and incredible intelligence.
00:21To reveal their secrets, a hidden team goes undercover.
00:27Spy creatures.
00:33The most innovative undersea robots in the world.
00:41They not only look like the animals they film,
00:44they interact with them as no human can.
00:53Equipped with hidden cameras,
00:59they reveal their astonishing lives.
01:05As our spies join their undersea world,
01:09they shed light on some of the mysteries of the deep.
01:23On our spies' latest mission,
01:24they reveal the extraordinary relationships that exist
01:29among the creatures of the ocean.
01:38In Australia, an astonishing event is underway.
01:45Cued by the full moon,
01:48spider crabs rise up from the abyss deep below.
01:54To reveal what's going on,
01:57spy crab joins the march.
02:02Eight robotic legs give the traction it needs.
02:12Like the real thing,
02:13a hard shell protects its innards.
02:16In this case, a camera.
02:24Over the next two weeks,
02:27thousands upon thousands of these usually solitary creatures will gather.
02:35Then, a hint at why they're here.
02:40Spy crab discovers that some are emerging from their shell.
02:51Squeezing out can take 15 minutes or more.
03:00Enzymes oil the process,
03:02helping her slip away.
03:09Freed from what's become a prison,
03:11she now has space to grow.
03:22Her new shell will take weeks to harden.
03:26Until then,
03:27she'll hide among the better protected.
03:32For now, she'll make do with our spy.
03:36She has good reason to hide away.
03:40There are plenty out to get her.
03:48A four-metre stingray can eat 50 crabs a day.
03:56They hoover up any who've lost their shell.
04:04Our spy becomes the crab's defender.
04:18The ray will look for an easier meal.
04:22Those with hard shells aren't worth the trouble.
04:27Males even stand and fight.
04:32Those with soft shells hide among the hordes.
04:41Despite their brave defenders,
04:43the ray can hunt them down.
04:50It makes short work of extracting meat from shell.
04:57The crab in hiding makes her get away.
05:03She needs to get lost in the crowd.
05:06The ray's victim is now an empty husk.
05:11But he's yet to have his 50 a day.
05:16And the fleeing crab is still in the open.
05:29She's made it.
05:32Now to vanish among the masses.
05:39The greater the numbers,
05:41the harder it is for the ray.
05:51Those with hard shells form an armoured fortress.
05:54With the soft shelled hidden beneath.
06:03Those with hard shells form an armoured fortress.
06:04Left in the open,
06:07spy crab is now a sitting target.
06:13It gets the full death ray treatment.
06:22A crab's eye view of an untimely end.
06:32But it's still alive and kicking.
06:37It's not over yet.
06:47This time, the ray did it a favour.
06:53Back firmly on its own eight feet,
06:56our spy heads to the fortress.
07:01It has a tower of crustaceans to climb.
07:08But there's no need.
07:10The crabs come to our spy.
07:22They create a shield of legs and armour.
07:26A living citadel built on sand.
07:31A brief monument to the strength of teamwork.
07:39Many sea creatures have found value in being together.
07:46Sharks may have a reputation as solitary killers.
07:50But many are surprisingly social.
07:55Scalloped hammerheads are among the most sociable of all.
07:58They travel in their hundreds.
08:00As they head to a remote island
08:03300 miles off the Colombian coast.
08:08Today, they have a spy in their midst.
08:12A mechanical marvel propelled by its shark-like tail.
08:20It hardly makes a sound.
08:22Vital when filming these surprisingly shy creatures.
08:31As well as a camera in each eye,
08:33it has another in its fin.
08:35One with 360 vision.
08:44It can even film through its jaws.
08:54Our spy has much to reveal.
08:56Malpello.
08:59Most are female,
09:00with the largest in the middle and the smallest outside.
09:06Some even choose a travel companion for their journey.
09:16When they reach the island,
09:19they linger for a while.
09:25Malpello.
09:25Malpello is a magnetic anomaly.
09:31A place where the Earth's magnetic field is distorted by the rocks below.
09:38Hammerheads use the magnetic field as a compass.
09:41So this place has unseen significance.
09:45They gather here,
09:46having returned from their feeding grounds.
09:54They are met by a surprising welcoming party.
10:00King angelfish
10:02that provide a personal grooming service to these would-be killers.
10:11Wounds are attended to,
10:13and parasites removed.
10:22As hammerheads feed in the deep ocean,
10:24the angelfish here are safe.
10:28While they get a meal,
10:30while they get a meal,
10:30the sharks enjoy a makeover.
10:40In this topsy-turvy world,
10:42fish seem to like sharks so much,
10:45even our spy gains a following.
10:53Galapagos sharks also visit this undersea spa
10:56and receive the same warm welcome.
11:05Pilotfish cluster round the sharks' jaws,
11:08but are never taken.
11:12Instead,
11:14they benefit from the sharks' protection.
11:18In return,
11:19they clean its teeth
11:20and gain a meal in the bargain.
11:26Rainbow chub are also shark lovers.
11:33They rub themselves on the sharks' serrated scales.
11:38A trick thought to scrape off parasites.
11:49In this place of apparent harmony,
11:52other intriguing relationships can be found.
11:59Spy Maury Eel joins the team.
12:04Like the real thing,
12:05it moves silently.
12:07Its mechanical spine creates the waves
12:10that propel its body.
12:16This is what it came to see.
12:21A community of Maury eels.
12:26Despite their ghoulish looks
12:28and razor-sharp teeth,
12:30they live in relative harmony.
12:38Spy Maury is here to study the partnership they share.
12:46Their unlikely allies
12:49are leather bass groupers.
12:59Our robotic Maury soon attracts their attention.
13:07For the fish are here to wake up the eels.
13:15Their snooze alarm could hardly be gentler.
13:20But, one by one,
13:23they stir.
13:26The groupers signal it's time to follow.
13:35With more gentle encouragement,
13:38the eels oblige.
13:47To discover the reason,
13:49Spy Maury follows behind.
14:08They're heading to a spot
14:10the fish have checked out before.
14:19They're heading to a spot
14:22a place where smaller fish are hiding.
14:27A headstand marks the spot.
14:35A signal to the eels.
14:40They slink in where groupers can't
14:43and flush out the fish.
14:48There's one.
14:50Then another.
14:52And another.
14:55Most are too quick to catch.
15:04But in the scrum,
15:06there's enough for both groupers and eels.
15:10Despite the ones that get away.
15:15It's the perfect relationship.
15:17We're both gain.
15:19But Spy Maury is experiencing
15:22a technical malfunction.
15:24A loss of transmission.
15:27But still keeps filming.
15:32The groupers act as if our spy
15:34is part of the hunt.
15:37And has found something.
15:46soon.
15:47Soon, our spy is completely smothered.
15:55But help has arrived.
16:02A spy to shepherd them away.
16:05A spy to shepherd them away.
16:09The signal finally gets through.
16:13Like others in this undersea community.
16:16Our spies use teamwork too.
16:24In the oceans, working in partnership is surprisingly common.
16:30For bottlenose dolphins,
16:32it's a way of life.
16:35To strengthen the bonds between them,
16:37they spend a lot of time at play.
16:43To find out who else might join their games,
16:47Spy Pelican follows from above.
16:49While Spy Dolphin films from below.
16:57Together, our roving spy creatures find a possible playmate.
17:05A southern right whale.
17:10A species not known for its fun-loving lifestyle.
17:18It will need some coaxing.
17:22Something to get it in the mood.
17:27Already, it seems to be working.
17:35Some show their belly.
17:37A sign they want to play.
17:44The whale even attempts a leap.
17:51They have the playmate they're after.
18:01But who can compete with a dolphin?
18:10There's no harm trying.
18:34One in a whale.
18:35Another whale joins.
18:37It's now double the fun.
18:40Not a whale.
18:55Still more alive.
19:13But you can have too much of a good thing.
19:18Party over, the dolphins take their cue to leave.
19:24Spy Dolphin gives it one last go, but it's not the same.
19:35To discover that whales and dolphins play together is a revelation.
19:43For our spies, there are always new surprises to uncover, and more astonishing relationships
19:55to find.
20:02This pair of male dolphins are of different species.
20:10One is a bottlenose, the other a rare humpback dolphin.
20:17They were forced from their family pod once they came of age.
20:23Cast out and alone, they found company in each other.
20:29Now, they go everywhere together, a true bond between friends.
20:44But despite their close relationship, they need to join a pod.
20:52A gang of male dolphins is just what they're looking for.
21:05But these are bottlenose dolphins, so the humpback must be cautious.
21:16His friend calls to the group, a specific whistle unique to him.
21:23The humpback follows as close as he dare, anxious not to lose his companion.
21:39But pods are reluctant to accept newcomers, and never those of a different species.
21:46They drive the humpback away.
21:55He won't be coming back.
22:03The bottlenose must decide.
22:06Does he follow his buddy, or make new friends here?
22:12For the bottlenose, it's clear where his destiny lies.
22:18It's not with the humpback dolphin.
22:22But joining the pod won't be easy.
22:30First, he must show he'll fit in.
22:37His ploy is to use the moves more often made by females.
22:48It seems to do the trick.
22:58But now he faces an initiation ceremony, one all males must endure.
23:08Some roughhousing to prove he's a worthy member of the gang.
23:15Over time, he'll be accepted.
23:17And he's better in the pod than outside.
23:23For the humpback, it's a different story.
23:27He'll roam the ocean alone until he finds a pod of his own.
23:41Even sociable creatures like manatees can't always choose who they mix with.
23:50Spy manatee is now fully accepted into the group.
23:58It's discovering that even here, they have friends they like, and then there are the hangers-on.
24:08Latched onto her body are remora fish.
24:14Totally harmless, their relationship is extraordinary.
24:20They feed on skin flakes and parasites and whatever the manatee poos.
24:26What was once a fin has evolved into a suction pad on their head.
24:33As well as food, the manatees provide an energy-saving way to get around, while keeping water flowing through their
24:40gills.
25:02Those on top travel upside down.
25:08If they move to the belly, they're more easily shooed away.
25:14Even so, there's always another free ride.
25:21While remora can be a nuisance, sergeant major fish are welcomed.
25:28Our spy investigates why they're accepted so readily.
25:37The fish provide a cleaning service.
25:42They graze on the algae that grows on the skin.
26:00For a full-body treatment, manatees strike a pose, letting the fish tackle those hard-to-reach places.
26:11It sends them into a state of bliss.
26:17Until they nod off.
26:29The spa is popular. Everyone wants the full makeover.
26:42But not all the fish here are friendly.
26:49Nurse sharks patrol the coral heads.
26:53While stingrays search the sandy seabed.
26:57These predators could be the ultimate test for our spy.
27:15Rays and sharks can detect electromagnetic signals.
27:23Spy manatee has plenty of those.
27:32An exploratory nibble.
27:38But there's nothing here to be found.
27:44Like most of our spies, spy manatee attracts the curious rather than the aggressive.
27:59In Indonesia, spy hammerhead continues its own journey of discovery.
28:07It soon finds that across the ocean, similar partnerships have evolved.
28:15Here, it's cleaner wrasse that take on cleaning duties.
28:20They even act as dental hygienists.
28:24With trapped food the reward.
28:31But these pearly whites have nothing to offer.
28:41An olive sea snake shows his inquisitive side.
28:46He's one of the most venomous snakes in the world.
28:52Today, he's on the hunt.
28:57He can hold his breath for up to two hours.
29:01Useful when searching for a meal.
29:06He's after the fish that hide in the coral.
29:13To catch them, he needs help.
29:17And on the reef, support is rarely far away.
29:22A female, who's also hunting.
29:34Like moray eels, the snakes have formed a partnership with the fish.
29:40But here, it's trevally who know where food can be found.
29:46All the snakes need to do is follow them.
29:56When they arrive, the trevally show them where to look.
30:08Like moray eels, snakes can go where others can't.
30:14But these snakes have a problem.
30:18They aren't the only ones hunting.
30:23Soon, there are too many after the same meal.
30:30The snakes and trevally grab what they can.
30:34But there is a limited supply.
30:38And more hungry snakes keep coming.
30:48This partnership works best with fewer numbers.
30:53Today, there are not enough fish to go round.
30:58But the snake couple won't go unrewarded.
31:00It's now a relationship of a more amorous kind.
31:07They head to the surface.
31:14Joining together in a serpentine embrace.
31:20One that forms a fitting symbol.
31:41Together, they descend to the reef below.
32:07They'll stay entwined for up to an hour before going their separate ways.
32:20Of all the relationships found in the ocean, few can beat the spinner dolphins.
32:27As well as gathering in huge numbers, they are the acrobats of the dolphin world.
32:39They can leap over three metres high and spin seven times in the jump.
32:52Today, they're on a hunting expedition.
32:57Spy Dolphin is here to find out how they work as a team.
33:08Their bubbles provide a clue.
33:13On closer inspection, they plainly come from the dolphins' blowholes.
33:21A sign they are whistling to each other.
33:29They use these coals to bring the pods together.
33:35They also have a unique whistle to announce who they are.
33:39The dolphin equivalent of a name.
33:54As well as whistles, they use clicks to communicate too.
34:00Some clicks are ultrasonic, far above our hearing range.
34:05All this works at close range, but to contact dolphins far away, they use their corkscrew leaping.
34:15For an aerial view of what's going on, spy frigate films from above.
34:25The leaps can be seen by distant dolphins.
34:33While the splashing can be heard from far and wide.
34:41All these cues bring the dolphins together.
34:50United, they can hunt as a super team.
34:57Our spy is in the midst of an extraordinary gathering.
35:04One of the greatest megapods ever filmed.
35:21Spy dolphin is here to witness this astonishing moment.
35:27And there's yet more to discover.
35:31Yellowfin tuna also heard the dolphins and join their quest for a meal.
35:52As both dolphins and tuna travel together, the ocean becomes a super highway.
36:05Above, frigate birds join the travellers, including our spy version.
36:15As they near their goal, the dolphins leap into action.
36:27A synchronised wave, thousands strong.
36:31A synchronised wave, thousands strong.
36:32A synchronised wave, thousands strong.
36:45A synchronised wave, thousands strong.
36:59A synchronised wave, thousands strong.
36:59They've found a fish show of an unexpected kind.
37:04A squadron of flying fish.
37:09Chased into the air by the hunting dolphins.
37:11Chased into the air by the hunting dolphins.
37:15The tuna even tried to grab them as they fly.
37:23With dolphins and tuna working together, few escape.
37:52The frigates, too, take what they can.
38:09An event made possible by extraordinary teamwork.
38:19As the day ends, they have reason to celebrate, and they do it in true dolphin style.
38:38Off Mexico, shoals of mackerel are gathering, too.
38:44Upwellings of nutrients have caused plankton to bloom.
38:51It's not only mackerel that relish the feast.
38:59A tuna crab, a type of squat lobster.
39:08It won't be alone for long.
39:12More are rising from the depths.
39:26As always, there's a spy for every occasion.
39:35With a subject worthy of special attention.
39:43Tuna crabs only come together when conditions are perfect.
40:01They may all look the same, but they are not short of character.
40:08A blade of seagrass becomes something to fight over.
40:24It's now a tug of war.
40:33It's now a tug of war.
40:35With both a winner and a loser.
40:41Spy tuna crab arrived at a special moment.
40:47An event that has rarely been filmed.
40:56Hundreds soon become thousands.
41:01Then thousands become millions.
41:12They devour all the plankton they can.
41:17When they've had their fill, they descend to the deep once more.
41:23Those that leave are soon replaced.
41:26And so the cycle goes on.
41:48Such numbers have seldom been seen.
41:51A magical moment before they vanish into the depths once more.
42:04When autumn brings storms to the Caribbean, another gathering begins.
42:14Spiny lobsters leave their hideaways and start to assemble.
42:23They're preparing to migrate to calmer and warmer waters.
42:30One has yet to join them.
42:34Another spy.
42:40As the storm builds, conditions worsen.
42:57Alone, they're vulnerable.
42:59Not just occurrences, but predators too.
43:05So they'll make their journey together.
43:09Already, spy lobster has company.
43:17Others also couple up.
43:25Everyone joins the great migration.
43:31Including our spy and its newfound buddy.
43:39As the lobsters come together, it becomes a game of follow the leader.
43:50Latecomers race to join.
43:53Including our spy.
44:00A chain soon starts to form.
44:16It becomes a lobster conga.
44:18Their antennae keeping each in line.
44:29The members can number 50 or more.
44:32No one wants to be left behind.
44:42As they head for deeper water, walking in line reduces drag and keeps them on course.
44:53Guided by the Earth's magnetic field, they can march like this for days.
45:07Already, they are vanishing into the deep.
45:12Leaving spy lobster far behind.
45:16The shipwrecks are testament to the power of the storms.
45:28They are now a refuge for those sheltering from the turmoil above.
45:37Another place, another spy.
45:43This time, spy Nautilus.
45:56It finds that every nook and cranny is occupied.
46:00With little shelter elsewhere, the wreck is a magnet for the vulnerable.
46:16Spy Lobster joins the search.
46:28Then, a promising sign.
46:33Two lobsters hiding beneath the broken bough.
46:37They are not the only ones.
46:41In every crevice, more can be found.
46:51With no claws to protect them, wrecks like this keep them safe.
46:58For them, the journey has been worth it.
47:06Here, they'll spend the winter until the shallow is warm once more.
47:20There is one place our spies have yet to visit.
47:25The islands of the Galapagos are home to a rich community of sea creatures.
47:32On the volcanic rocks that hug the coastline, marine iguanas bask in the morning sun.
47:44It's a time to socialise as they warm up for the day ahead.
47:51Among the masses is a visitor from outside.
47:56A spy adapted to both land and sea.
48:04It needs both talents, for iguanas feed on vegetation
48:08and the land has little to offer.
48:17Once they're up to temperature, they take the plunge.
48:31Where they go, our spy must follow.
48:45Iguanas are cold-blooded, so their time in the cold sea is limited to just half an hour.
48:54That includes battling the surf.
49:05A spy iguana swims just like the real thing, propelled by its articulated tail.
49:19When an iguana dives, our spy dives too.
49:26The best feeding grounds lie deep beneath the waves.
49:31Our spy will join them there.
49:45Unlike the barren land, the sea is rich in nutrients.
49:52It nourishes the algae the iguanas depend on.
49:55It nourishes the algae the iguanas depend on.
50:02They eat little else.
50:16Each has chosen a spot to graze.
50:23Spy iguana hardly causes a stir.
50:27There's no rivalry here.
50:33But the real iguanas are on borrowed time.
50:38He must eat what he can, while he can.
50:53Leave it too late and he'll be too cold to make it back.
51:06But he knows when his time is up.
51:24He heads to the surface and returns to land.
51:38Our spy has many other inhabitants to meet.
51:46The most playful of all are Galapagos sea lions.
51:54And who better to play with than our spy creature?
52:15But playing games is not in our spy's repertoire.
52:20No matter the encouragement it receives.
52:29The sea lion seeks a more playful partner.
52:33But he leaves spy iguana in the best possible spot.
52:38Just in time to meet a true wonder of the deep.
52:43Mola Mola, a type of sunfish.
52:47Its only means of propulsion are its elongated fins.
52:53One of the largest bony fish in the ocean, it reaches three meters in length.
53:02They visit for one reason only.
53:06To be cleaned by angelfish and hogfish.
53:13As our spies have found, almost all undersea communities have their own grooming specialists.
53:26Job done, they return to the deep blue yonder.
53:39Our spy has one last inhabitant to find.
53:47The shallows are home to a colony of damselfish.
54:03They are suspicious of outsiders.
54:11They are keen gardeners, so trespassers aren't welcome here.
54:23They spend their time tending their lawns of algae.
54:28Like an allotment, it's divided into plots.
54:32To attract a mate, each male has his own patch to care for.
54:39They must beware of intruders, a sea urchin looking uncannily like a naval mine.
54:52It creates its own kind of devastation.
55:00It will graze their precious algae down to the rock.
55:07To remove it, they must work together.
55:14And use a bit of extra oomph.
55:28It's now out of his patch and onto his neighbours.
55:34Each damselfish passes it to the next fish along.
55:53They'll persevere until it's finally gone.
56:03Nearly there.
56:06Done it.
56:15But our spy's adventures aren't over.
56:21Spy Hammerhead has arrived in the Galapagos.
56:24along with the hammerheads last seen off Colombia.
56:31The sharks are completing a round trip that began in the seas around these islands.
56:40Hammerheads, like other long-distance travellers, connect distant communities.
56:47A network of partnerships that reach across the globe.
56:53As our spies have found, ocean life is interconnected in ways we could hardly imagine.
57:06An undersea world built on extraordinary relationships.
57:14Next time, we discover some of the trouble sea creatures face.
57:19And what happens when things go horribly wrong?
57:34Embrace a world of extraordinary change.
57:36Go inside the ecosystems that make up our changing planet.
57:39Press red to watch on iPlayer.
57:41And from the tiny bee hummingbird to a mass of crabs, discover the unique delights of wild Cuba.
57:46Starting now on BBC Two.
57:48Next, to Liverpool for a brand new Antiques Roadshow.
57:51The
57:52The
57:53B
57:54B
57:54You
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