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00:02Snakes.
00:07Age-old villains or modern superheroes.
00:16Potent.
00:18Lethal.
00:20And lightning fast.
00:24From Fang to Tail.
00:31Over 4,000 species share our planet.
00:37Each uniquely evolved to master their habitat.
00:43And without them, we'd be overrun by rodents.
00:57These are snakes from all corners of the planet.
01:01Ready to rewrite their history.
01:11Shed the old beliefs.
01:13And let their real stories emerge.
01:36This is The Secret World of Snakes.
01:48The iconic Amazon Rainforest is home to some of the planet's most enigmatic and resourceful creatures.
02:03Among them, the South American boa thrives in her secretive world.
02:10Her mottled scales blend into the bark and leaf litter of her surroundings.
02:15Not just for beauty, but for subtle camouflage.
02:24When hunting, she relies on her forked tongue to taste the air and pick up scent particles.
02:32While her excellent vision gathers information about her environment.
03:00This young female is still nimble enough to hunt in the trees.
03:04Allowing her to set up an ambush and wait for prey to come to her.
03:21A perfect target arrives.
03:30The boa holds her nerve.
03:36Patience is her superpower.
04:04The tight coils stop the prey's blood flow.
04:08And soon, the rat's heartbeat ceases.
04:17Though many people fear snakes, boas play a crucial role in controlling rodent populations and keeping ecosystems balanced.
04:34Her human allies have little to fear if they leave her to her pest control job in the jungle.
04:43She is not fast.
04:46She is not venomous.
04:53But in the deep green hush of the Amazon, she is perfectly adapted to her environment.
05:00She is not Nope.
05:01.
05:03A creature of stealth.
05:07And patience.
05:13The silent mistress of the jungle shadows.
05:22The silent mistress of the jungle shadows.
05:29The largest tropical wetland on the planet, the South American Pantanal, boasts a unique
05:36diversity of plant and animal species.
05:41It's home to giant anteaters, colorful macaws, sleek jaguars, and this beguiling creature,
05:51the yellow anaconda.
06:00Its smooth dappled scales are perfectly designed to blend into its shadowy environment, effective
06:14camouflage for ambush hunting, and hiding from its own predators.
06:29Females are much larger than males and can weigh up to 50 kilograms, hefty enough to hunt the
06:38world's largest rodent.
06:46The semi-aquatic snake is equally at home in the water, where it sneaks in on its prey undetected.
07:00But today, another hunter is on the prowl.
07:04The anaconda is now a potential meal.
07:12The elusive snake gives way to the much larger jaguar.
07:28There are many more capybaras in this jungle.
07:37The dense, humid forests of Colombia are a visual feast of intriguing plants and animals.
07:50Long-nosed coates and bright-eyed opossums share the canopy with a myriad of birds.
08:01Every species here seems to have an extra helping of glamour and flair.
08:19The eyelash viper is no exception, a snake so beautiful it mimics the flowers, to literally
08:33charm the birds from the trees.
08:35the bees.
08:40She's an expert ambush hunter, and her strike can stop a hummingbird in its tracks.
08:53A strong prehensile tail is another useful attribute for her arboreal lifestyle.
09:07Her famous eyelashes add to her allure, breaking up her silhouette among her favourite, colour-coordinated plants, while she hunts.
09:18A strong prehensile tail is one of the most important things.
09:34A strong prehensile tail is one of the most important things.
10:02A strong prehensile tail is one of the most important things.
10:13A strong prehensile tail is one of the most important things.
10:17A strong prehensile tail is one of the most important things.
10:31A strong prehensile tail is one of the most important things.
11:01A strong prehensile tail is one of the most important things.
11:29A strong prehensile tail is one of the most important things.
11:32A strong prehensile tail is one of the most important things.
11:49A strong prehensile tail is one of the most important things.
11:49The most important predator can also be prey.
11:59The casquobele rattles a warning to the owl.
12:12He's able to shake his rattle up to 100 pines in a second to scare off predators.
12:21But when he's the hunter, he's silent and stealthy.
12:36A scaled dove forages nearby.
12:40This local ground-dwelling bird is an option for the rattler.
12:50But he's a rodent specialist and knows exactly where to set up his ambush.
13:12His technique is strike and release.
13:17Unlike most other pit vipers, the Cascabel's venom is neurotoxic, causing the nervous system
13:25to shut down and the heart to stop.
13:48As much as this lethal rattlesnake is feared, it plays a critical role in managing rodent
13:54populations.
14:01And represents both guardianship and rebirth in the local culture of South America.
14:22Rising thousands of meters above sea level, the cloud forests of the Andes stand testament
14:28to life in the extreme.
14:32To live here takes character, resilience, and patience.
14:53One of Venezuela's most venomous snakes has all three.
15:01An ambush expert that lies motionless for hours, disguised in leaf litter, the Venezuelan lance-head waits
15:11for meals to come to him.
15:27As a rule, drowning prey isn't its usual hunting strategy.
15:32His feisty food chooses a clever escape route.
15:41The lance-head readjusts its jaws.
15:45The prey won't get far.
15:50A potent cocktail of venom is already destroying its blood and tissue.
15:58Now all the snake needs to do is track it down.
16:19It's tongue picks up scent particles in the air, which it transfers to an organ on the roof of its
16:25mouth.
16:29The Jacobson's organ translates the sense into a map, directing the snake towards its envenomated victim.
16:46Locals call it Tigra, not because of the stripes on its face, but for its unparalleled aggression.
17:03Closer to its quarry, thermal pits below the snake's eyes lock onto the heat of its prey.
17:17The venom is already digesting its prey from the inside.
17:27Few have survived a bite from these lethal fangs.
17:35In the lush tropical forests of Costa Rica, it's the wet season.
17:45A time synonymous with a bright flush of new life.
17:58The promise of abundance draws a myriad of forest creatures out on the hunt.
18:10Deep inside the jungle, a predator lies in wait for the action to start.
18:19The central American rattlesnake is a patient hunter.
18:26High in the trees, the monkeys are safe.
18:38The rattler knows if it waits long enough in its leafy lair, rewards come to its doorstep.
18:53All around, potential prey forages on seasonal offerings.
19:13But the snake waits.
19:31It's rough, keeled scales form part of its disguise.
19:45Adding texture to its camouflage helps it slink through the leaf litter, almost unseen.
20:01The signature rattle is a cluster of scales left behind after each shedding.
20:11But for the most part, it is silent.
20:18Moving through the undergrowth, to the next ambush zone.
20:28The towering saguaro, the largest cactus in North America, reaches heights over 10 meters
20:36and provides food and shelter for many desert dwellers.
20:42The Mexican black kingsnake uses its dark scales to blend in among the shadows
20:49and avoid beady eyes.
20:53Fellow reptiles are his forte.
21:01His tongue picks up the scent of easier prey.
21:16The kingsnake is a marvel of evolution.
21:20A coil of muscle that constricts the life out of his prey.
21:27But this is not his only superpower.
21:37This snake is immune to pit viper venom.
21:44Given the chance, he'll take down a rattlesnake in the blink of an eye
21:49and consume it just as easily as this rat, with no risk to himself.
21:58The kingsnake is an expertly designed desert predator.
22:04And a perfect example of how every snake is uniquely adapted to its niche.
22:15Texas is synonymous with some of the biggest and most revered species of the animal kingdom.
22:27Everything seems supersized here.
22:33It's a fitting habitat for a snake with a big reputation.
22:42The western diamondback.
22:45A rattlesnake with huge attitude.
23:07And a deadly bite.
23:22But today its prey bites back.
23:33The rat makes its last stand.
23:37But the lethal hemotoxic venom is already rupturing capillaries in its body.
23:59Although feared by many, rattlers have earned the title of environmental heroes.
24:08Controlling rodent populations and maintaining balance in their ecosystems.
24:37A thriving population of rattlesnakes is an indicator of a healthy impact.
24:43In the environment.
24:47Their rattles grow longer with every shedding.
24:51Displaying their age in the length of the segments.
24:58This wise old male senses another opportunity ahead.
25:02A trail of female pheromones guides him in.
25:15She's receptive.
25:17But an unwanted visitor distracts the male from pursuing the courtship.
25:28An armadillo is equally keen on this burrow.
25:41The snake scans the intruder with his thermal pits.
25:50He won't risk striking unless he's threatened.
25:58And he has far more urgent needs to attend to.
26:23In the parched landscape of Joshua Tree National Park, predator and prey live in delicate balance.
26:35For the highly specialized California kingsnake, hunting down its favorite meal takes precision.
26:44Tongue flicking eagerly, it tracks the chemical trace of its quarry.
26:50A diamondback rattlesnake.
26:53A diamondback rattlesnake.
26:54Usually a formidable predator in its own right.
26:57But not against this foe.
27:00The kingsnake is immune to the rattler's bite.
27:05The king has no venom of his own.
27:08He uses speed.
27:13And sheer muscle power to overcome his prey.
27:25Cannibalizing the rattler, he ingests his meal head first.
27:39Here, among the ancient Joshua trees, it's not the most potent who rule, but those with the most ingenious adaptations.
27:51Further east, the desert canyons give way to lush montane forests.
28:00These are the enchanting woodlands of Kentucky, home to a uniquely diverse array of creatures.
28:13Among the leaf litter, the eastern copperhead makes its living on the forest floor.
28:23When hunting, it relies on camouflage and surprise.
28:31It's a specialist rodent hunter.
28:50Sneaking up on its prey, and then waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
29:08The snake lets go of its prize.
29:11Hemotoxic venom will do the rest of the work.
29:14And the mumbling on theответ.
29:44Don't feel the ceramic and blanket!
29:45Although he's not as potent as the rattlesnakes, the copperhead is responsible for the highest
29:51number of venomous bites in the United States.
29:58Their cryptic camouflage and tendency to freeze instead of flee often resulting in encounters
30:05with hikers.
30:16Today, the snake has a more rewarding rendezvous on his agenda.
30:21It's mating season.
30:45The pair rub against each other and line up their bodies to mate.
31:05All going to plan, the female will give birth to ten live snakelets by late summer.
31:16Deeper into the Kentucky woodlands, the change of seasons kickstarts a flurry of activity.
31:25Beavers get busy spring cleaning their dams in the cool waterways that cleave through the
31:30dense forest.
31:34On the sandy riverbank, a master of mimicry revels in the warm temperatures.
31:43The corn snake is completely harmless.
31:47The corn snake is completely harmless.
31:48But it gains respect as a doppelganger for the venomous copperhead.
31:58It's non-toxic, but when it comes to predation, the corn snake is equally proficient at hunting rodents.
32:11Let's see.
32:38This snake uses muscle force to subdue its body.
32:46Constricting the rat's blood flow and so stopping its heart.
32:54It might seem that its eyes are bigger than its stomach, but the feisty little corn snake
33:00makes short work of his large meal.
33:35It's impersonation of the copperhead is not perfect, but it allows the corn snake to reduce
33:42its own predation by more than 50%.
33:52Just over a thousand kilometers to the south, the swamps of Florida are home to a number
33:58of notorious reptiles.
34:13This one is the largest pit viper in North America.
34:21The eastern diamondback rattlesnake can reach lengths up to two and a half meters.
34:31And like all rattlesnakes, rodents are high up on its menu.
34:42But this snake is also well known for its sedentary lifestyle.
34:47They can go weeks without moving.
34:56The rattler curls up and assumes the ambush position.
35:01Ben?
35:01Ben?
35:01Ben?
35:01Ben?
35:28Ben?
35:30Ben?
35:30Tag and release.
35:33The eastern diamondback has a venom yield three times what's required for a fatal dose.
35:46The cocktail of toxins has an immediate and devastating effect on the prey.
35:59By the time the snake starts to ingest his meal,
36:03the hemotoxic and cytotoxic venom has already partially digested the rat from the inside.
36:15The eastern diamondback is the incredible hulk of the rattlesnake family.
36:20Equipped with unique adaptations that play a crucial role in its coastal ecosystem.
36:38Across the Americas, the varied habitats are notorious for both their venomous vipers
36:44and their charismatic constrictors, all highly specialized to fill their niche.
36:55Roughly 15,000 kilometers across the globe, in Australia, the situation is much the same.
37:04Although the species are very different.
37:12This is a continent with giant marsupials, deadly spiders,
37:19and a host of infamous creepy crawlies that roam across a massive variety of habitats.
37:32Up north in Queensland, the Daintree Forest is a haven of intriguing wildlife.
37:40The short-beaked echidna thrives here, snorting up ants off the forest floor.
37:48He's not the only predator who stalks the undergrowth.
37:55The spotted python is one of the most ecologically adaptable snakes in Australia.
38:02Using remarkable survival strategies to thrive in diverse habitats.
38:12Here in the Daintree Forest, they rely on their slender bodies and spotted camouflage to navigate secretly towards their prey.
38:37Um...
38:44The python's strong jaws and backward curving teeth hold onto struggling prey
38:50with a vice-like grip, while powerful muscles constrict blood flow to the rodent's heart.
39:13The spotted python plays an important role,
39:16keeping populations of small mammals and reptiles in check,
39:27maintaining the balance of its ecosystem.
39:52In Aboriginal mythology, pythons represent the creation of the landscape, and connection between humans and their ancestors.
40:12Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory spans 20,000 square kilometers of some of Australia's most spectacular landscapes.
40:25And it's home to one of the continent's most infamous snakes, the coastal taipan.
40:33A snake so venomous that bites to humans are almost always fatal.
40:42Luckily, they're shy and fast, choosing flight over fight.
40:51They're nimble, both in the water and on land.
40:59And their strike is one of the fastest of all snakes.
41:16Large eyes allow them good vision, which they use to actively track down prey.
41:29They also rely heavily on the scent signals they pick up with their sensitive tongues.
41:53The taipan tracks ascent, using its forked tongue to guide it left, right, and straight ahead.
42:01The taipan tracks ascent, using its forked tongue to guide it left, right, and straight ahead.
42:10The taipan tracks ascent, using its forked tongue.
42:10That's what the bounty has been pointed out.
42:20It's a real interesting scene where they're in Bird, and it has no true shape to the territoriality right in
42:21the wilderness.
42:21They're in a small community, and they're here to come.
42:21They've had a great stage, but also the därpane are in the wild.
42:21It's a fun part of the mountain.
42:21They've had a great stage of their life in the world.
42:24Sourcedly-like witnesses.
42:25They've had a great stage of gravity.
42:25They've got a special one of its choices and saiyan.
42:26And what's the Würthana takes?
42:42The prey doesn't stand a chance against the typoxin, a powerful neurotoxin that causes
42:49paralysis, combined with internal bleeding and muscle damage.
42:58This dainty snake can deliver up to 400 milligrams of venom in a single dose.
43:09Enough to kill 56 humans with one bite.
43:20Along the north-eastern coastline, the Great Barrier Reef is one of the most diverse habitats
43:26on the planet, boasting close to 9,000 species of marine life.
43:42Among the multitude of sea creatures that thrive here, the banded sea crate patrols the coral
43:48reefs, hunting eels.
43:56Pretty, graceful, but lethal.
44:01Their neurotoxic venom is ten times stronger than that of a rattlesnake.
44:12The banded sea crate lives the best of both worlds.
44:17They breathe air, and their large lungs allow them to hunt underwater for as long as an hour,
44:26before returning to land to rest and digest.
44:36Notorious for its lethal venom and fatal bites, the Australian beaked sea snake also prowls the
44:43abundance of the Great Barrier Reef.
44:54Gliding through the corals, it hunts for fish.
45:06Today, there's more than dinner on the agenda.
45:10It's breeding season, and the snake is on the search for a potential mate.
45:18The female hangs back, a sure sign that she's receptive to her advancing suitor.
45:29Their fluid courtship can last up to two hours.
45:34And once their next generation is secured, they glide apart, back into the depths of their niche habitat.
45:46Whether they use fangs or force, stealth or speed, evolution has honed every snake into
45:54a highly efficient hunting machine.
45:57Devoid of limbs to chase or grapple with prey, they're armed with some of the most sophisticated
46:03sensory organs and some of the most potent venom in the animal kingdom.
46:09It's never been a better time to celebrate the secret world of snakes.