1 00:00:06,256 --> 00:00:08,049 (DRAMATIC THEME MUSIC PLAYING) 2 00:00:08,216 --> 00:00:09,342 BENEDICT: Enter a world 3 00:00:10,885 --> 00:00:13,763 -just beyond your perception. -(CLICKING) 4 00:00:18,977 --> 00:00:22,272 A world of extraordinary animals... 5 00:00:23,231 --> 00:00:26,443 with hidden powers and super senses. 6 00:00:27,569 --> 00:00:30,697 -If you think you know nature... -(BELLOWING) 7 00:00:32,574 --> 00:00:33,825 think again. 8 00:00:38,329 --> 00:00:39,664 (THEME MUSIC ENDS) 9 00:00:39,914 --> 00:00:42,083 (BIRD CALL) 10 00:00:42,709 --> 00:00:44,669 BENEDICT: In the Costa Rican rainforest, 11 00:00:46,171 --> 00:00:48,715 sometimes the only way to get noticed 12 00:00:50,800 --> 00:00:52,427 is to move fast 13 00:00:53,094 --> 00:00:54,929 -(WINGS RATTLING) -and move... 14 00:00:56,473 --> 00:00:57,640 with style. 15 00:01:00,393 --> 00:01:02,479 Of all the amazing animals here, 16 00:01:06,024 --> 00:01:09,486 of all their unexpected ways of attracting attention, 17 00:01:11,571 --> 00:01:14,032 this white-collared manakin… 18 00:01:14,115 --> 00:01:15,992 (WINGS RATTLING) 19 00:01:16,076 --> 00:01:18,912 …may just be the greatest showman of all. 20 00:01:19,454 --> 00:01:20,955 (CHIRPING) 21 00:01:23,958 --> 00:01:27,378 BENEDICT: His mating display has to be seen to be believed. 22 00:01:29,005 --> 00:01:30,548 (WINGS RATTLING) 23 00:01:30,673 --> 00:01:33,593 BENEDICT: He spent months preparing his stage. 24 00:01:35,762 --> 00:01:38,348 A star performer demands perfection. 25 00:01:39,849 --> 00:01:41,935 Not a single leaf out of place. 26 00:01:44,062 --> 00:01:47,732 -(CHEEPS) -Which can be a problem in a rainforest. 27 00:02:01,704 --> 00:02:03,456 Ah, that's better. 28 00:02:04,833 --> 00:02:07,502 -Finally, it's showtime. -(WINGS RATTLING) 29 00:02:07,794 --> 00:02:11,464 (CLICKING, WHIRRING) 30 00:02:12,257 --> 00:02:15,844 -A confusing routine of hopping about... -(RATTLING) 31 00:02:16,010 --> 00:02:17,804 -strange snaps... -(HONKING) 32 00:02:17,971 --> 00:02:19,597 ...and bizarre honking sounds. 33 00:02:19,722 --> 00:02:21,266 (SNAPPING, HONKING) 34 00:02:21,432 --> 00:02:24,102 -If this appears a bit odd to you... -(SNAPPING) 35 00:02:24,686 --> 00:02:27,647 that's because it's for her eyes only. 36 00:02:30,483 --> 00:02:33,778 Female manakins can process visual information 37 00:02:33,903 --> 00:02:36,614 four times faster than a human. 38 00:02:38,449 --> 00:02:41,536 And now, ultra high-speed cameras 39 00:02:41,661 --> 00:02:42,912 replay the action 40 00:02:43,037 --> 00:02:44,330 from her point of view. 41 00:02:44,455 --> 00:02:46,666 (DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS) 42 00:02:46,749 --> 00:02:48,293 (WHOOSHING) 43 00:02:53,381 --> 00:02:54,382 (CRACKING) 44 00:02:56,676 --> 00:02:58,928 -BENEDICT: Leaping across his stage.. -(CRACKING) 45 00:02:59,137 --> 00:03:01,431 the manakin snaps his wings together, 46 00:03:01,639 --> 00:03:03,725 creating an awesome crack... 47 00:03:04,267 --> 00:03:05,768 (CRACK) 48 00:03:07,770 --> 00:03:11,441 A crack that can be heard 300 yards away. 49 00:03:15,778 --> 00:03:18,072 -(CRACK) -As he repeats this display, 50 00:03:18,156 --> 00:03:21,117 the female's ultraviolet-intensifying vision 51 00:03:21,576 --> 00:03:23,411 picks out his plumage, 52 00:03:29,417 --> 00:03:32,587 and the male's carefully curated neutral background 53 00:03:33,379 --> 00:03:35,173 heightens her viewing pleasure. 54 00:03:37,634 --> 00:03:40,136 Then to finish with a flourish... 55 00:03:42,388 --> 00:03:45,642 -the incredible, inverted... -(CRACK) 56 00:03:45,767 --> 00:03:47,185 crack and flip. 57 00:03:52,774 --> 00:03:55,318 He bows out by spreading his wing tips 58 00:03:55,443 --> 00:03:57,320 and flapping as fast as possible, 59 00:03:57,403 --> 00:03:59,113 (WHIRRING) 60 00:03:59,280 --> 00:04:03,785 which, to her, sounds like an irresistible purr. 61 00:04:03,868 --> 00:04:04,869 (WARBLED PURR) 62 00:04:05,954 --> 00:04:07,205 Totally seduced. 63 00:04:07,664 --> 00:04:08,915 (CLICKING, SNAPPING) 64 00:04:08,998 --> 00:04:10,750 She joins him on stage 65 00:04:11,668 --> 00:04:13,544 for one last dance. 66 00:04:16,005 --> 00:04:17,257 (HONKING) 67 00:04:23,054 --> 00:04:25,139 BENEDICT: When it comes to competing for a mate, 68 00:04:26,266 --> 00:04:29,143 each animal has it's own rules of engagement. 69 00:04:33,314 --> 00:04:37,443 But only those with the most enchanting super powers, 70 00:04:37,568 --> 00:04:38,736 (CRACK) 71 00:04:38,903 --> 00:04:40,655 will win the ultimate prize. 72 00:04:46,828 --> 00:04:48,705 (DRAMATIC MUSIC ENDS) 73 00:04:53,167 --> 00:04:57,005 BENEDICT: The perfect partner rarely appears out of the blue. 74 00:04:57,171 --> 00:04:59,590 (CALM MUSIC PLAYING) 75 00:05:01,050 --> 00:05:03,094 In fact, finding a mate 76 00:05:03,886 --> 00:05:06,472 is one of the biggest challenges animals face. 77 00:05:10,351 --> 00:05:13,980 So, devil rays in Mexico's Sea of Cortez 78 00:05:14,981 --> 00:05:18,943 increase their chances with an extraordinary power. 79 00:05:23,156 --> 00:05:24,824 (LOUD SPLASH) 80 00:05:28,244 --> 00:05:31,289 BENEDICT: The power of sound. 81 00:05:31,539 --> 00:05:33,207 (LOUD SPLASH) 82 00:05:36,794 --> 00:05:38,421 Leaping more than six feet, 83 00:05:39,130 --> 00:05:40,923 they create sonic waves... 84 00:05:41,758 --> 00:05:43,384 (MUFFLED SPLASH) 85 00:05:50,600 --> 00:05:53,269 -And at twice the speed of a bullet... -(MUFFLED SPLASH) 86 00:05:57,231 --> 00:06:00,360 the sound radiates across the ocean. 87 00:06:03,613 --> 00:06:06,949 -(SPLASHING) -More than two and a half miles away... 88 00:06:07,116 --> 00:06:09,077 other devil rays, 89 00:06:09,202 --> 00:06:14,123 using specialized hearing organs with hyper sensory hairs, lock on. 90 00:06:17,919 --> 00:06:19,712 (MUSIC INTENSIFIES) 91 00:06:19,837 --> 00:06:21,464 BENEDICT: Numbers grow... 92 00:06:28,012 --> 00:06:31,391 until they're gathered in the thousands. 93 00:06:34,602 --> 00:06:36,604 These spectacular aggregations 94 00:06:37,730 --> 00:06:40,024 give each ray the best chance to pair up, 95 00:06:41,776 --> 00:06:44,987 but now the battle to breed really begins. 96 00:06:47,198 --> 00:06:49,700 Male rays chase females 97 00:06:51,369 --> 00:06:53,955 and compete with each other to be the first in line. 98 00:06:57,208 --> 00:07:01,129 All this activity also attracts trouble. 99 00:07:02,046 --> 00:07:04,048 (DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING) 100 00:07:07,093 --> 00:07:10,096 (ORCAS VOCALIZING) 101 00:07:16,018 --> 00:07:20,398 BENEDICT: This is the first time orcas have been filmed catching devil rays. 102 00:07:24,861 --> 00:07:28,156 Gathering together makes the rays easy targets. 103 00:07:28,489 --> 00:07:29,949 (SQUEAKING) 104 00:07:34,912 --> 00:07:37,290 The opportunity to pass on their genes, 105 00:07:39,375 --> 00:07:40,877 is worth dying for. 106 00:07:46,466 --> 00:07:48,718 When the fight for mates gets fierce... 107 00:07:48,885 --> 00:07:51,053 (DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING) 108 00:07:51,179 --> 00:07:53,055 it could take super strength... 109 00:07:53,181 --> 00:07:54,891 (BELLOWS) 110 00:07:55,349 --> 00:07:56,851 and secret powers 111 00:07:59,103 --> 00:08:00,855 just to keep rivals at bay. 112 00:08:01,689 --> 00:08:02,940 (THUDS) 113 00:08:05,026 --> 00:08:06,235 (THUDS) 114 00:08:06,402 --> 00:08:08,863 Two tons of blubber 115 00:08:08,946 --> 00:08:11,491 -(THUDS) -...send a shockwave 116 00:08:14,285 --> 00:08:18,623 a hundred miles per hour across the sand. 117 00:08:26,297 --> 00:08:28,883 With amazing seismic sensitivity, 118 00:08:31,844 --> 00:08:33,012 (GRUNTS) 119 00:08:33,137 --> 00:08:37,016 the dominant male elephant seal detects a rival making his move. 120 00:08:42,146 --> 00:08:44,023 (SQUEALS) 121 00:08:44,190 --> 00:08:47,151 (BELLOWS LOUDLY) 122 00:08:47,401 --> 00:08:49,695 (BELLOWS ECHOING) 123 00:08:49,862 --> 00:08:52,615 BENEDICT: One of the loudest calls of any animal... 124 00:08:52,698 --> 00:08:55,034 (BELLOWS) 125 00:08:55,159 --> 00:08:58,037 -a signature bellow... -(BELLOWS LOUDLY) 126 00:08:58,120 --> 00:09:02,041 -roars across the beach... -(BELLOWING CONTINUES) 127 00:09:02,208 --> 00:09:04,877 -reminding the competition... -(BELLOWS) 128 00:09:05,002 --> 00:09:06,379 who's in control. 129 00:09:06,712 --> 00:09:09,715 (BELLOWS) 130 00:09:09,882 --> 00:09:11,217 (STOPS) 131 00:09:11,884 --> 00:09:16,514 On the California coast, the colony's undisputed heavyweight 132 00:09:17,348 --> 00:09:20,643 is known as the beachmaster. 133 00:09:21,185 --> 00:09:22,478 (GRUNTS) 134 00:09:23,604 --> 00:09:27,692 He's battled for the breeding rights to over 100 females, 135 00:09:30,570 --> 00:09:33,948 but keeping guard of his harem in one of the noisiest places 136 00:09:34,031 --> 00:09:35,074 on Earth... 137 00:09:36,909 --> 00:09:38,786 -(SQUAWKING) -(WAVES CRASHING) 138 00:09:38,953 --> 00:09:41,497 (LOUD SQUAWKING) 139 00:09:41,622 --> 00:09:43,249 ...is a real headache. 140 00:09:44,083 --> 00:09:46,085 -(GRUNTS) -(DISTANT THUDDING) 141 00:09:46,252 --> 00:09:49,505 BENEDICT: It's almost impossible to hear his rivals coming. 142 00:09:50,006 --> 00:09:53,467 -(GRUNTING) -Up to 60 challengers every day 143 00:09:54,260 --> 00:09:55,595 from every angle. 144 00:09:55,761 --> 00:09:58,806 (GRUNTING) 145 00:09:58,973 --> 00:10:02,184 But thanks to his amazing ability to detect vibrations, 146 00:10:02,435 --> 00:10:03,519 (THUDS) 147 00:10:07,315 --> 00:10:09,191 like a spider in a web, 148 00:10:09,942 --> 00:10:12,653 he can monitor an area of six tennis courts 149 00:10:13,529 --> 00:10:14,989 from his central position, 150 00:10:17,867 --> 00:10:20,703 (BELLOWS AGGRESSIVELY) 151 00:10:21,787 --> 00:10:26,292 His warning is usually enough to scare rivals into submission. 152 00:10:26,375 --> 00:10:27,585 (BELLOWS) 153 00:10:28,461 --> 00:10:29,879 But every now and then, 154 00:10:30,713 --> 00:10:33,049 a real contender emerges. 155 00:10:35,426 --> 00:10:37,386 (MUSIC INTENSIFIES) 156 00:10:37,511 --> 00:10:39,722 -He's just as big... -(THUDDING) 157 00:10:39,805 --> 00:10:41,349 just as powerful, 158 00:10:42,016 --> 00:10:43,559 (SEAGULLS SQUAWKING) 159 00:10:43,809 --> 00:10:45,978 ...and just as determined to breed. 160 00:10:50,691 --> 00:10:52,401 The beachmaster has no choice 161 00:10:53,903 --> 00:10:56,697 but to stand... 162 00:10:56,822 --> 00:10:57,823 and fight. 163 00:10:58,282 --> 00:11:00,493 (GRUNTING) 164 00:11:04,622 --> 00:11:07,124 BENEDICT: Two-inch scar tissue shields the blows. 165 00:11:09,919 --> 00:11:12,922 Still, these bloody clashes take a toll. 166 00:11:16,175 --> 00:11:18,427 (GROANING, BARKING) 167 00:11:21,263 --> 00:11:22,515 (BELLOWS) 168 00:11:22,765 --> 00:11:25,142 (GRUNTS) 169 00:11:28,020 --> 00:11:31,357 After two years and more than 300 fights... 170 00:11:31,565 --> 00:11:33,109 (GRUNTS) 171 00:11:37,488 --> 00:11:38,656 (GRUNTS) 172 00:11:44,620 --> 00:11:47,873 the beachmaster... is finished. 173 00:11:55,089 --> 00:11:57,550 (GROWLS) 174 00:11:57,842 --> 00:12:00,052 (BARKING) 175 00:12:00,219 --> 00:12:03,597 BENEDICT: Time for a new heavyweight to take his title. 176 00:12:05,015 --> 00:12:06,183 (GRUNTING) 177 00:12:06,642 --> 00:12:09,395 Defeated, exhausted, 178 00:12:10,855 --> 00:12:13,274 the old beachmaster is unlikely to see 179 00:12:13,441 --> 00:12:14,692 another mating season. 180 00:12:15,192 --> 00:12:17,194 (GROWLING) 181 00:12:18,529 --> 00:12:20,030 But he can rest in peace. 182 00:12:22,575 --> 00:12:26,912 During his reign, it's likely he fathered over 100 pups, 183 00:12:29,415 --> 00:12:32,793 securing his place among the elite one percent of males 184 00:12:32,918 --> 00:12:34,462 who ever get to breed. 185 00:12:39,592 --> 00:12:44,764 Sometimes, the odds of finding a mate seem even more improbable. 186 00:12:51,145 --> 00:12:52,813 Rooted to the spot, 187 00:12:52,897 --> 00:12:57,067 -(BIRD CALL) -plants are unable to partner up. 188 00:12:58,819 --> 00:13:03,449 Instead, they use their powers of attraction in more cunning ways. 189 00:13:11,081 --> 00:13:14,752 Mucuna is a vine on a mission. 190 00:13:22,301 --> 00:13:26,847 It needs to maximize its chances of reproducing by attracting a pollinator 191 00:13:28,140 --> 00:13:30,643 (OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING) 192 00:13:34,146 --> 00:13:37,775 BENEDICT: Most plants do this with bright and beautiful flowers... 193 00:13:44,949 --> 00:13:49,036 But Mucuna does things a little differently. 194 00:13:54,959 --> 00:13:59,088 With so many kinds of flower on display in the Costa Rican rainforest, 195 00:14:00,673 --> 00:14:05,344 Mucuna beats the competition by blooming at night 196 00:14:07,513 --> 00:14:11,725 and recruiting the services of a very special courier. 197 00:14:15,312 --> 00:14:18,941 Some animals can navigate in the darkest jungle. 198 00:14:23,195 --> 00:14:27,074 A long-tongued bat emits a string of ultrasonic clicks... 199 00:14:27,241 --> 00:14:29,118 (CLICKS) 200 00:14:29,368 --> 00:14:31,912 ...that ricochet back to its hypersensitive ears. 201 00:14:32,079 --> 00:14:34,331 (CLICKING) 202 00:14:35,958 --> 00:14:39,044 To build a detailed mental map of the forest. 203 00:14:40,629 --> 00:14:43,591 (CLICKS) 204 00:14:45,718 --> 00:14:50,347 And amazingly, Mucuna's mirror-smooth petals 205 00:14:51,599 --> 00:14:54,768 reflect the bat's clicks so effectively... 206 00:14:54,852 --> 00:14:56,979 -(CLICKS) -they're unmistakable. 207 00:15:03,652 --> 00:15:04,904 And irresistible. 208 00:15:10,618 --> 00:15:15,039 The bat can detect Mucuna more easily than almost any other plant here, 209 00:15:16,582 --> 00:15:19,001 it also scores ten times more nectar, 210 00:15:21,337 --> 00:15:23,923 lapped up with a super absorbent tongue 211 00:15:24,048 --> 00:15:26,508 that's longer than it's match-sized body. 212 00:15:32,681 --> 00:15:33,933 When it leaves... 213 00:15:34,725 --> 00:15:36,060 (MUFFLED EXPLOSION) 214 00:15:36,226 --> 00:15:38,520 ...a unique exploding mechanism 215 00:15:39,855 --> 00:15:41,565 splits the flower's petals 216 00:15:43,150 --> 00:15:45,444 and fires out tiny pollen grains 217 00:15:46,487 --> 00:15:48,322 that cling to the bat's fur 218 00:15:50,324 --> 00:15:53,327 as he flies off to the next sweet shop. 219 00:16:02,419 --> 00:16:06,924 And because the bat can distinguish between old and new flowers... 220 00:16:07,007 --> 00:16:08,175 (CLICKING) 221 00:16:10,135 --> 00:16:11,387 (CLICKING) 222 00:16:11,512 --> 00:16:14,264 it ensures he gets nectar every time 223 00:16:17,101 --> 00:16:19,979 and that he only delivers Mucuna's previous pollen 224 00:16:21,230 --> 00:16:23,190 to fresh, fertile flowers. 225 00:16:32,032 --> 00:16:34,952 Sometimes, it pays to enlist a little help 226 00:16:35,035 --> 00:16:37,246 to find success in the mating game. 227 00:16:44,920 --> 00:16:50,092 And on Kenya's Lake Victoria, even humans have become 228 00:16:50,217 --> 00:16:52,845 an essential ingredient in one little critter’s 229 00:16:52,970 --> 00:16:54,930 gruesome romantic plans. 230 00:17:05,733 --> 00:17:08,235 Only the size of a grain of rice, 231 00:17:09,570 --> 00:17:12,072 a male vampire spider 232 00:17:12,740 --> 00:17:15,951 is desperate to win attention with his courtship ritual. 233 00:17:19,455 --> 00:17:24,501 But the female of the species is into some pretty freaky stuff. 234 00:17:26,920 --> 00:17:30,549 And right now, he's just not doing it for her. 235 00:17:35,679 --> 00:17:37,181 He only gets to mate 236 00:17:37,347 --> 00:17:40,017 if he's wearing a sweet perfume 237 00:17:40,809 --> 00:17:43,020 of human blood. 238 00:17:45,731 --> 00:17:48,567 But his fangs aren't made for human flesh. 239 00:17:51,195 --> 00:17:55,657 So he needs some other sucker to do his dirty work. 240 00:17:55,741 --> 00:17:57,868 (MOSQUITO BUZZING) 241 00:18:01,580 --> 00:18:05,417 A mosquito is far better equipped for the job. 242 00:18:09,630 --> 00:18:11,298 (BUZZING) 243 00:18:11,673 --> 00:18:13,926 (TENSE MUSIC PLAYING) 244 00:18:17,846 --> 00:18:19,473 (BUZZING CONTINUES) 245 00:18:20,307 --> 00:18:22,142 BENEDICT: With supersensitive antennae, 246 00:18:23,227 --> 00:18:25,646 it hones in on carbon dioxide in our breath... 247 00:18:25,813 --> 00:18:26,897 (BUZZING) 248 00:18:27,773 --> 00:18:29,316 and heat from our bodies. 249 00:18:32,986 --> 00:18:36,740 Then the mosquito deploys a highly sophisticated 250 00:18:36,907 --> 00:18:39,076 blood extraction tool. 251 00:18:40,619 --> 00:18:41,745 (SLURPING) 252 00:18:41,870 --> 00:18:43,914 Six specialized mouthparts 253 00:18:44,039 --> 00:18:47,543 combined to drill down and tap the human pipeline. 254 00:18:52,172 --> 00:18:56,093 Once a mosquito has drunk four times its body weight in blood, 255 00:18:58,345 --> 00:19:00,639 it's the spider's turn to strike. 256 00:19:00,764 --> 00:19:03,642 (WHIMSICAL MUSIC PLAYING) 257 00:19:21,743 --> 00:19:25,831 BENEDICT: Large, forward-facing eyes with movable lenses 258 00:19:26,206 --> 00:19:27,666 (TENSE MUSIC PLAYING) 259 00:19:29,042 --> 00:19:34,256 enable the spider to lock onto the color and shape of a blood-laden mosquito. 260 00:19:37,551 --> 00:19:40,554 Then, on spring-loaded legs, 261 00:19:42,264 --> 00:19:43,724 he closes in. 262 00:19:46,393 --> 00:19:49,146 The only thing worse than a vampire spider... 263 00:19:52,024 --> 00:19:54,484 is a vampire jumping spider. 264 00:19:56,069 --> 00:20:01,283 Okay, make that a venomous vampire jumping spider. 265 00:20:03,994 --> 00:20:07,414 Fast-acting neurotoxin disables his victim instantly. 266 00:20:09,625 --> 00:20:12,252 Then he sucks it dry. 267 00:20:22,471 --> 00:20:26,683 And this is just the beginning of his bloodthirsty killing spree. 268 00:20:27,768 --> 00:20:29,978 (OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING) 269 00:20:48,455 --> 00:20:50,415 BENEDICT: Because the more he drinks... 270 00:20:52,042 --> 00:20:54,086 the sexier he smells. 271 00:20:55,921 --> 00:20:57,256 (OMINOUS MUSIC ENDS) 272 00:20:58,590 --> 00:21:01,009 (INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC PLAYING) 273 00:21:01,134 --> 00:21:02,511 BENEDICT: Now, 274 00:21:04,263 --> 00:21:05,847 he's ready for romance. 275 00:21:14,606 --> 00:21:19,069 And with the sweet scent of blood oozing from every pore... 276 00:21:23,407 --> 00:21:25,867 who could possibly resist? 277 00:21:31,623 --> 00:21:34,459 Few animals do stranger things for love, 278 00:21:36,211 --> 00:21:40,048 but some get a whole lot sneakier. 279 00:21:45,220 --> 00:21:47,264 And one of the sneakiest of all 280 00:21:48,557 --> 00:21:51,601 is found in the rocky shallows of South Australia. 281 00:21:53,478 --> 00:21:56,148 (INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC PLAYING) 282 00:21:56,231 --> 00:22:00,027 BENEDICT: A giant cuttlefish may be king of camouflage, 283 00:22:01,611 --> 00:22:03,655 but he can't hide forever. 284 00:22:06,241 --> 00:22:08,577 The males only live for two years, 285 00:22:10,162 --> 00:22:12,748 only have one season to breed, 286 00:22:14,291 --> 00:22:16,626 and face a lot of competition. 287 00:22:17,085 --> 00:22:18,628 (TENSE MUSIC PLAYING) 288 00:22:20,589 --> 00:22:24,843 Eleven males fighting over each female. 289 00:22:28,638 --> 00:22:31,224 Many of them are twice his size... 290 00:22:36,938 --> 00:22:39,066 and displaying war paint. 291 00:22:41,443 --> 00:22:44,780 Broadcast at higher resolution than a 4K TV, 292 00:22:45,697 --> 00:22:49,576 hundreds of thousands of color-changing cells flash. 293 00:22:57,667 --> 00:22:58,752 It's a warning 294 00:22:59,961 --> 00:23:03,423 that a ten-inch little guy knows to heed 295 00:23:04,591 --> 00:23:08,136 because the alternative... is to fight. 296 00:23:12,724 --> 00:23:14,684 When large males clash, 297 00:23:17,562 --> 00:23:19,314 they risk serious injury. 298 00:23:21,566 --> 00:23:24,194 Battles can last up to 20 minutes... 299 00:23:28,448 --> 00:23:31,701 and usually end when one escapes in a cloud of ink... 300 00:23:35,038 --> 00:23:37,374 leaving the winner to guard his prize, 301 00:23:38,875 --> 00:23:41,962 a smaller, paler female. 302 00:23:45,298 --> 00:23:48,301 Uniquely shaped pupils that boost color detection 303 00:23:50,137 --> 00:23:52,681 and see 360 degrees 304 00:23:54,224 --> 00:23:55,892 enable him to keep a lookout 305 00:23:56,101 --> 00:23:58,520 for any other males who dare to muscle in. 306 00:24:04,025 --> 00:24:08,363 But this little guy knows how to operate under the radar. 307 00:24:11,616 --> 00:24:16,121 Time to assume a more unexpected identity. 308 00:24:30,302 --> 00:24:31,553 Turn pale brown, 309 00:24:34,014 --> 00:24:35,807 retract tentacles, 310 00:24:37,601 --> 00:24:40,479 and appear more like a female. 311 00:24:43,190 --> 00:24:44,858 He needs to be careful, 312 00:24:45,901 --> 00:24:47,986 or he'll get a beating from the big guy 313 00:24:48,862 --> 00:24:50,906 for moving in on his mate. 314 00:24:54,701 --> 00:24:57,871 But the cross-dressing disguise is so convincing, 315 00:25:01,291 --> 00:25:02,501 he gets away with it. 316 00:25:06,671 --> 00:25:10,967 The female knows exactly what the sneaky little faker is up to. 317 00:25:12,844 --> 00:25:15,138 And she likes it. 318 00:25:19,643 --> 00:25:23,980 In fact, sneaky males are more successful at mating 319 00:25:24,105 --> 00:25:25,732 than their larger rivals. 320 00:25:27,484 --> 00:25:32,322 By the time the big guy realizes, it's too late. 321 00:25:34,699 --> 00:25:37,160 The little mimic is long gone. 322 00:25:37,953 --> 00:25:40,163 But his deed is done. 323 00:25:44,042 --> 00:25:45,669 A little role reversal 324 00:25:47,629 --> 00:25:49,339 can be best way to win. 325 00:25:49,548 --> 00:25:51,132 (CALM MUSIC PLAYING) 326 00:25:51,299 --> 00:25:52,717 And it can also help 327 00:25:53,635 --> 00:25:55,512 in the lonely search for love. 328 00:25:57,389 --> 00:25:59,599 -(BIRDS CHIRPING) -(SNIFFING) 329 00:26:01,851 --> 00:26:06,690 BENEDICT: This female brown bear is only receptive for a few weeks every spring. 330 00:26:06,815 --> 00:26:08,775 (SNIFFING CONTINUES) 331 00:26:10,485 --> 00:26:13,655 So far, no male has come to visit, 332 00:26:14,948 --> 00:26:16,575 and if she doesn't mate soon, 333 00:26:17,701 --> 00:26:19,202 it won't happen this year. 334 00:26:19,411 --> 00:26:22,163 (SNIFFING) 335 00:26:26,751 --> 00:26:29,421 In the vast British Columbian wilderness, 336 00:26:31,047 --> 00:26:35,135 chances of just bumping into Mr. Right are slim. 337 00:26:36,469 --> 00:26:38,346 (SLOW RHYTHMIC MUSIC PLAYING) 338 00:26:38,597 --> 00:26:44,060 BENEDICT: But this female knows a place with mysterious powers of attraction. 339 00:26:48,481 --> 00:26:49,649 (SNIFFING) 340 00:26:49,774 --> 00:26:52,444 Hidden deep in this forest, 341 00:26:54,362 --> 00:26:56,239 there's an enchanted tree. 342 00:27:00,243 --> 00:27:01,828 It may look like any other, 343 00:27:03,496 --> 00:27:05,582 but this Pacific silver fir 344 00:27:06,374 --> 00:27:08,835 has such phenomenal properties. 345 00:27:09,628 --> 00:27:12,464 It's a hotspot for male bears. 346 00:27:15,884 --> 00:27:18,470 They've been visiting it for more than 100 years. 347 00:27:20,889 --> 00:27:22,932 Rubbing glands in their back, 348 00:27:24,601 --> 00:27:25,810 their front, 349 00:27:27,020 --> 00:27:28,063 and their feet. 350 00:27:31,650 --> 00:27:34,611 They leave behind secret scent messages 351 00:27:35,195 --> 00:27:39,658 about their age, fitness, and social status. 352 00:27:42,410 --> 00:27:45,413 And because the fragrance gets trapped in sticky sap, 353 00:27:46,498 --> 00:27:50,752 it slowly diffuses into the atmosphere for up to a month. 354 00:27:56,091 --> 00:27:57,592 (SNIFFING) 355 00:27:57,801 --> 00:28:02,847 Male bears regularly use the rubbing tree to establish hierarchy. 356 00:28:05,725 --> 00:28:09,396 But this is something very rare. 357 00:28:13,024 --> 00:28:14,609 The female has figured out 358 00:28:15,568 --> 00:28:19,406 the tree also works as a woodland dating app. 359 00:28:27,080 --> 00:28:30,166 A site to post her "looking-for-love" status 360 00:28:31,793 --> 00:28:33,503 for any perusing male. 361 00:28:45,056 --> 00:28:47,809 Her own Timber profile uploaded, 362 00:28:49,644 --> 00:28:51,980 now all she can do 363 00:28:53,565 --> 00:28:55,817 is wait for the tree to work its magic... 364 00:29:00,321 --> 00:29:05,034 The sap begins to exude her signature perfume on slow release. 365 00:29:08,163 --> 00:29:11,040 Hours turn into days, 366 00:29:12,292 --> 00:29:14,043 and still no one passes. 367 00:29:15,503 --> 00:29:16,588 Then finally, 368 00:29:18,840 --> 00:29:20,008 a male. 369 00:29:21,050 --> 00:29:22,677 (SNIFFING) 370 00:29:24,137 --> 00:29:25,472 (SNIFFS) 371 00:29:25,555 --> 00:29:28,391 BENEDICT: As soon as he gets wind of an available female, 372 00:29:31,811 --> 00:29:33,730 he's determined to track her down. 373 00:29:33,980 --> 00:29:35,440 (SNIFFS) 374 00:29:37,942 --> 00:29:39,319 And with a sense of smell 375 00:29:39,402 --> 00:29:42,071 seven times more sensitive than a bloodhound's, 376 00:29:46,326 --> 00:29:48,244 he follows her alluring scent, 377 00:29:52,123 --> 00:29:54,918 all the way to the beach. 378 00:29:56,169 --> 00:29:57,629 (ROARS GENTLY) 379 00:30:02,091 --> 00:30:03,593 He's only just in time, 380 00:30:06,763 --> 00:30:09,766 but at least they already know they have the right chemistry. 381 00:30:16,064 --> 00:30:21,611 All thanks to the mysterious power of a matchmaking tree. 382 00:30:25,657 --> 00:30:27,116 Beneath the surface, 383 00:30:29,994 --> 00:30:31,371 further south, 384 00:30:32,747 --> 00:30:36,125 another animal also taps into the power of trees 385 00:30:36,626 --> 00:30:38,711 to help win the mating game. 386 00:30:41,881 --> 00:30:44,092 This periodical cicada 387 00:30:44,968 --> 00:30:48,930 has been feeding from tree roots in the North American forests of Virginia 388 00:30:49,848 --> 00:30:52,183 for more than 16 years. 389 00:30:59,190 --> 00:31:01,025 (BIRDS CHEEPING) 390 00:31:07,907 --> 00:31:09,701 (BIRDSONG) 391 00:31:12,412 --> 00:31:14,956 BENEDICT: When he registers the spring sap beginning to flow 392 00:31:15,123 --> 00:31:16,833 for the 17th season, 393 00:31:19,377 --> 00:31:21,963 he knows it's time to surface. 394 00:31:26,676 --> 00:31:31,931 This numerical marvel has calculated his best chances of breeding. 395 00:31:34,726 --> 00:31:37,520 Still, there are no guarantees. 396 00:31:39,606 --> 00:31:40,607 Sluggish, 397 00:31:41,900 --> 00:31:43,026 and juicy, 398 00:31:44,944 --> 00:31:46,821 cicadas are an easy target, 399 00:31:49,115 --> 00:31:50,742 even for the slowest predator. 400 00:31:56,080 --> 00:31:59,125 But once again, they have numbers on their side. 401 00:31:59,959 --> 00:32:01,878 (DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING) 402 00:32:03,296 --> 00:32:07,467 BENEDICT: Incredibly, each cicada population synchronizes their lives 403 00:32:07,717 --> 00:32:10,803 to a precise 17-year schedule, 404 00:32:15,642 --> 00:32:18,311 an unpredictable prime number cycle 405 00:32:18,478 --> 00:32:21,064 that makes it almost impossible for predators 406 00:32:21,230 --> 00:32:23,650 to count on this glut of prey. 407 00:32:27,070 --> 00:32:31,950 Millions of them, all emerging at the same time, 408 00:32:33,952 --> 00:32:37,080 and this is the biggest emergence of all, 409 00:32:37,956 --> 00:32:40,291 known as Brood X. 410 00:32:42,669 --> 00:32:44,295 They must reproduce fast. 411 00:32:44,921 --> 00:32:47,799 In just six weeks, they'll all be dead. 412 00:32:50,802 --> 00:32:53,763 America's biggest speed dating event 413 00:32:54,555 --> 00:32:55,765 is about to begin. 414 00:32:57,392 --> 00:32:58,476 But first, 415 00:32:59,602 --> 00:33:01,479 an amazing transformation. 416 00:33:02,438 --> 00:33:04,232 (ELECTRONIC MUSIC PLAYING) 417 00:33:17,286 --> 00:33:18,955 BENEDICT: By the time day breaks, 418 00:33:20,248 --> 00:33:21,332 (MUSIC ENDS) 419 00:33:21,416 --> 00:33:24,002 nymphs have become adults, 420 00:33:25,920 --> 00:33:27,588 ready to attract a mate. 421 00:33:30,216 --> 00:33:31,634 (BUZZING) 422 00:33:31,718 --> 00:33:33,803 Rubbing special organs on their sides 423 00:33:34,846 --> 00:33:36,889 makes a strange, buzzing sound, 424 00:33:37,098 --> 00:33:38,641 (LOUD BUZZING) 425 00:33:39,434 --> 00:33:41,686 which their hollow bodies amplify. 426 00:33:44,105 --> 00:33:48,860 The call for love rings out as loud as a rock concert. 427 00:33:51,654 --> 00:33:55,324 But not all who respond are quite as welcome. 428 00:33:55,491 --> 00:33:57,452 (TENSE MUSIC PLAYING) 429 00:34:05,084 --> 00:34:06,794 BENEDICT: A zombie cicada, 430 00:34:08,004 --> 00:34:13,342 riddled with the powder-like spores of a fungus called Massospora. 431 00:34:14,761 --> 00:34:20,308 The only enemy to crack the periodical cicada's 17-year code. 432 00:34:21,809 --> 00:34:23,686 (BUZZING) 433 00:34:23,853 --> 00:34:28,649 This fungal body snatcher eats its victims 434 00:34:28,858 --> 00:34:29,901 from the inside... 435 00:34:31,277 --> 00:34:32,528 (BUZZING) 436 00:34:34,280 --> 00:34:38,326 while flooding their brains with mind-controlling chemicals 437 00:34:40,244 --> 00:34:42,789 that compel them to mingle. 438 00:34:47,335 --> 00:34:51,089 Infected males even mimic the seductive flicks of females 439 00:34:52,465 --> 00:34:55,009 to entice others to mate. 440 00:34:56,803 --> 00:34:59,806 And so the contagion spreads. 441 00:35:00,014 --> 00:35:01,349 (BUZZING) 442 00:35:03,601 --> 00:35:05,645 The fungus keeps its victims alive 443 00:35:05,770 --> 00:35:08,940 so they infect as many other cicadas as possible, 444 00:35:14,445 --> 00:35:15,988 and spread its spores 445 00:35:17,115 --> 00:35:19,158 far and wide. 446 00:35:25,123 --> 00:35:28,501 Finally, 14 days later... 447 00:35:32,839 --> 00:35:34,674 the zombie cicadas die. 448 00:35:40,680 --> 00:35:42,140 The spores, however, 449 00:35:43,474 --> 00:35:46,727 will lie in wait for 17 years, 450 00:35:48,396 --> 00:35:52,608 ready to infiltrate the next generation of unlucky cicadas. 451 00:35:55,361 --> 00:35:57,405 (BUZZING CONTINUES) 452 00:36:02,493 --> 00:36:04,078 BENEDICT: But with millions mating, 453 00:36:05,746 --> 00:36:09,667 and with each female laying 400 eggs into the tree's bark, 454 00:36:12,712 --> 00:36:17,466 such mind-boggling strength in numbers ensures periodicals cicadas 455 00:36:17,592 --> 00:36:19,468 are always able to multiply. 456 00:36:23,014 --> 00:36:27,810 For some animals, mating success is about playing the long game. 457 00:36:31,189 --> 00:36:33,065 (CALM MUSIC PLAYING) 458 00:36:33,816 --> 00:36:35,985 On a coral reef in Southeast Asia, 459 00:36:37,445 --> 00:36:40,573 one creature uses mysterious powers of seduction 460 00:36:40,948 --> 00:36:43,367 to keep her partner under her spell. 461 00:36:49,290 --> 00:36:51,250 Female harlequin shrimps 462 00:36:52,043 --> 00:36:53,878 can only mate for a brief time 463 00:36:55,421 --> 00:36:57,298 after they shed their skin. 464 00:36:58,758 --> 00:37:01,510 And that happens only every three weeks. 465 00:37:04,096 --> 00:37:05,806 She needs to prepare. 466 00:37:09,810 --> 00:37:12,897 And her best chance of having healthy offspring 467 00:37:13,105 --> 00:37:16,150 is to eat as much as possible. 468 00:37:18,861 --> 00:37:21,280 Slow-moving and packed with protein, 469 00:37:22,907 --> 00:37:25,368 sea stars are her favorite prey. 470 00:37:32,416 --> 00:37:34,585 But getting to it's soft underside, 471 00:37:35,586 --> 00:37:36,712 that's hard. 472 00:37:39,590 --> 00:37:41,217 Ten times her size, 473 00:37:42,093 --> 00:37:44,553 it's hard to handle on her own. 474 00:37:46,973 --> 00:37:50,184 Thankfully, help is never far away. 475 00:37:53,229 --> 00:37:54,855 Her long term partner. 476 00:37:55,189 --> 00:37:57,316 (SLOW ELECTRONIC MUSIC PLAYING) 477 00:37:58,776 --> 00:38:00,695 BENEDICT: She keeps him under her control 478 00:38:01,612 --> 00:38:04,323 by casting an invisible chemical potion. 479 00:38:10,746 --> 00:38:13,624 The male picks up this pheromone trail 480 00:38:15,668 --> 00:38:18,462 with hypersensitive hairs on his antennae. 481 00:38:22,967 --> 00:38:24,635 Powerless to resist, 482 00:38:27,388 --> 00:38:30,474 he's always around whenever she needs him... 483 00:38:35,354 --> 00:38:37,106 Sea star finally flipped. 484 00:38:39,650 --> 00:38:41,402 There's more than enough to keep her fed 485 00:38:42,320 --> 00:38:43,738 till it's time to mate. 486 00:38:46,532 --> 00:38:48,534 Thanks to her powers of attraction, 487 00:38:48,826 --> 00:38:50,244 her partner stays put. 488 00:38:53,414 --> 00:38:55,833 (SOFT MUSIC PLAYING) 489 00:38:56,709 --> 00:38:59,962 BENEDICT: Patiently waiting 20 days, until finally, 490 00:39:02,590 --> 00:39:04,717 she retires to her secret crevice 491 00:39:05,926 --> 00:39:06,927 to undress. 492 00:39:09,555 --> 00:39:11,432 She emerges from her old shell, 493 00:39:13,976 --> 00:39:15,436 all soft-skinned, 494 00:39:17,063 --> 00:39:19,357 even more beautiful than before. 495 00:39:22,068 --> 00:39:25,780 But now, she only has a few hours to mate 496 00:39:25,863 --> 00:39:27,531 before her shell hardens. 497 00:39:28,824 --> 00:39:31,369 So to get her partner in the mood, 498 00:39:34,497 --> 00:39:36,165 she releases another potion, 499 00:39:39,794 --> 00:39:40,836 this time 500 00:39:41,504 --> 00:39:43,839 with powerful aphrodisiac properties, 501 00:39:44,882 --> 00:39:48,511 turning her submissive shrimp into a lusty male 502 00:39:49,637 --> 00:39:51,555 with only one thing on his mind. 503 00:39:57,353 --> 00:40:00,940 Filmed for the first time, they mate. 504 00:40:01,982 --> 00:40:04,735 (MUSIC CONTINUES) 505 00:40:06,821 --> 00:40:08,322 BENEDICT: It lasts only seconds. 506 00:40:12,576 --> 00:40:15,746 Then she's back to her old tricks for keeping him under her spell. 507 00:40:19,166 --> 00:40:21,961 So, a few weeks later, 508 00:40:24,463 --> 00:40:27,591 when her thousand tiny eggs finally hatch, 509 00:40:29,176 --> 00:40:32,430 he's right there, by her side 510 00:40:34,682 --> 00:40:37,601 as their offspring escape their mother's embrace 511 00:40:38,561 --> 00:40:39,937 to take their chances 512 00:40:40,062 --> 00:40:42,106 in the deep blue sea. 513 00:40:47,778 --> 00:40:51,115 Our world is full of wonderful animals 514 00:40:53,534 --> 00:40:56,287 with weird ways to win the mating game. 515 00:41:01,333 --> 00:41:03,377 But only a few have the power 516 00:41:05,504 --> 00:41:07,673 to make love last. 517 00:41:09,175 --> 00:41:10,926 (AMBIENT MUSIC PLAYING) 518 00:41:15,181 --> 00:41:19,977 BENEDICT: Lar gibbon partnerships can endure for decades. 519 00:41:22,563 --> 00:41:25,441 But when the reality of family life kicks in, 520 00:41:26,859 --> 00:41:30,654 you have to go above and beyond to keep the spark alive. 521 00:41:30,738 --> 00:41:32,323 (DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING) 522 00:41:43,042 --> 00:41:46,253 BENEDICT: The mother's attention is focused on raising their young. 523 00:41:49,381 --> 00:41:50,841 She needs her partner 524 00:41:52,134 --> 00:41:54,428 to own the job of defending their home. 525 00:42:08,067 --> 00:42:13,489 A home that is one hundred acres of pristine Thai rainforest. 526 00:42:16,534 --> 00:42:18,953 It's too large an area to patrol. 527 00:42:22,915 --> 00:42:25,918 So, he uses a more sophisticated deterrent. 528 00:42:29,338 --> 00:42:31,715 (HOOTING MELODIOUSLY) 529 00:42:31,882 --> 00:42:34,385 BENEDICT: Singing is his superpower. 530 00:42:35,928 --> 00:42:40,933 The louder and more melodic the call, the stronger the gibbon. 531 00:42:41,183 --> 00:42:43,269 (HOOTING CONTINUES) 532 00:42:43,352 --> 00:42:45,688 Sound travels best in cool air. 533 00:42:49,024 --> 00:42:50,609 By singing at first light, 534 00:42:50,818 --> 00:42:52,111 (LOUD HOOTING) 535 00:42:52,236 --> 00:42:57,366 he ensures rivals hear him loud and clear right across his territory. 536 00:42:57,449 --> 00:42:59,034 (HOOTING ECHOES) 537 00:43:00,202 --> 00:43:01,370 But soon, 538 00:43:03,831 --> 00:43:07,251 the hot sun causes moisture from the trees 539 00:43:08,752 --> 00:43:10,045 to rise. 540 00:43:12,756 --> 00:43:16,218 Creating air currents that disrupt his calls, 541 00:43:17,553 --> 00:43:19,179 reducing their effectiveness. 542 00:43:20,014 --> 00:43:21,557 (HOOTS) 543 00:43:22,224 --> 00:43:25,603 By then, his work is usually done. 544 00:43:28,272 --> 00:43:30,065 But not today. 545 00:43:30,941 --> 00:43:33,193 (THUNDER CLAPS) 546 00:43:36,655 --> 00:43:37,865 BENEDICT: Fruiting trees 547 00:43:38,991 --> 00:43:40,868 at the heart of the family territory 548 00:43:42,578 --> 00:43:45,623 have attracted the attention of a rival troop. 549 00:43:47,708 --> 00:43:48,876 (TENSE MUSIC PLAYING) 550 00:44:06,935 --> 00:44:10,439 BENEDICT: If Dad can't defend their home, 551 00:44:10,689 --> 00:44:12,691 -(HOOTS) -he'll lose his partner 552 00:44:13,651 --> 00:44:15,110 to a male who can, 553 00:44:15,986 --> 00:44:18,781 and his offspring could even be killed. 554 00:44:19,907 --> 00:44:21,450 (HOOTING CONTINUES) 555 00:44:23,285 --> 00:44:25,579 -Time for the father to step up... -(HOOTING) 556 00:44:26,789 --> 00:44:28,290 and show his full force. 557 00:44:43,847 --> 00:44:47,226 With extended arms, hook-like hands, 558 00:44:48,477 --> 00:44:50,270 and a rotating shoulder joint, 559 00:44:55,067 --> 00:44:58,028 he accelerates to 35 miles per hour. 560 00:45:04,827 --> 00:45:07,705 With his awesome display of speed and strength, 561 00:45:11,667 --> 00:45:13,460 he intimidates his rivals. 562 00:45:16,130 --> 00:45:17,923 It's enough to drive them away 563 00:45:19,299 --> 00:45:20,843 and prove to his partner 564 00:45:22,261 --> 00:45:23,679 he's got what it takes. 565 00:45:28,600 --> 00:45:29,935 (RUSTLING) 566 00:45:34,857 --> 00:45:35,899 BENEDICT: Next morning, 567 00:45:36,608 --> 00:45:39,153 the male is up and singing as usual. 568 00:45:39,361 --> 00:45:40,696 (HOOTING) 569 00:45:41,280 --> 00:45:43,365 (HOOTING CONTINUES) 570 00:45:47,411 --> 00:45:50,289 But this time, she joins him... 571 00:45:50,914 --> 00:45:52,833 (HOOTING) 572 00:45:58,547 --> 00:46:01,884 to let him know he's still her king of swing. 573 00:46:02,134 --> 00:46:05,137 (BOTH HOOTING MELODIOUSLY) 574 00:46:08,182 --> 00:46:10,017 (SHRILL HOOTING) 575 00:46:12,144 --> 00:46:14,938 And let the whole jungle know 576 00:46:15,105 --> 00:46:18,150 that their bond is strong. 577 00:46:21,779 --> 00:46:23,447 (DISTANT HOOTING) 578 00:46:23,697 --> 00:46:24,782 (RATTLING) 579 00:46:24,907 --> 00:46:27,201 BENEDICT: In the quest to pass on their genes, 580 00:46:29,536 --> 00:46:33,457 animals use incredible skills to win a mate. 581 00:46:35,000 --> 00:46:38,337 And spectacular displays to beat their competition. 582 00:46:38,462 --> 00:46:39,797 (BREAKS) 583 00:46:44,301 --> 00:46:45,636 After all... 584 00:46:47,679 --> 00:46:49,890 when it comes to sharing your future... 585 00:46:50,015 --> 00:46:52,226 (BELLOWING) 586 00:46:55,020 --> 00:46:57,856 only the most super-powered partner will do. 587 00:47:02,694 --> 00:47:04,279 You think you know nature? 588 00:47:04,822 --> 00:47:06,114 (HOOTING) 589 00:47:06,657 --> 00:47:07,825 Think again. 590 00:47:08,116 --> 00:47:09,910 (DRAMATIC THEME PLAYING) 591 00:47:33,809 --> 00:47:34,852 (MUSIC ENDS)