05x07 - Spots and Stripes Forever

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Zebras!

[Chris]
on this episode,
we're taking a close look

At zebras, giraffes, and other
masters of camouflage.

[Martin]
and not just seeing them,
but checking out how they see.

Wow! I can see
for miles and miles

In both directions.

[Martin]
looking at camouflaged creatures
is cool.

The trick is finding them.

[Chris]
that's why we're going to
practice the art of camouflage,

Going undercover
into the world of concealment.

[Martin]
we'll blend right
into the scenery

On this episode
of kratts' creatures.

I wonder how they do it.
Makes me dizzy.

Iarriba!
Iandale! Iandale!

Me! Definitely me!

Some of this stuff
must have been lying around

For about 70 years.

It's still got great-grandfather
charley's name on the box.

And this one belonged
to great-uncle luke--

Master adventurers.

[Martin]
hey, al!

Man, this would
look great at school.

Al, over here!

Martin?

Where are you guys?

I can't see you.

[Chris]
right in front of you.

[Martin]
actually, a little
to your left.

Sorry. Our left,
your right.

But where?

I see grass, trees...

Right...

Here!

Whoa! That's weird!

It's not weird.

It's camouflage,

And that's what
we're talking about.

[Martin]
camouflage is a very
popular technique

That creatures use
to conceal themselves.

[Chris]
everywhere you look,

In every country
and on every continent,

There's creatures
sporting stripes, spots,

Splotches, blotches, rings,
and circles.

[Martin]
if so many creatures do it,

Then it must be crucial
to survival...or is it?

[Chris]
that's what we're going
to sort out,

And we're going to start
by checking out

Africa's prince of patterns.

We're here
in eastern africa

Searching for the zebra.

In swahili it's called
punda milia,

Which means striped donkey.

That's what they're
best known for--stripes.

But what is a zebra--

A donkey, a horse, or what?

Donkeys, horses, and zebras
are all in the equidae family,

Which means they all have
the same basic design.

But each of them has evolved

Into its own unique form
of equine.

Zebras!

[Chris]
wow! We found them!

[Martin]
yeah! But that's only
half the challenge.

Somehow we've got
to join the herd,

Get a closer look.

[Allison]
hold it, guys!

That doesn't sound like
such a smart idea.

According to my info,
zebras are pretty vicious.

They'll bite and kick

If they see something
as a thr*at.

In fact, zebras are
amazingly tough equids.

Maybe that's why
they're the only equid

That's never been domesticated.

They have strong teeth

And serious power packed into
their tight, muscular haunches.

When they start kicking
and biting,

You better get out of the way.

You can't just
walk up to them.

[Martin]
don't worry, al.
We've got it covered.

You have another plan?

[Martin]
I mean we're covered...

With patterns
just like the zebra.

We want to be accepted
into the herd,

So we have to be quiet.

Now that's what I call
dressing for the occasion.

And whether
on chris and martin
or on the zebra,

Those stripes are neat.

Neat? Patterns
are more than neat.

They're part
of an animal's
creaturnality.

Sure,
but you got to admit,

They're neat
to look at as well.

You think a leopard
has those spots

So he can look good
for the tourists?

A tiger has stripes
so he can look trendy?

Listen, al, it's
a little more skin deep
than that.

Hey, I know there's
more to it than that.

For one thing,
animals use their patterns

To disguise themselves
from predators.

Or so they can
sneak up on supper.

And the perfect
example of that

Is the old leopard.

She's using her spots
to blend into the grass

As she hunts impala.

Talk about dressing
for dinner.

You can barely spot
the leopard here.

I'd say the impala
are in a spot
of trouble.

Get it?
Spot. Trouble.

Heh heh heh! You're
something else,
ttarkie.

Hey, what's going on?

[Martin]
we're trying to blend in
with the zebras.

Come on.
Keep it moving, chris.

[Chris]
easy for you to say.

You're wearing the front part
of the costume.

My back hurts,
and your rump's in my face.

[Martin]
shh! We're getting close.

[Chris]
what's going on?

[Martin]
we're near the herd.

What are we
going to do?

Just act casual.
Try to fit in.

I got an idea.

Let's move in and try
to communicate.

I'm right behind you.

[Making zebra noises]

Uh-oh.

What's up?

Time to split!

Huh? Where you going?

Whoa!

It's not easy
being a zebra!

Wait up!

Whoo! That was close!

Man! How do zebras deal
with these insects?

Maybe that's why
they're taking
a dust bath.

Let's check it out.

[Chris]
for a zebra,

There's nothing like
a good dust bath.

It scratches those
hard-to-reach places,

And it feels really good.

[Martin]
and it helps clean a zebra's
coat of pesky insects.

The dust gets in there
and makes it harder

For insects to bite.

[Chris]
dust baths do feel great,

But for us, there are
some downsides--

A mouthful of dust
for one thing.

Pfft!

When you
start thinking about

The markings
in the creature world,

You really open
a big can of worms.

There are all sorts
of creatures out there,

And they all have
totally different patterns.

Time for a pop pattern quiz.

See if you can match the pattern
with the creature.

Black spots
on tawny-colored fur.

Who is it?
You got it--the cheetah.

Now, this one's tricky.

Spots with black on the outside
and brown on the inside.

Who is it?
The leopard.

If you got that one,
try this.

Almost identical spots,
bigger cat.

Guess the jaguar?
You're right.

Another tricky one. Red fur
with black paws and belly.

Who is it?
The red panda.

These stripes
you may recognize.

They belong to
the siberian tiger.

And this one
you know for sure--

The zebra.

You know, seeing those
zebras grazing reminds me--

What exactly do these
power-packed ponies eat

That gives them so much energy?

Zebras can eat just about
any type of grass.

Their digestive systems
can handle

Even long, dry grass like this.

These power-packed ponies
are grazers,

Which means they eat grass
and lots of it.

[Chris]
but the thing is, grass isn't
exactly high in nutrients.

So to stay healthy,
they have to eat and eat and eat

Up to 50% of their day.

[Martin]
with those incisors,
they can eat tough grass

That other grazers
can't handle.

O.k. Here's the big question--

What are creature patterns,
and where do they come from?

Not all animals have them,

And they can't
just be for camouflage.

I mean, how can these stripes
work as camouflage?

Black and white
against green grass?

I thought camouflage
was supposed to blend you

Into the scenery.

They're not exactly
inconspicuous

Standing out there
in the open.

[Martin]
I know. It seems
really weird at first.

We always tend to think
of creatures using camouflage

Just to blend into the scenery,

But zebras are
camouflage creatures

Of a different stripe.

[Allison]
what do you mean?

[Martin]
well, they use
disruptive patterning.

One way it works is to blend
their forms together

And make them look all the same.

Pretty confusing.

Wait a second.

Those two zebras have completely
different patterns.

"Zebras. Zebra habitats,
zebra mating, zebra stripes.

No two zebras have
the same set of stripes."

That's incredible.

But why?

Why else? So they can
tell each other apart.

[Martin]
that's one way of looking
at patterns.

They could help
group-living creatures

Tell who's who.

[Chris]
take wild dogs.
Every wild dog in africa

Has a different coat pattern.

It could be their version
of a name or signature.

[Martin]
how about these giant otters
from peru?

They each have
a different throat pattern

That they raise
out of the water

When they greet each other.

[Allison]
how about impala?

[Martin]
I don't think so. Their patterns
are pretty much the same.

Let's check out
spotted dolphins.

[Chris]
they grow spots
as they get older,

And it's possible that
they could i.d. Each other

By their different
spot patterns.

[Allison]
so then it is possible.

A zebra's different pattern

Could be like a name
or signature.

Well, we're not
really sure

If zebras can tell
each other apart

From their stripes,

But we do know
that humans

Can identify
individual zebras
that way.

Hey, let's find out
how a predator sees zebras.

[Martin]
a lion loves catching zebras.

They might even be
his favorite meal.

[Chris]
but the zebra's stripes

Makes it hard for a lion
to get a handle on them.

[Martin]
o.k. Let's look at it
from the lion's point of view--

Literally.

[Chris]
time to bust out
the creature vision goggles.

Set it to lion.

Man, talk about eyestrain!

Disruptive patterning works
in a big way!

[Martin]
you can really see
why it doesn't matter

That zebras
are black and white.

[Chris]
yeah. It's generally believed

That lions are color blind.

[Ttark]
hold it!

I'd say we need a little
color commentary on this point.

That's more like it.

You guys have got to understand.

It's not just patterns
that help the zebra.

It's confusion.

To a lot of animals,

A whole herd of zebras
hanging out together

Just looks like
a mass of stripes.

I mean, you can't tell
where one zebra ends

And another begins.

Before you know it,

That big cat has become
seriously confused.

Guys, did you hear that?

Chris? Martin?
Where you going?

Well, the herd's
on the move,

And it looks like they're
heading for the river.

[Chris]
which makes sense
because zebras are nomadic.

That means they're always
on the go,

Traveling from one food
and water source to another.

[Martin]
a zebra herd
is usually made up

Of two to five females
and their young...

[Chris]
plus one stallion
who protects the herd.

[Martin]
as males grow up,

They start getting rowdy

And practice jostling
with the other males.

These young stallions
are practicing their moves,

Getting ready for the day

When they'll
have to leave the herd.

[Chris]
they'll leave to find a filly--

A young female zebra--

And become the leader
of their own herd.

This is the stallion
of the herd.

He is the only one
who has breeding rights

To the harem.

[Martin]
and for that privilege,

He has to deal
with constant challenges

From other males.

[Chris]
hey, I think they're
about to scrap.

Let's move in for a closer look.

[Martin]
whoa! Look at them go at it!

See how they're circling?

They're trying to bite onto
the other guy's leg joint.

[Chris]
if they catch hold,
they'll grind away

Until the other guy gives up.

[Martin]
now they're trying
a different move--

A mane hold.

If they catch hold
of the other guy's mane,

They can really
push him around.

[Chris]
aww! It looks like
the scrap's over,

But as you can see,
nobody's hurt.

[Martin]
that's right.
The object of a stallion scrap

Is to overpower your competitor,
not eliminate him.

[Chris]
hey, look.
The herd's moving on.

Check it out. They're going
to cross the river.

Well, there's only
one way to get across.

I'm with you, bro.
Let's do it.

Danger alert!
Danger alert!

When you approach
any unknown body of water,

Proceed with caution.

Danger could be anywhere.

[Chris]
and in this body of water,

Danger comes in the form
of the nile crocodile.

Wow!

[Martin]
those zebras made it
to the other side,

But now the trick is getting up
the riverbank.

It's seriously steep!

[Chris]
uh-oh! The zebras
haven't spotted the croc,

But they know
something's wrong,

And they're scared.

[Martin]
look out! The croc's making
an underwater att*ck!

Oh! He nailed the stallion!

[Chris]
they got to get out
of there fast!

What are they going to do?

[Martin]
make a break for it!

[Chris]
they spotted a place downstream

Where the bank isn't so steep.

[Martin]
hey, I think the mom and baby
are going to make it.

Let's hope so.

All right!
They did it!

Yeah!

[Chris]
the herd made it safely,

But that stallion's
in rough shape.

[Martin]
one thing's for sure.

We ain't crossing
this river.

Nope.

Guys, the zebras
may have taken off,

But I think we're forgetting

Another amazing patterned
creature of the savanna,

And he's not far away.

Instead of looking around,
why not look up?

Way up.

[Martin]
wow!

When you want
to find a giraffe,

You should head
for the trees.

That's where giraffes
have found their place

In the resource
partitioning
of the savanna.

In other words,
giraffes are the grazers

That eat what's
way up here.

Their long legs
and long necks

Enable them to reach
the high leaves.

They are the savanna's
tower of power--

The tallest living
creature on earth--

The giraffe!

[Chris]
standing up to 18 feet tall,

Giraffes have a bit
of a height advantage

When it comes
to getting at food.

[Martin]
definitely.
They can reach leaves

That most other animals can't.

With their tremendous size,

Giraffes have
an uncontested place

At the savanna dining table.

Hey, chris, I can see
a little more from up here.

The taller you are,
the farther you can see,

But I'm still a lot shorter
than a giraffe.

We could see even farther

If we had eyes
on the side of our head

And a periscope-like neck.

With those two features,

A giraffe can see
nearly 360 degrees.

I wonder what that
would be like.

It's creature vision
goggles time.

Just set it
to giraffe and...

Wow! I can see
for miles and miles

In both directions,

Which is just
how the giraffe sees.

Whoa! Whoa!

[Crash]

Whew! Seeing in both
directions is cool,

But it's a tough
balancing act.

You're telling me.

[Martin]
the giraffe's height

Offers more
than easy pickings at food.

It's also an amazing defense.

The best way to avoid trouble
is to spot it way ahead of time.

[Chris]
and standing taller
than the trees

Is a great way of seeing
what's coming on the other side.

[Martin]
a perfect moment
for a predator to att*ck

Is while the prey
is distracted.

[Chris]
you have to be careful
when you're at the water hole.

[Martin]
if a giraffe's there, you can
have a more relaxed drink.

[Chris]
you know the giraffe will spot
danger before you will.

[Martin]
a giraffe is most vulnerable
when he's young and small,

So a newborn
really needs protection.

[Chris]
a newborn's mom has to
keep a sharp eye out

For predators like hyenas.

[Martin]
but they better
watch out for mom.

Her hooves are the size
of dinner plates

And can easily crush
hyena skulls.

[Allison]
wow! Talk about defense!

What about their patterns?
They're amazing.

If zebras have patterns
for a reason,

Giraffes must have them
for a reason, too, right?

Maybe you should look at some
of the long neck's relatives

Like the camel and the leopard.

What? You're
trying to tell me

That camels and leopards
are related to giraffes?

Sure. Giraffa
camelopardalis.

That's
its family name,

Last time I checked.

[Allison]
well, I can sort of
see the resemblance.

Check out the spots
on the leopard.

The pattern does sort of
resemble the giraffe's pattern.

As for the camel, his face does
resemble the giraffe's face.

I know the ancient
romans believed

That giraffes were a combination
of the camel and the leopard.

Of course it's all baloney.

The giraffe's related
to antelopes and deer.

Take a look. It's as plain
as the horns on their head.

Now, I know this seems
far-fetched, too,

But I definitely checked
my sources on this one.

Scientists think
horns and antlers

Originally began
as bony projections,

Sort of like
what the giraffe has today.

And antelope use their horns
to compete

Almost in the same way
the giraffe uses his.

A giraffe uses those bony knobs
for fighting,

And I'd hate to get hit
by one of them.

[Chris]
unlike zebras, giraffes live
in fairly loose herds.

Fighting is used by the males
to establish a hierarchy

Or order in the herd.

[Martin]
a giraffe scrap goes like this--

They stand next to each other,
sizing each other up.

Then they start swinging their
long necks around like clubs.

[Chris]
man, they don't seem
to connect too often,

But when they do,
it must really hurt.

[Martin]
no kidding. In one case,

A bull was knocked out
and lay on the ground

For 20 minutes.

[Chris]
normally though,
giraffes don't get hurt

During these neck-knocking
tournaments,

And they are essential
to the order of the herd,

Especially when it comes
to breeding rights.

[Allison]
so when it comes
to breeding rights,

Male giraffes neck-knock.

Their patterns might be
bright and beautiful,

But they have nothing to do
with attracting a mate.

Different story for lots
of other patterned creatures.

In fact, there's loads
of animals who use spots,

Stripes, splotches, and blotches
to attract a mate.

[Martin]
yeah! Just ask a male peacock.

He fans out
his huge, patterned tail

To attract females.

[Chris]
and take the toucan!

Some people think
that the color pattern

On the toucan's bill
is a great mate attracter.

How about ducks?

Ducks use color patterns

As a way of saying
to a potential mate...

[Martin]
hey, I'm strong, I'm colorful,
I'm healthy,

And you won't find a better
specimen than me.

[Chris]
how about hummingbirds
and lorikeets?

[Martin]
well, in their case,

Both males and females
are colorful.

Maybe they use color
to attract each other,

Or maybe they use it to warn
rivals off their territory.

[Chris]
for the flamingo, though,

Their pink color
is key to breeding.

[Martin]
flamingos get this pink color

From the carotene in the shrimp
and algae they eat.

Thing is, if they don't
get enough carotene,

They turn white.

[Chris]
and if flamingos
lose their color,

They also lose interest
in mating.

[Martin]
so color can be
crucial to mating.

But then there's plenty
of creatures like the giraffe

Whose patterns have nothing
to do with mating,

But that doesn't make
their patterns any less amazing.

Another amazing thing
about giraffes

Is the incredible
control they have

Over their 18-inch-long tongues.

[Chris]
their tongue
is actually prehensile,

Which means they can
grab stuff with it like a hand,

But that's not all.

What amazes me is
how they can eat
this stuff

With all
these huge thorns
and not get hurt.

I heard their tongues
are virtually
puncture-proof.

[Martin]
they'd have to be.

If you've ever touched
a thorn bush,

Then you know how
incredibly sharp thorns are.

Now imagine touching
a thorn bush with your tongue.

Believe me,
you don't want to do that.

[Chris]
well, this giraffe
is chowing down

On the leaves
of an acacia tree,

Which have sharp and prickly


So how does he get at leaves
without hurting his tongue?

[Martin]
easy--tongue protection

In the form of tiny knobs
called horny papillae.

Those knobs let him
wrap his tongue around

As much acacia leaf
as he wants.

After eating
all these leaves,

They get
incredibly thirsty,

And then it's time to head
down to the water hole.

[Chris]
actually, giraffes
get a lot of moisture

From green leaves,

Which means they only need
to drink every few days.

[Martin]
good thing, because
how do you drink

When you're 18 feet tall?

[Chris]
a 20-foot straw?

[Martin]
o.k., That's how you'd do it,
but for the giraffe...

It's
an awkward process

Because as long as
a giraffe's neck is,

It's still not
long enough to reach
the water.

So they have to spread
their front legs

In order to
get down far enough.

That's hard enough,

But imagine if you had to drink
from way up here.

That could be tough.

It goes to show
that being 18 feet tall

Does have its downside.

No kidding! And remember,

The giraffe's heart
is 2 feet long

And weighs about 25 pounds.

It can pump 20 gallons of blood
a minute.

Imagine if you always
had to drink like that.

You'd spend half your life
upside down.

I wonder how they do it.
Makes me dizzy.

It's all
in the giraffe's neck.

They got this little neck valve

That keeps the old blood
flowing just fine,

So when he bends down,
he doesn't get dizzy and...

It's a dangerous pose
for a giraffe

Because if a lion att*cks,

The giraffe can't
get away fast enough.

Watch this.

Gotcha!

But I got one question, guys.

Zebras each wear different,
unique patterns.

What about giraffes?

[Chris]
oh, yeah. Their patterns vary
by region and individual.

Check it out. This one has
large, straight-edged spots.

[Martin]
this one has a blotchy pattern

With larger bands of lighter
background color.

[Chris]
some giraffes have
leaf-shaped spots,

Others jagged, and still others,
smooth-edged spots.

[Allison]
wait a minute, guys.

I'm getting confused.

In fact, I'm starting
to see spots.

What's so confusing?

It's no different than you
humans and your fingerprints.

Exactly! That's how humans
tell each other apart.

Those are our spots.

[Chris]
here's a great pattern question.

How do patterns help
when creatures are in a spot?

[Martin]
defense! And countless creatures
use patterns

To defend themselves
in countless ways.

Let's take a look.

[Chris]
what's that big,
scary creature

Staring out
from behind that tree?

[Martin]
it's just the fake eyespots
on two butterfly wings.

[Chris]
butterfly fish use
fake eyespots, too,

To make predators think
his tail's his head.

[Martin]
so when they att*ck,
they'll misjudge, miss the mark,

And wind up biting water.

[Chris]
hey, check out
this creature pattern.

[Martin]
where?

[Chris]
he's sitting on the tree.

[Martin]
oh, I see him!
It's a lizard using

The old bark-pattern-
as-camouflage trick.

[Chris]
and believe it or not,

Deer use markings on their rump
for defense.

[Martin]
when they're calm and relaxed,
they hold their tails down.

But once they sense danger,
those tails sh**t straight up.

[Chris]
that reveals bright
white coloring on their rump,

Which tells other deer,
"it's time to get out of here!

Follow me!"

[Martin]
some creatures use patterns
as negative advertising.

[Chris]
if you have a defense,
like a skunk's stink power,

You want predators
to know who you are.

[Martin]
that accounts for the skunk's
striking black-and-white coat.

[Chris]
the same goes
for the monarch butterflies

Who advertise their poison
with brilliant color patterns.

Poison arrow frogs
and poisonous caterpillars

Take advertising to bright,
colorful, and furry extremes.

[Chris]
and markings can do
more than offer defense.

They can help hunters
like the meerkats do their jobs.

[Martin]
hey, that's right.

Some people think
the dark patches around his eyes

Cut down on the sun's glare,

Helping him see
his prey better.

[Chris]
that's how it works
for the peregrine falcon.

The dark patterns
around his eyes

Are called a malor stripe,

And that stripe really helps
cut down on glare.

[Martin]
we know that camouflage
works for the prey,

But it's also used
by the creatures who hunt them.

[Chris]
the cheetah's spots act
to break up his outline

And obscure his presence
from prey.

[Martin]
it's the same technique
the zebras use--

Disruptive patterning.

A cheetah uses his camouflage

To get as close as possible
to his prey.

[Chris]
then he kicks it into high gear
and runs them down.

[Martin]
the jaguar likes to get
even closer to his prey

Before he strikes.

[Chris]
this rain forest stalker

Has much deeper,
darker spot patterns,

But they work as
disruptive patterning, too.

[Martin]
completely different story
for the lion.

[Chris]
this master hunter
of the savanna

Has a different approach
to patterns--

He doesn't have any!

[Martin]
he uses a simpler form
of camouflage--

He wears a coat that matches
the colors of his surroundings.

[Chris]
that lets him blend
right into the scenery.

[Martin]
but for a lot of other cats like
the leopard and the ocelot,

Disruptive patterning
is the name of the game.

[Allison]
hey, wait a minute.

I'm starting to see
a pattern here.

[Martin]
very funny, al.

[Allison]
no. What I mean is that
patterning works great

For these predators and zebras,

So is that what the giraffe's
pattern is all about--defense?

[Martin]
you hit the nail on the head.

Giraffes practically disappear
when they're amongst the trees.

That's because
their blotchy pattern

Blends in perfectly
with the mottled light.

[Chris]
a giraffe standing
on the open savanna

Does look pretty noticeable.

But standing in a clump
of trees,

It's a totally different story.

[Martin]
can you spot the giraffes?

It might not be too hard
for humans to spot them,

But chances are a lion wouldn't.

O.k., Let me get this straight.

For some creatures, patterns are
a form of camouflage,

But for others, it's a way
to tell them apart.

So creatures
have patterns

Of different designs
and colors

For different reasons.

They use patterns
for camouflage...

[Chris]
to attract mates...

[Martin]
to identify each other
as the same species...

[Chris]
to confuse predators...

[Martin]
to mimic, communicate...

And probably lots
of other reasons

That we don't
even know about.

But one thing's
for sure--

Creature patterns
look cool.

[Martin]
checking out the spots,
stripes,

Blotches, and splotches
creatures wear

Has been amazing
and a real learning experience.

[Chris]
we've just painted a rough
outline of the pattern picture,

But one thing we can say--

[Martin]
spots and stripes are
not only functional,

They'll be forever adding
bold and brilliant colors

To the creature world.

We've changed course

And are now looking
for aardwolves.

The best place
to find aardwolves

Is around
some termites.

Except we're not
having much luck
finding termites.

You have any ideas, al?

You there, al?

I don't see her
anywhere.

Where'd she go?

I got them!

Hey, all you need is
a little understanding

Of patterns, right?