01x05 - The Mating Game

[bunniefuu]

Enter a world

just beyond your perception.

A world of extraordinary animals

with hidden powers and super senses.

If you think you know nature

think again.

In the Costa Rican rainforest,

sometimes the only way to get noticed

is to move fast

and move

with style.

Of all the amazing animals here,

of all their unexpected ways

of attracting attention,

this white-collared manakin

may just be the greatest showman of all.

His mating display

has to be seen to be believed.

He spent months preparing his stage.

A star performer demands perfection.

Not a single leaf out of place.

Which can be a problem in a rainforest.

Ah, that's better.

Finally, it's showtime.

A confusing routine of hopping about

strange snaps

and bizarre honking sounds.

If this appears a bit odd to you

that's because it's for her eyes only.

Female manakins

can process visual information

four times faster than a human.

And now, ultra high-speed cameras

replay the action

from her point of view.

Leaping across his stage..

the manakin snaps his wings together,

creating an awesome crack

A crack that can be heard 300 yards away.

As he repeats this display,

the female's

ultraviolet-intensifying vision

picks out his plumage,

and the male's

carefully curated neutral background

heightens her viewing pleasure.

Then to finish with a flourish

the incredible, inverted

crack and flip.

He bows out by spreading his wing tips

and flapping as fast as possible,

which, to her,

sounds like an irresistible purr.

Totally seduced.

She joins him on stage

for one last dance.

When it comes to competing for a mate,

each animal has it's own

rules of engagement.

But only those with

the most enchanting super powers,

will win the ultimate prize.

The perfect partner rarely

appears out of the blue.

In fact, finding a mate

is one of the biggest challenges

animals face.

So, devil rays in Mexico's Sea of Cortez

increase their chances

with an extraordinary power.

The power of sound.

Leaping more than six feet,

they create sonic waves

And at twice the speed of a b*llet

the sound radiates across the ocean.

More than two and a half miles away

other devil rays,

using specialized hearing organs

with hyper sensory hairs, lock on.

Numbers grow

until they're gathered in the thousands.

These spectacular aggregations

give each ray the best chance

to pair up,

but now the battle

to breed really begins.

Male rays chase females

and compete with each other

to be the first in line.

All this activity

also attracts trouble.

This is the first time orcas

have been filmed catching devil rays.

Gathering together

makes the rays easy targets.

The opportunity to pass on their genes,

is worth dying for.

When the fight for mates

gets fierce

it could take super strength

and secret powers

just to keep rivals at bay.

Two tons of blubber

send a shockwave

a hundred miles per hour

across the sand.

With amazing seismic sensitivity,

the dominant male elephant seal

detects a rival making his move.

One of the loudest calls

of any animal

a signature bellow

roars across the beach

reminding the competition

who's in control.

On the California coast,

the colony's undisputed heavyweight

is known as the beachmaster.

He's battled for the breeding rights

to over 100 females,

but keeping guard of his harem

in one of the noisiest places

on Earth

is a real headache.

It's almost impossible

to hear his rivals coming.

Up to 60 challengers every day

from every angle.

But thanks to his amazing ability

to detect vibrations,

like a spider in a web,

he can monitor an area

of six tennis courts

from his central position,

His warning is usually enough

to scare rivals into submission.

But every now and then,

a real contender emerges.

He's just as big

just as powerful,

and just as determined to breed.

The beachmaster has no choice

but to stand

and fight.

Two-inch scar tissue shields the blows.

Still, these bloody clashes take a toll.

After two years

and more than 300 fights

the beachmaster is finished.

Time for a new heavyweight

to take his title.

Defeated, exhausted,

the old beachmaster

is unlikely to see

another mating season.

But he can rest in peace.

During his reign, it's likely

he fathered over 100 pups,

securing his place among the elite

one percent of males

who ever get to breed.

Sometimes, the odds of finding

a mate seem even more improbable.

Rooted to the spot,

plants are unable to partner up.

Instead, they use their powers

of attraction in more cunning ways.

Mucuna is a vine on a mission.

It needs to maximize its chances

of reproducing by attracting a pollinator

Most plants do this with bright

and beautiful flowers

But Mucuna does things

a little differently.

With so many kinds of flower on display

in the Costa Rican rainforest,

Mucuna beats the competition

by blooming at night

and recruiting the services

of a very special courier.

Some animals can navigate

in the darkest jungle.

A long-tongued bat emits

a string of ultrasonic clicks

that ricochet back

to its hypersensitive ears.

To build a detailed mental map

of the forest.

And amazingly,

Mucuna's mirror-smooth petals

reflect the bat's clicks so effectively

they're unmistakable.

And irresistible.

The bat can detect Mucuna more easily

than almost any other plant here,

it also scores ten times more nectar,

lapped up with a super absorbent tongue

that's longer than it's match-sized body.

When it leaves

a unique exploding mechanism

splits the flower's petals

and fires out tiny pollen grains

that cling to the bat's fur

as he flies off to the next sweet shop.

And because the bat can distinguish

between old and new flowers

it ensures he gets nectar every time

and that he only delivers

Mucuna's previous pollen

to fresh, fertile flowers.

Sometimes, it pays to enlist

a little help

to find success in the mating game.

And on Kenya's Lake Victoria,

even humans have become

an essential ingredient

in one little critter's

gruesome romantic plans.

Only the size of a grain of rice,

a male vampire spider

is desperate to win attention

with his courtship ritual.

But the female of the species

is into some pretty freaky stuff.

And right now,

he's just not doing it for her.

He only gets to mate

if he's wearing a sweet perfume

of human blood.

But his fangs aren't made

for human flesh.

So he needs some other sucker

to do his dirty work.

A mosquito is far better equipped

for the job.

With supersensitive antennae,

it hones in

on carbon dioxide in our breath

and heat from our bodies.

Then the mosquito deploys

a highly sophisticated

blood extraction tool.

Six specialized mouthparts

combined to drill down

and tap the human pipeline.

Once a mosquito has drunk four times

its body weight in blood,

it's the spider's turn to strike.

Large, forward-facing eyes

with movable lenses

enable the spider to lock onto the color

and shape of a blood-laden mosquito.

Then, on spring-loaded legs,

he closes in.

The only thing worse

than a vampire spider

is a vampire jumping spider.

Okay, make that a venomous

vampire jumping spider.

Fast-acting neurotoxin

disables his victim instantly.

Then he sucks it dry.

And this is just the beginning

of his bloodthirsty k*lling spree.

Because the more he drinks

the sexier he smells.

Now,

he's ready for romance.

And with the sweet scent

of blood oozing from every pore

who could possibly resist?

Few animals do stranger things for love,

but some get a whole lot sneakier.

And one of the sneakiest of all

is found in the rocky shallows

of South Australia.

A giant cuttlefish

may be king of camouflage,

but he can't hide forever.

The males only live for two years,

only have one season to breed,

and face a lot of competition.

Eleven males fighting over each female.

Many of them are twice his size

and displaying w*r paint.

Broadcast at higher resolution

than a 4K TV,

hundreds of thousands

of color-changing cells flash.

It's a warning

that a ten-inch little guy

knows to heed

because the alternative is to fight.

When large males clash,

they risk serious injury.

Battles can last up to 20 minutes

and usually end when one escapes

in a cloud of ink

leaving the winner to guard his prize,

a smaller, paler female.

Uniquely shaped pupils

that boost color detection

and see 360 degrees

enable him to keep a lookout

for any other males who dare to muscle in.

But this little guy knows how to operate

under the radar.

Time to assume

a more unexpected identity.

Turn pale brown,

retract tentacles,

and appear more like a female.

He needs to be careful,

or he'll get a beating from the big guy

for moving in on his mate.

But the cross-dressing disguise

is so convincing,

he gets away with it.

The female knows exactly what

the sneaky little faker is up to.

And she likes it.

In fact, sneaky males

are more successful at mating

than their larger rivals.

By the time the big guy realizes,

it's too late.

The little mimic is long gone.

But his deed is done.

A little role reversal

can be best way to win.

And it can also help

in the lonely search for love.

This female brown bear is only

receptive for a few weeks every spring.

So far, no male has come to visit,

and if she doesn't mate soon,

it won't happen this year.

In the vast British Columbian wilderness,

chances of just bumping into

Mr. Right are slim.

But this female knows a place

with mysterious powers of attraction.

Hidden deep in this forest,

there's an enchanted tree.

It may look like any other,

but this Pacific silver fir

has such phenomenal properties.

It's a hotspot for male bears.

They've been visiting it

for more than 100 years.

Rubbing glands in their back,

their front,

and their feet.

They leave behind

secret scent messages

about their age, fitness,

and social status.

And because the fragrance

gets trapped in sticky sap,

it slowly diffuses into the atmosphere

for up to a month.

Male bears regularly use the rubbing tree

to establish hierarchy.

But this is something very rare.

The female has figured out

the tree also works

as a woodland dating app.

A site to post her

"looking-for-love" status

for any perusing male.

Her own Timber profile uploaded,

now all she can do

is wait for the tree to work its magic

The sap begins to exude

her signature perfume on slow release.

Hours turn into days,

and still no one passes.

Then finally,

a male.

As soon as he gets wind

of an available female,

he's determined to track her down.

And with a sense of smell

seven times more sensitive

than a bloodhound's,

he follows her alluring scent,

all the way to the beach.

He's only just in time,

but at least they already know

they have the right chemistry.

All thanks to the mysterious power

of a matchmaking tree.

Beneath the surface,

further south,

another animal also taps into

the power of trees

to help win the mating game.

This periodical cicada

has been feeding from tree roots

in the North American forests of Virginia

for more than 16 years.

When he registers

the spring sap beginning to flow

for the 17th season,

he knows it's time to surface.

This numerical marvel has calculated

his best chances of breeding.

Still, there are no guarantees.

Sluggish,

and juicy,

cicadas are an easy target,

even for the slowest predator.

But once again,

they have numbers on their side.

Incredibly, each cicada

population synchronizes their lives

to a precise 17-year schedule,

an unpredictable prime number cycle

that makes it almost impossible

for predators

to count on this glut of prey.

Millions of them, all emerging

at the same time,

and this is the biggest emergence of all,

known as Brood X.

They must reproduce fast.

In just six weeks, they'll all be dead.

America's biggest speed dating event

is about to begin.

But first,

an amazing transformation.

By the time day breaks,

nymphs have become adults,

ready to attract a mate.

Rubbing special organs on their sides

makes a strange, buzzing sound,

which their hollow bodies amplify.

The call for love rings out

as loud as a rock concert.

But not all who respond

are quite as welcome.

A zombie cicada,

riddled with the powder-like spores

of a fungus called Massospora.

The only enemy to crack

the periodical cicada's 17-year code.

This fungal body snatcher eats its victims

from the inside

while flooding their brains

with mind-controlling chemicals

that compel them to mingle.

Infected males even mimic

the seductive flicks of females

to entice others to mate.

And so the contagion spreads.

The fungus keeps its victims alive

so they infect as many other cicadas

as possible,

and spread its spores

far and wide.

Finally, 14 days later

the zombie cicadas die.

The spores, however,

will lie in wait for 17 years,

ready to infiltrate the next generation

of unlucky cicadas.

But with millions mating,

and with each female laying 400 eggs

into the tree's bark,

such mind-boggling strength in numbers

ensures periodicals cicadas

are always able to multiply.

For some animals, mating success

is about playing the long game.

On a coral reef in Southeast Asia,

one creature uses

mysterious powers of seduction

to keep her partner under her spell.

Female harlequin shrimps

can only mate for a brief time

after they shed their skin.

And that happens only every three weeks.

She needs to prepare.

And her best chance of having

healthy offspring

is to eat as much as possible.

Slow-moving and packed with protein,

sea stars are her favorite prey.

But getting to it's soft underside,

that's hard.

Ten times her size,

it's hard to handle on her own.

Thankfully, help is never far away.

Her long term partner.

She keeps him under her control

by casting an invisible chemical potion.

The male picks up this pheromone trail

with hypersensitive hairs on his antennae.

Powerless to resist,

he's always around

whenever she needs him

Sea star finally flipped.

There's more than enough

to keep her fed

till it's time to mate.

Thanks to her powers of attraction,

her partner stays put.

Patiently waiting 20 days, until finally,

she retires to her secret crevice

to undress.

She emerges from her old shell,

all soft-skinned,

even more beautiful than before.

But now, she only has

a few hours to mate

before her shell hardens.

So to get her partner in the mood,

she releases another potion,

this time

with powerful aphrodisiac properties,

turning her submissive shrimp

into a lusty male

with only one thing on his mind.

Filmed for the first time, they mate.

It lasts only seconds.

Then she's back to her old tricks

for keeping him under her spell.

So, a few weeks later,

when her thousand tiny eggs finally hatch,

he's right there, by her side

as their offspring escape

their mother's embrace

to take their chances

in the deep blue sea.

Our world is full of wonderful animals

with weird ways to win the mating game.

But only a few have the power

to make love last.

Lar gibbon partnerships

can endure for decades.

But when the reality

of family life kicks in,

you have to go above and beyond

to keep the spark alive.

The mother's attention

is focused on raising their young.

She needs her partner

to own the job of defending their home.

A home that is one hundred acres

of pristine Thai rainforest.

It's too large an area to patrol.

So, he uses

a more sophisticated deterrent.

Singing is his superpower.

The louder and more melodic the call,

the stronger the gibbon.

Sound travels best in cool air.

By singing at first light,

he ensures rivals hear him loud and clear

right across his territory.

But soon,

the hot sun causes moisture

from the trees

to rise.

Creating air currents

that disrupt his calls,

reducing their effectiveness.

By then, his work is usually done.

But not today.

Fruiting trees

at the heart of the family territory

have attracted the attention

of a rival troop.

If Dad can't defend their home,

he'll lose his partner

to a male who can,

and his offspring could even be k*lled.

Time for the father to step up

and show his full force.

With extended arms, hook-like hands,

and a rotating shoulder joint,

he accelerates to 35 miles per hour.

With his awesome display of

speed and strength,

he intimidates his rivals.

It's enough to drive them away

and prove to his partner

he's got what it takes.

Next morning,

the male is up and singing as usual.

But this time, she joins him

to let him know he's still

her king of swing.

And let the whole jungle know

that their bond is strong.

In the quest to pass on their genes,

animals use incredible skills

to win a mate.

And spectacular displays

to beat their competition.

After all

when it comes to sharing your future

only the most super-powered partner

will do.

You think you know nature?

Think again.