04x01 - Stars of the Tides

[bunniefuu]

CHRIS:
We're here on
the North Atlantic Coast

of North America,
in the intertidal zone.

Hey, it's us,
the Kratt Brothers. I'm Chris.

I'm Martin.

And this rocky intertidal
habitat around us

is one of the harshest
wildlife habitats on Earth,

with the crashing waves
one minute.

CHRIS:
And scorching sun the next.

MARTIN:
Underwater sometimes.

CHRIS:
Dry at others.
That's because tides change.

It's high tide now.

And water covers most
of the rock and sand.

But, six hours later,

the same exact habitat
looks like this.

Now it's low tide.

And the intertidal zone
is dry and exposed.

Low tide is the best time

to meet those amazing creatures
that live in this zone

between the high
and the low tide marks.

These are mussels,
an animal with two shells

that fastens onto rocks
and filter feeds microalgae.

This rock is covered
with barnacles,

little animals hiding under
a protective shell

that catch zooplankton
out of the water.

A little young lobster:

Lobster will sometimes
take refuge

in tide pools like this one.

Tide pools are
little pockets of water

that hold water throughout
the entire low tide cycle.

Periwinkles: a type of snail
that grazes on algae!

Ah, dog whelks:
another type of snail.

But this one is a predator snail
that eats other shellfish.

All these animals
have amazing ways

to survive in
this harsh environment.

Imagine if we had
the creature powers

of the animals
of the intertidal.

What if?
What if?

♪ On adventure with
the coolest creatures ♪

♪ From the oceans
to the trees ♪

♪ The Brothers Kratt are going
places you never get to see ♪

♪ Hanging with
their creature friends ♪

♪ Get ready, it's the hour ♪

♪ We're gonna save
some animals today with ♪

♪ Creature Power ♪

♪ Gonna go wild, Wild Kratts ♪

♪ Gonna go wild, wild,
Wild Kratts ♪

♪ Gonna go wild, Wild Kratts ♪

♪ Gonna go wild, wild, wild ♪

♪ Cheetah speed
and lizard glide ♪

♪ Falcon flight
and lion pride ♪

♪ Gonna go wild, Wild Kratts ♪

♪ Gonna go wild, wild,
Wild Kratts ♪

♪ Gonna go wild, Wild Kratts ♪

♪ Gonna go wild, wild,
Wild Kratts ♪

♪ Go wild, wild, Wild Kratts ♪

CHRIS:
Keep your eyes peeled
for creature souvenirs.

That's why I love
checking out the coastline.

There are always cool things
washing in with the waves.

I found another one
of these shells.

Awesome, Sani:
Add that to your collection.

What else is out here?

We got to find
something really special.

There!
There!

It's mine!

I got it!

I had it first!

No way, I did!

I did!

Not yours, it's mine.

Let go of my shell, Bro.

Easy, easy! Zip it, guys.

They both really want
that shell.

I think I know how
to settle this one.

Okay, listen up.

That shell is the perfect prize
for a new creature challenge

I've been working on
for you guys.

Whoever lasts at least hours

in one of the harshest
creature habitats on Earth wins.

Wait. What do you mean
by "Lasts"?

What do you mean by
"Harshest creature habitats"?

You've got to make it
as one of the creatures

in the intertidal zone.

The place has crashing waves.

It's underwater
part of the time,

exposed to dry
land other times.

The intertidal is the habitat
between high tide,

when the water is up,
and low tide, when it's down.

I love the ocean.

But if I were a creature,
I would not want to live there.

Okay, guys, I gave you a couple
brand new Creature Power Discs

that might come in handy.

Cool!

And, if you need it,

I'll even make each of you
one more during the game.

Two more?

Don't push it.

It's high tide now.

Your challenge is to survive
both high tide and low tide

as you make your way
to that finish line

on the other side
of the intertidal zone.

Are you ready to see who's
the superstar of the intertidal?

Let's do it!

(Chuckling)

I'm the swimming brother.
I've got this!

Hold it!

It's only fair to start the size
of the animals that live there.

Miniaturize!

Happy?
Good luck!

On your marks, get set! Go!

You'll have to help us
keep an eye on them.

We will.

Whoa!

Ooh, that's got to hurt.

Hmm. I think I'll go with
a little more protection.

Activate Hermit Crab Power!

♪

Charge!

(Grunting)

(Panting)

Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!

Oof!

Are you kidding me?

A creature surviving in this?

It's like living in a hurricane!

KOKI:
Martin, are you okay?

I can't hold on. I'm doomed!

What are you holding onto?

A barnacle.
I'm touching a creature!

Aviva made a barnacle disc!

(Gasping)

What? Aww. Hey, no fair.

I have to start
as a barnacle larva?

Whoa.

Oh, hey. How do I hang on?

Oh, barnacle head glue,
of course.

Glue that oozes from your head.

Woo-hoo!

Now, that is a solid hold
on these rocks.

That is cool.

You barnacles
don't get enough credit.

Now: activate plate-making
gland.

Oh, yeah,
with these hard calcium plates,

I'll be protected
from waves and predators.

Martin, you good?

Oh, yeah!
Now, this is intertidal living!

Okay, so, Martin's latched on
over there.

But I can't locate Chris yet.
Wait. I'm getting a signal.

He's over there, farther out.

Come on, Nolan, let's go check.

Creatures, here we come!

I just wanted to say that.

(Groaning)

Those waves were rough.

I think I'm a little seasick!

Ah! I lost my shell,
my protection!

I can't last out here
without a shell:

the fish, the seagulls!

Ah, seagull!

I'm not a seagull. I'm Nolan.

(Sighing)

But I got to make a change.

Shell, shell, shell, there!

Oh, wait. You're limpets!

"Limpets"?

Check your discs.

CHRIS:
Yes, you made one!

Well, that's a relief.

Activate Limpet Power!

That's more like it,

definitely a
more stable upgrade.

But what are you?
What's a limpet?

Snail family, right, bud?
We eat algae off the rocks.

See him scrape it up with
that rough, tongue-like thing.

Plenty of algae here
in the intertidal

'cause there's plenty of sun
for it to grow.

So, limpets and other creatures
are the grazers down here.

And check out this foot.

It's one giant muscle

that suctions onto the rock,
super strongly.

So, waves are not a problem.

I can hang on tight
and be mobile when I want to.

And the shell protects you

from the waves and predators,
right?

You got it.

And, by my calculations, if I
keep moving at limpet speed,

I'll arrive at the finish line
in perfect timing.

Oh, yeah, limpets are going to
power me to a win...

eventually.

Hey, barnies,
here come some more.

Catch the plankton if you can!

Hey, got you!

A little zooplankton!

Wow, these feathery legs are
great for snagging the plankton

that gets washed in
by the tides.

Hey, what'd you get?

Ooh, an amphipod! Nice catch.

Now, this is what I call free,
at-home delivery,

another great reason
to live in the intertidal,

that is if you can handle
the waves and--

Hey, where's everybody going?

Ah! The tide, it's going out.

And the Sun, it's hot!
And I'm a water animal!

Oh, it'll dry me up and--

Water, water,
don't leave me now!

So, this morning the water was
way up here, at high tide.

Yeah, and now the tide
is going out.

It'll keep lowering
until it's down

pretty close to
the finish line mark.

So, the intertidal creatures
are underwater part of the time,

and out of the water
other parts of the time.

Yep.
I don't know how they do it.

How's Martin holding up?

Not good!

MARTIN:
I'm drying up out here,

got to conserve moisture!

Wow, barnacles even have
a trap door that they can close

to keep the water in!

Yep, see you when
the tide comes back up!

CHRIS:
I've already made it
one foot.

Cruising to victory here.

Huh? Where's everybody going?

Are you done munching on algae?

AVIVA:
Chris, just thought
I'd warn you

the tide is receding.

You should get hit by
the waves any minute.

Uh-oh, home scars, that's it!

You must be going to your home
scars before low tide hits.

AVIVA:
"Home scars?"
Sounds like it hurts.

No, like scars in the rocks,

a limpet actually scrapes
a depression into the rock

with his rough tongue.

That's a home scar.

Oh, that must give them
a good protective surface

to hang on to
when the waves come.

And help them seal in tightly so
they don't dry up in the sun.

Got to go, I've got to make
a home scar fast!

Amazing that this limpet tongue
can grind rock!

(Grunting)

It's too late. My home scar
will never be done in time!

I got to find a place to hide.

Hot, hot... dry!

(Sighing)

A tide pool.

(Sighing)

Yes, that's a life saver.

Yay, you made it.

Yeah, and check it out:

A tide pool is a great place
to see intertidal creatures.

Some of the things don't look
like creatures. But they are!

Like that animal that looks like
a flower is an anemone.

And that animal that
looks like a ball of spines

is a sea urchin.

I never knew there was so much
cool stuff in tide pools.

I'm going to go check out
some other ones.

Uh-oh! Nolan, wait!

(Squawking)

Predators know about
tide pools though.

I feel like I'm part of a buffet
in here.

Hmm, mussels!

Maybe that'd be a little safer!

Yes!

Activate Mussel Power!

Ha! Woo!

Now that's
a pretty strong muscle

that snaps these shells closed.
I think I'm pretty safe now.

Or not.

Looks like you're
kind of stuck here for now,

until the tide comes in.

That's okay because
when the tide comes back in,

I'll be protected from
the crashing waves.

Uh-oh, but how will I move
towards the finish line?

Wow, I can't believe it!

What?

It's beautiful!

What's beautiful? What is it!?

Awesome!
Awesome!

What? I can't move
as a barnacle. What is it?

A starfish!
A starfish!

Or a sea star if you
like to call them that.

MARTIN:
A starfish?
Oh, let me see! Let me see!

AVIVA:
Oh, he's climbing onto
that mussel.

Why is he wrapping around it
like that?

He's hugging it.

Wrapping around a mussel?
That means he's going to eat it.

That's a rarely-seen
wildlife moment!

I got to see this!

(Grunting)

Wow! It looks like
he's pulling it apart!

Why is he doing that?

Okay, he's going to use
his super strong arms

to pry the mussel open
so he can eat the animal inside.

But where's his mouth?

On the underside of the starfish
in the centre.

Eww, but it looks like

something's coming out
of his mouth.

MARTIN:
Yeah, that's his stomach.

His stomach?

Yeah, a starfish can actually
push his stomach

outside his body and
put it inside the mussel.

He digests the mussel
right inside its shell.

Then the stomach scoops it up
and goes back into the starfish.

This is really weird,
cool weird.

I know. I know.

Oh, and I can't see it, no fair.

Sorry, barnacle dude,
you can't deactivate,

unless you want to lose
the challenge, of course?

No, I guess.

But, hey, starfish are pretty
good underwater walkers.

If I could get starfish power
after the tide comes in,

I can get mobile
and head to the finish line.

I think I can help with that.

Starfish Power Disc coming up!

Hold tight, Martin!

Jimmy, can you help me
test something?

Hmm? Aww, I thought you said
I could relax today.

Hmm, okay, yeah,
just sit there and relax

while I test
the tube feet features.

(Grunting)

They work!

See, each one of the tubules
attaches using suction.

And with so many of them

covering the arms
of the starfish,

it makes them super strong.

Ah! Can I come down now?

Just a sec.

See that round thing
at the top of the starfish?

Lots of people think
it's an eye. But it's not.

It's a way for the starfish
to get water into its body.

That whole system
of water-filled tubes

is the way that the starfish
moves it's arms

and activates
it's little power suckers.

See? It works with water power.

(Grunting)

I get it! I get it!

And when the starfish
wants to release the suckers,

the water system
helps with that too!

(Groaning)

That was not my idea
of relaxing.

But Jimmy, you didn't even have
to get out of your chair.

(Laughing)

Okay, this should do it.

Every intertidal creature
needs a way

to deal with the crushing waves.

And a mussel holds on
with sticky, rope-like threads

that attach to rocks.

All right: all set.

Bring on the waves!

Hey, dog whelks.

Come here, boys, come on!
Come here, doggies!

Cool, a dog whelk is a totally
different kind of snail

than the limpet.

These guys don't eat algae.
They're predators.

They eat things like clams,
barnacles, and--

uh-oh, mussels!

Okay, doggies, nice doggies,
down, doggies.

Oh, no, not your sharp,
drill-like tongue!

He's drilling a hole
in that mussel's shell!

A shell is no protection
from these guys.

Ooh, injecting the
digestive juices!

That'll turn the mussel
into a soupy mix

that he can just slurp up
with his straw-like tongue!

Oh, man, it is tough out here!

You fasten yourself to a rock
to deal with the waves.

But it makes you an easy meal
for the predators.

No, no!

No, please don't make a soup
out of me! I can't move!

The downside to sticky threads!

The sticky threads!
I almost forgot.

That's the mussels' defense
against dog whelks.

Sticky thread defense!

Sorry, doggies, but I'm going to
have to tie you up for a while.

Chris, the tide,
it's coming back up!

CHRIS:
Thanks, Nolan!

Hmm, I'm going to have to
find a way to get mobile fast!

Well, the tide's almost
back up again.

They both made it through
high tide and low tide.

Yup, it looks like it's going to
be a race to the finish line.

Chris is closer than Martin.

But they're both stuck as
creatures that don't move.

Hey, Aviva.

We gave them
the new starfish discs.

Great, now we'd better get
to the finish line.

This could get interesting.

Come on, starfish,
I'm a tasty barnacle,

a starfish favorite. Yum!

Oh, yeah, Aviva finished
the Starfish Power Disc

just in time.

That's right, come on, buddy.

Activate Starfish Power!

Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh!
Yes, I'm mobile!

Finish line, here I come.

Don't worry, buddy.

If I ever get out of here,
I'll cut you loose before I go.

But if I don't find
a way out of here soon,

Martin's going to
win this challenge.

Aww, I need a little luck here.

Yes: something coming my way.

Oh, no, it's Martin!

Hey, Chris!
See you at the finish line.

CHRIS:
Hey, a lobster.

Come over here, buddy!

Ah, yes, the final stretch
to the finish line

and it looks like everyone's
come out to cheer me on.

Hey, sea urchins, anemones,
how you doing?

Limpets, thank you.
Thanks, mussels.

Oh, hey, and another starfish:

Great to be you, buddy!

Uh-oh.

Starfish smell receptors are
smelling something dangerous.

Something fishy is going on,

something star-fishy, that is!

Now I recognize you.

You-- You're a sunstar,
a starfish-eating starfish!

Got to go, full speed!

Oh, no, he's gaining on me!

If I can just make it
to the finish line...

I'm not giving up!

I'll lose a limb
before I lose this race!

That's it!

Starfish can detach arms
if they're in danger!

Then the arm will
grow back later. Detach!

(Grunting)

Detach. Detach. Detach!

Whoa!

I'm free.

Good thing that's a spare arm.

AVIVA:
Calling Kratt Brothers!

It's now officially high tide!

First one to the finish line
is going to win

the Star of
the Intertidal trophy!

Easy! Oh, yeah!

I'm even going to win this
with one less starfish arm.

CHRIS:
Wahoo!

Speeding to the finish
with Lobster Power!

NOLAN:
Go! Go! Go! Hurry, faster!

Forget the race between
the tortoise and the hare.

What about the sea star
and the lobster?

It's going to be close.

Sorry, bro! I've got
lobster tail flick power!

Sorry back! I've got
starfish suction arms!

(Grunting)

Whoa!

I can't see!

Whoa! I cant see!

(Grunting)

I won!

No, I won!

No way, you haven't even
finished crossing the line.

You left an arm
back there.

So? I b*at you by a sucker foot.

Oh, no, not again!

(Laughing)

Well, guys, great job making it
through a full tide circle

in one of the harshest
habitats on Earth.

But after all that,

you're still going to have to
find a way to share that shell.

It's officially a tie.

Aww, well,
I guess we could share it.

Yeah, I guess it is
even more special

now that we know how rough it is
out there for these creatures.

And what amazing powers
they have!

So, why not share it?

That way,
the shell can remind us both

of the awesome creatures
of the intertidal.

Uhh, guys, look.

Hey!
Hey!

That's ours!

(Laughing)

Okay, you can have it.

Yeah, you need it more
than we do, anyway.

Good luck out there, buddy!

You're all the real stars
of the intertidal!

So, intertidal creatures

have some incredible adaptations
and abilities.

And if you're lucky enough
to be near a beach,

it's a great place
for a creature adventure.

All right, so,
is everybody ready to go

and see what kind of intertidal
creatures we can find?

Yeah!
Yeah!

Let's explore!
All right!

MARTIN:
Keep your eyes peeled.
You never know what you'll find.

Barnacles!

Yes, barnacles!
These are creatures!

MARTIN:
Look at all the barnacles
over here,

on this rock,
right in the direct sun.

The barnacles
are all closed down,

protecting themselves from
the drying heat of the sun.

They'll survive here
until the tide comes back in,

covering them with cool water.

CHRIS:
And when the high tide
comes in,

they'll stick out
their feathery legs

and catch little, tiny
microscopic animals

that come in with the tide.

Oh, wow,
you got a periwinkle snail,

a lot of Periwinkle snails.
They're grazers.

They feed on the algae
that grows on the rocks.

I found a mussel!

Oh, yeah,
that's a mussel, all right,

with a pink species of algae
growing on it.

So, the grazers,
like the periwinkle snails,

might eat the algae. But they
wouldn't eat the mussels.

You know who would eat
the mussels?

Who?

A dog whelk. It's a special kind
of predator snail.

MARTIN:
That is not just
any pretty shell.

Do you know what that is?
That's the shell of a dog whelk.

What this snail does:

crawls around the rocks,
searching for mussels.

Then when he finds 'em,

he drills a hole
in the mussel's shell.

See that?

And then, the dog whelk
drinks up the mussel inside.

Cool!

Chris, look what I found!

Oh, this is a crab
that just molted!

Look. Here's his old shell,
right here. It split open.

He crawled out. And look how
much bigger he is now.

Now his new shell's
going to harden.

And he's going to be
protected again,

with a brand new, bigger shell.

Whoa, that's a cool starfish.

These guys are predators.

These two feet are
why they're so strong.

They have such a strong grip.

And they can actually
pry a mussel apart.

When you really look closely,

there are so many creatures
out here.

All with incredible
creature powers!

Intertidal Creature Powers!
Intertidal Creature Powers!

♪

To find out more about cool
animals...