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Natural Curiosities Season 2 Episodes
Season 2 Episode Guide
10 Episodes 2013 - 2014
Episode 1
Virgin Births
24 mins
Davis presents parthenogenesis, asexual reproduction, notably in species which are capable of sexual breeding too. Sometimes it's the way for a population to be established by a single colonizing female, as Komodo dragons did on various smaller Insulind islands. Sometimes cloning is deemed ideal for a species perfectly adapted to its environment, albeit a gamble on the long run to give up natural variation. Often however it's combined with sexual reproduction in a complex seasonal s-cycle, as with aphids, whose females also breed pregnant offspring, so as to clone themselves fast in huge numbers.
Episode 2
Armoured Animals
23 mins
Davis presents two species famous for their body armor, while wondering why it's not more common. First the skin plated rhinoceros, subject of myths until a tame female from colonial India was toured throughout Europe by a Dutch captain. Next the spines-covered hedgehog and his actually very different, not closely related African counterpart, the porcupine.
Episode 3
Life in the Dark
24 mins
David presents two animal types who cope with deep dark fabulously, in different ways and surroundings. First the owls, whose eyes, skull and even spine are anatomically adapted spectacularly to allow incredible eyesight, even at night, yet depends no less on his fine hearing. Next the deep sea squids, a giant with the present fauna's larger eyes, who must use bio-luminescence in the pitch dark at about 1000 meters depth.
Episode 4
Curious Imposters
24 mins
Some animals have mastered the art of deception. The cuckoo lays its eggs in the nest of other birds and tricks them into raising its young, while the spooky looking Death's-head hawk-moth deceives hundreds of bees to steal their honey. How do these cheats and imposters get away with it?
Episode 5
Bad Reputations
23 mins
David presents two animals who have worse reputations then deserved. First the gorilla, long seen by none or too few Westerners in the flesh, which alas also got its scientific name after discoverer Savage. Next vampire bats, a story of mistaken species identity and mixing up with East Eiropean vampire myths, culminating in Bram Stoker's literature.
Episode 6
Shocking Senses
24 mins
David presents aquatic animal species who make shockingly efficient use of self-generated electricity. First electric eels, who use such powerful current that it stuns or kills prey or assailants, even grown men. Next various other fish, who also master techniques to use electricity as a sixth sense to locate invisible prey.
Episode 7
Life on Ice
24 mins
David presents vertebrate species who cope amazingly with freezing cold. First the emperor penguin, where the males especially brave incredible cold to mate and protect their offspring. Next North American frog species who mastered the art of surviving frost even in ice thanks to a sort of cry-stasis.
Episode 8
Spinners and Weavers
23 mins
David presents animal species who produce amazingly elaborate and efficient constructions. First spiders, and to a lesser degree caterpillars, who spin silk for webs and various specialized purposes, a process scientists still are unable to fully understand, let alone copy. Next weaver birds, whose hanging nests, a male's best bid to earn an impressed female as breeding mate, require incredible, largely innate qualities, including tying knots (uniqe for birds) and expertly selecting fit materials.
Episode 9
Strange Parents
24 mins
David presents two animal species who redistributed parental roles and properties most unusually. First sea-horses, where the male has a pouch to brood the eggs, a still largely unexplained role reversal with strong couple bonding, exponent of an evolution among its related precursors. Next hyenas, where females are larger, stronger, dominant but hard to distinguish as their external sex organs resemble a male's.
Episode 10
Magical Appearances
23 mins
David presents animal species whose seasonal (dis)appearing has puzzled men for centuries. First geese and other migratory birds, which were long supposed to 'hibernate' in bizarre ways, a matter of dispute centuries even after emperor-falconer Frederic Hohenstaufen wrote down the actual fact. Next butterflies, who were believed 'sponteously generated' until people realized they are the adult form of utterly dissimilar caterpillars.