WEBVTT 00:00:08.216 --> 00:00:09.342 Enter a world 00:00:10.885 --> 00:00:13.763 just beyond your perception. 00:00:18.977 --> 00:00:22.272 A world of extraordinary animals... 00:00:23.231 --> 00:00:26.443 with hidden powers and super senses. 00:00:27.569 --> 00:00:30.697 If you think you know nature... 00:00:32.574 --> 00:00:33.825 think again. 00:00:42.709 --> 00:00:44.669 In the Costa Rican rainforest, 00:00:45.880 --> 00:00:49.084 sometimes the only way to get noticed 00:00:50.800 --> 00:00:52.709 is to move fast 00:00:53.094 --> 00:00:54.929 and move... 00:00:56.473 --> 00:00:57.888 with style. 00:01:00.393 --> 00:01:03.138 Of all the amazing animals here, 00:01:06.024 --> 00:01:09.771 of all their unexpected ways of attracting attention, 00:01:11.571 --> 00:01:14.032 this white-collared manakin… 00:01:16.076 --> 00:01:18.912 …may just be the greatest showman of all. 00:01:23.958 --> 00:01:27.378 His mating display has to be seen to be believed. 00:01:30.673 --> 00:01:33.593 He spent months preparing his stage. 00:01:35.762 --> 00:01:38.348 A star performer demands perfection. 00:01:39.849 --> 00:01:41.935 Not a single leaf out of place. 00:01:44.062 --> 00:01:47.732 Which can be a problem in a rainforest. 00:02:01.704 --> 00:02:03.456 Ah, that's better. 00:02:04.833 --> 00:02:07.502 Finally, it's showtime. 00:02:12.257 --> 00:02:15.844 A confusing routine of hopping about... 00:02:16.010 --> 00:02:17.804 strange snaps... 00:02:17.971 --> 00:02:19.597 ...and bizarre honking sounds. 00:02:21.432 --> 00:02:24.102 If this appears a bit odd to you... 00:02:24.686 --> 00:02:27.647 that's because it's for her eyes only. 00:02:30.483 --> 00:02:33.778 Female manakins can process visual information 00:02:33.449 --> 00:02:36.379 replay the action 00:02:33.903 --> 00:02:36.614 four times faster than a human. 00:02:38.449 --> 00:02:41.496 And now, ultra high-speed cameras 00:02:43.037 --> 00:02:44.957 from her point of view. 00:02:56.676 --> 00:02:58.928 Leaping across his stage.. 00:02:59.137 --> 00:03:01.431 the manakin snaps his wings together, 00:03:01.639 --> 00:03:03.725 creating an awesome crack... 00:03:07.770 --> 00:03:11.441 A crack that can be heard 300 yards away. 00:03:15.778 --> 00:03:18.072 As he repeats this display, 00:03:18.156 --> 00:03:21.249 the female's ultraviolet-intensifying vision 00:03:21.576 --> 00:03:23.898 picks out his plumage, 00:03:29.417 --> 00:03:32.587 and the male's carefully curated neutral background 00:03:33.230 --> 00:03:35.452 heightens her viewing pleasure. 00:03:37.634 --> 00:03:40.136 Then to finish with a flourish... 00:03:42.388 --> 00:03:45.642 the incredible, inverted... 00:03:45.767 --> 00:03:47.185 crack and flip. 00:03:52.774 --> 00:03:55.418 He bows out by spreading his wing tips 00:03:55.443 --> 00:03:57.320 and flapping as fast as possible, 00:03:59.280 --> 00:04:03.785 which, to her, sounds like an irresistible purr. 00:04:05.954 --> 00:04:07.721 Totally seduced. 00:04:08.895 --> 00:04:11.196 She joins him on stage 00:04:11.668 --> 00:04:13.544 for one last dance. 00:04:23.054 --> 00:04:25.139 When it comes to competing for a mate, 00:04:26.266 --> 00:04:29.143 each animal has it's own rules of engagement. 00:04:33.314 --> 00:04:37.443 But only those with the most enchanting super powers, 00:04:38.903 --> 00:04:40.655 will win the ultimate prize. 00:04:53.167 --> 00:04:57.005 The perfect partner rarely appears out of the blue. 00:05:01.050 --> 00:05:03.511 In fact, finding a mate 00:05:03.752 --> 00:05:06.784 is one of the biggest challenges animals face. 00:05:10.324 --> 00:05:13.980 So, devil rays in Mexico's Sea of Cortez 00:05:14.981 --> 00:05:18.943 increase their chances with an extraordinary power. 00:05:28.244 --> 00:05:31.289 The power of sound. 00:05:36.794 --> 00:05:38.421 Leaping more than six feet, 00:05:39.130 --> 00:05:40.923 they create sonic waves... 00:05:50.600 --> 00:05:53.269 And at twice the speed of a bullet... 00:05:57.231 --> 00:06:00.360 the sound radiates across the ocean. 00:06:03.613 --> 00:06:06.949 More than two and a half miles away... 00:06:07.116 --> 00:06:09.077 other devil rays, 00:06:09.102 --> 00:06:11.221 using specialized hearing organs 00:06:11.245 --> 00:06:14.432 with hyper sensory hairs, lock on. 00:06:19.735 --> 00:06:21.729 Numbers grow... 00:06:28.012 --> 00:06:31.391 until they're gathered in the thousands. 00:06:34.109 --> 00:06:36.750 These spectacular aggregations 00:06:37.730 --> 00:06:40.024 give each ray the best chance to pair up, 00:06:41.776 --> 00:06:45.463 but now the battle to breed really begins. 00:06:47.198 --> 00:06:49.700 Male rays chase females 00:06:51.369 --> 00:06:53.955 and compete with each other to be the first in line. 00:06:57.208 --> 00:06:59.063 All this activity 00:06:59.087 --> 00:07:01.129 also attracts trouble. 00:07:16.018 --> 00:07:20.398 This is the first time orcas have been filmed catching devil rays. 00:07:24.634 --> 00:07:26.341 Gathering together 00:07:26.365 --> 00:07:29.017 makes the rays easy targets. 00:07:34.825 --> 00:07:37.668 The opportunity to pass on their genes, 00:07:39.375 --> 00:07:41.403 is worth dying for. 00:07:46.466 --> 00:07:48.718 When the fight for mates gets fierce... 00:07:51.022 --> 00:07:53.383 it could take super strength... 00:07:55.349 --> 00:07:57.406 and secret powers 00:07:59.103 --> 00:08:01.266 just to keep rivals at bay. 00:08:06.402 --> 00:08:08.863 Two tons of blubber 00:08:08.946 --> 00:08:11.491 ...send a shockwave 00:08:14.285 --> 00:08:18.623 a hundred miles per hour across the sand. 00:08:26.297 --> 00:08:28.883 With amazing seismic sensitivity, 00:08:33.137 --> 00:08:37.016 the dominant male elephant seal detects a rival making his move. 00:08:49.862 --> 00:08:52.615 One of the loudest calls of any animal... 00:08:55.159 --> 00:08:57.002 a signature bellow... 00:08:58.120 --> 00:09:00.119 roars across the beach... 00:09:02.208 --> 00:09:04.877 reminding the competition... 00:09:05.002 --> 00:09:06.379 who's in control. 00:09:11.884 --> 00:09:14.106 On the California coast, 00:09:14.130 --> 00:09:16.514 the colony's undisputed heavyweight 00:09:17.348 --> 00:09:20.643 is known as the beachmaster. 00:09:23.604 --> 00:09:27.923 He's battled for the breeding rights to over 100 females, 00:09:30.570 --> 00:09:35.087 but keeping guard of his harem in one of the noisiest places on Earth... 00:09:41.504 --> 00:09:43.757 ...is a real headache. 00:09:46.064 --> 00:09:47.504 It's almost impossible 00:09:47.528 --> 00:09:49.711 to hear his rivals coming. 00:09:50.006 --> 00:09:53.467 Up to 60 challengers every day 00:09:54.260 --> 00:09:55.595 from every angle. 00:09:58.973 --> 00:10:02.184 But thanks to his amazing ability to detect vibrations, 00:10:07.315 --> 00:10:09.191 like a spider in a web, 00:10:09.942 --> 00:10:12.653 he can monitor an area of six tennis courts 00:10:13.529 --> 00:10:14.989 from his central position, 00:10:21.583 --> 00:10:24.275 His warning is usually enough 00:10:24.299 --> 00:10:26.919 to scare rivals into submission. 00:10:28.461 --> 00:10:30.302 But every now and then, 00:10:30.713 --> 00:10:33.049 a real contender emerges. 00:10:37.427 --> 00:10:39.780 He's just as big... 00:10:39.805 --> 00:10:41.607 just as powerful, 00:10:43.809 --> 00:10:45.978 ...and just as determined to breed. 00:10:50.628 --> 00:10:52.544 The beachmaster has no choice 00:10:53.903 --> 00:10:55.826 but to stand... 00:10:56.822 --> 00:10:58.224 and fight. 00:11:04.622 --> 00:11:07.568 Two-inch scar tissue shields the blows. 00:11:09.919 --> 00:11:13.326 Still, these bloody clashes take a toll. 00:11:27.812 --> 00:11:29.606 After two years 00:11:29.630 --> 00:11:31.844 and more than 300 fights... 00:11:44.405 --> 00:11:48.078 the beachmaster... is finished. 00:12:00.219 --> 00:12:03.597 Time for a new heavyweight to take his title. 00:12:06.642 --> 00:12:09.395 Defeated, exhausted, 00:12:10.855 --> 00:12:13.274 the old beachmaster is unlikely to see 00:12:13.299 --> 00:12:15.093 another mating season. 00:12:18.450 --> 00:12:20.584 But he can rest in peace. 00:12:22.575 --> 00:12:26.912 During his reign, it's likely he fathered over 100 pups, 00:12:29.415 --> 00:12:32.893 securing his place among the elite one percent of males 00:12:32.918 --> 00:12:34.929 who ever get to breed. 00:12:39.592 --> 00:12:42.659 Sometimes, the odds of finding a mate 00:12:42.683 --> 00:12:44.764 seem even more improbable. 00:12:51.145 --> 00:12:52.872 Rooted to the spot, 00:12:53.819 --> 00:12:58.449 Instead, they use their powers of attraction in more cunning ways. 00:12:58.848 --> 00:13:02.067 plants are unable to partner up. 00:13:11.081 --> 00:13:14.752 Mucuna is a vine on a mission. 00:13:22.301 --> 00:13:24.734 It needs to maximize its chances 00:13:24.758 --> 00:13:26.847 of reproducing by attracting a pollinator 00:13:34.146 --> 00:13:37.775 Most plants do this with bright and beautiful flowers... 00:13:44.949 --> 00:13:49.036 But Mucuna does things a little differently. 00:13:54.959 --> 00:13:59.088 With so many kinds of flower on display in the Costa Rican rainforest, 00:14:00.673 --> 00:14:05.344 Mucuna beats the competition by blooming at night 00:14:07.454 --> 00:14:11.725 and recruiting the services of a very special courier. 00:14:15.312 --> 00:14:18.941 Some animals can navigate in the darkest jungle. 00:14:23.195 --> 00:14:27.074 A long-tongued bat emits a string of ultrasonic clicks... 00:14:29.368 --> 00:14:32.499 ...that ricochet back to its hypersensitive ears. 00:14:35.958 --> 00:14:39.044 To build a detailed mental map of the forest. 00:14:45.718 --> 00:14:50.347 And amazingly, Mucuna's mirror-smooth petals 00:14:51.599 --> 00:14:54.768 reflect the bat's clicks so effectively... 00:14:54.852 --> 00:14:56.979 they're unmistakable. 00:15:03.652 --> 00:15:04.904 And irresistible. 00:15:10.618 --> 00:15:12.950 The bat can detect Mucuna more easily 00:15:12.974 --> 00:15:15.844 than almost any other plant here, 00:15:16.582 --> 00:15:19.578 it also scores ten times more nectar, 00:15:21.337 --> 00:15:23.923 lapped up with a super absorbent tongue 00:15:24.048 --> 00:15:26.508 that's longer than it's match-sized body. 00:15:32.681 --> 00:15:33.933 When it leaves... 00:15:36.226 --> 00:15:38.520 ...a unique exploding mechanism 00:15:39.855 --> 00:15:41.565 splits the flower's petals 00:15:43.150 --> 00:15:45.444 and fires out tiny pollen grains 00:15:46.487 --> 00:15:48.322 that cling to the bat's fur 00:15:50.324 --> 00:15:53.327 as he flies off to the next sweet shop. 00:16:02.419 --> 00:16:06.924 And because the bat can distinguish between old and new flowers... 00:16:11.512 --> 00:16:14.264 it ensures he gets nectar every time 00:16:17.101 --> 00:16:19.979 and that he only delivers Mucuna's previous pollen 00:16:21.230 --> 00:16:23.190 to fresh, fertile flowers. 00:16:32.032 --> 00:16:34.952 Sometimes, it pays to enlist a little help 00:16:35.035 --> 00:16:37.246 to find success in the mating game. 00:16:44.920 --> 00:16:47.939 And on Kenya's Lake Victoria, 00:16:47.963 --> 00:16:50.092 even humans have become 00:16:50.217 --> 00:16:52.845 an essential ingredient in one little critter’s 00:16:52.970 --> 00:16:54.930 gruesome romantic plans. 00:17:05.733 --> 00:17:08.235 Only the size of a grain of rice, 00:17:09.570 --> 00:17:12.072 a male vampire spider 00:17:12.740 --> 00:17:15.951 is desperate to win attention with his courtship ritual. 00:17:19.455 --> 00:17:24.501 But the female of the species is into some pretty freaky stuff. 00:17:26.920 --> 00:17:30.549 And right now, he's just not doing it for her. 00:17:35.679 --> 00:17:37.181 He only gets to mate 00:17:37.347 --> 00:17:40.017 if he's wearing a sweet perfume 00:17:40.809 --> 00:17:43.020 of human blood. 00:17:45.731 --> 00:17:48.567 But his fangs aren't made for human flesh. 00:17:51.195 --> 00:17:55.657 So he needs some other *er to do his dirty work. 00:18:01.580 --> 00:18:05.417 A mosquito is far better equipped for the job. 00:18:20.307 --> 00:18:22.142 With supersensitive antennae, 00:18:23.227 --> 00:18:25.646 it hones in on carbon dioxide in our breath... 00:18:27.773 --> 00:18:29.577 and heat from our bodies. 00:18:32.986 --> 00:18:36.740 Then the mosquito deploys a highly sophisticated 00:18:36.870 --> 00:18:38.914 Six specialized mouthparts 00:18:41.907 --> 00:18:44.076 blood extraction tool. 00:18:44.039 --> 00:18:47.543 combined to drill down and tap the human pipeline. 00:18:52.172 --> 00:18:56.093 Once a mosquito has drunk four times its body weight in blood, 00:18:58.345 --> 00:19:00.639 it's the spider's turn to strike. 00:19:21.743 --> 00:19:25.831 Large, forward-facing eyes with movable lenses 00:19:29.042 --> 00:19:34.256 enable the spider to lock onto the color and shape of a blood-laden mosquito. 00:19:37.551 --> 00:19:40.554 Then, on spring-loaded legs, 00:19:42.264 --> 00:19:43.724 he closes in. 00:19:46.393 --> 00:19:49.146 The only thing worse than a vampire spider... 00:19:52.024 --> 00:19:54.484 is a vampire jumping spider. 00:19:56.069 --> 00:20:01.283 Okay, make that a venomous vampire jumping spider. 00:20:03.994 --> 00:20:07.414 Fast-acting neurotoxin disables his victim instantly. 00:20:09.625 --> 00:20:12.252 Then he *s it dry. 00:20:22.471 --> 00:20:26.683 And this is just the beginning of his bloodthirsty killing spree. 00:20:48.455 --> 00:20:50.415 Because the more he drinks... 00:20:52.042 --> 00:20:54.086 the *ier he smells. 00:21:01.134 --> 00:21:02.511 Now, 00:21:04.263 --> 00:21:05.847 he's ready for romance. 00:21:14.606 --> 00:21:19.069 And with the sweet scent of blood oozing from every pore... 00:21:23.407 --> 00:21:25.867 who could possibly resist? 00:21:31.623 --> 00:21:34.459 Few animals do stranger things for love, 00:21:36.211 --> 00:21:40.048 but some get a whole lot sneakier. 00:21:45.220 --> 00:21:47.264 And one of the sneakiest of all 00:21:48.557 --> 00:21:51.601 is found in the rocky shallows of South Australia. 00:21:56.231 --> 00:22:00.027 A giant cuttlefish may be king of camouflage, 00:22:01.611 --> 00:22:03.965 but he can't hide forever. 00:22:06.147 --> 00:22:08.965 The males only live for two years, 00:22:10.441 --> 00:22:12.988 only have one season to breed, 00:22:14.213 --> 00:22:17.254 and face a lot of competition. 00:22:20.449 --> 00:22:25.277 Eleven males fighting over each female. 00:22:28.481 --> 00:22:31.598 Many of them are twice his size... 00:22:36.938 --> 00:22:39.488 and displaying war paint. 00:22:41.443 --> 00:22:44.780 Broadcast at higher resolution than a 4K TV, 00:22:45.697 --> 00:22:49.576 hundreds of thousands of color-changing cells flash. 00:22:57.588 --> 00:22:59.473 It's a warning 00:22:59.961 --> 00:23:03.677 that a ten-inch little guy knows to heed 00:23:04.591 --> 00:23:08.395 because the alternative... is to fight. 00:23:12.491 --> 00:23:14.684 they risk serious injury. 00:23:17.520 --> 00:23:19.996 When large males clash, 00:23:21.566 --> 00:23:24.194 Battles can last up to 20 minutes... 00:23:28.448 --> 00:23:31.701 and usually end when one escapes in a cloud of ink... 00:23:35.030 --> 00:23:37.575 leaving the winner to guard his prize, 00:23:38.828 --> 00:23:42.044 a smaller, paler female. 00:23:45.239 --> 00:23:48.583 Uniquely shaped pupils that boost color detection 00:23:50.137 --> 00:23:52.700 and see 360 degrees 00:23:54.224 --> 00:23:56.076 enable him to keep a lookout 00:23:56.101 --> 00:23:58.981 for any other males who dare to muscle in. 00:24:04.025 --> 00:24:08.363 But this little guy knows how to operate under the radar. 00:24:11.616 --> 00:24:16.121 Time to assume a more unexpected identity. 00:24:30.302 --> 00:24:32.099 Turn pale brown, 00:24:34.014 --> 00:24:36.606 retract tentacles, 00:24:37.601 --> 00:24:40.479 and appear more like a female. 00:24:43.190 --> 00:24:45.278 He needs to be careful, 00:24:45.721 --> 00:24:48.091 or he'll get a beating from the big guy 00:24:48.862 --> 00:24:51.005 for moving in on his mate. 00:24:54.701 --> 00:24:57.871 But the cross-dressing disguise is so convincing, 00:25:01.291 --> 00:25:02.903 he gets away with it. 00:25:06.616 --> 00:25:11.192 The female knows exactly what the sneaky little faker is up to. 00:25:12.747 --> 00:25:15.427 And she likes it. 00:25:19.643 --> 00:25:23.980 In fact, sneaky males are more successful at mating 00:25:24.005 --> 00:25:26.005 than their larger rivals. 00:25:27.484 --> 00:25:30.079 By the time the big guy realizes, 00:25:30.103 --> 00:25:32.559 it's too late. 00:25:34.644 --> 00:25:37.474 The little mimic is long gone. 00:25:37.953 --> 00:25:40.231 But his deed is done. 00:25:43.948 --> 00:25:46.153 A little role reversal 00:25:47.629 --> 00:25:49.763 can be best way to win. 00:25:51.299 --> 00:25:52.958 And it can also help 00:25:53.307 --> 00:25:55.817 in the lonely search for love. 00:26:01.851 --> 00:26:03.579 This female brown bear is only 00:26:03.603 --> 00:26:06.690 receptive for a few weeks every spring. 00:26:10.485 --> 00:26:13.655 So far, no male has come to visit, 00:26:14.948 --> 00:26:16.575 and if she doesn't mate soon, 00:26:17.701 --> 00:26:19.202 it won't happen this year. 00:26:26.751 --> 00:26:29.421 In the vast British Columbian wilderness, 00:26:31.047 --> 00:26:35.135 chances of just bumping into Mr. Right are slim. 00:26:38.597 --> 00:26:44.060 But this female knows a place with mysterious powers of attraction. 00:26:49.774 --> 00:26:52.444 Hidden deep in this forest, 00:26:54.362 --> 00:26:56.239 there's an enchanted tree. 00:27:00.243 --> 00:27:01.828 It may look like any other, 00:27:03.496 --> 00:27:05.582 but this Pacific silver fir 00:27:06.374 --> 00:27:08.835 has such phenomenal properties. 00:27:09.389 --> 00:27:12.655 It's a hotspot for male bears. 00:27:15.889 --> 00:27:17.932 Rubbing glands in their back, 00:27:20.884 --> 00:27:23.470 They've been visiting it for more than 100 years. 00:27:24.601 --> 00:27:26.090 their front, 00:27:27.020 --> 00:27:28.063 and their feet. 00:27:31.650 --> 00:27:34.611 They leave behind secret scent messages 00:27:35.195 --> 00:27:39.658 about their age, fitness, and social status. 00:27:42.410 --> 00:27:45.413 And because the fragrance gets trapped in sticky sap, 00:27:46.498 --> 00:27:50.752 it slowly diffuses into the atmosphere for up to a month. 00:27:57.801 --> 00:28:01.031 Male bears regularly use the rubbing tree 00:28:01.055 --> 00:28:02.847 to establish hierarchy. 00:28:05.725 --> 00:28:09.396 But this is something very rare. 00:28:13.024 --> 00:28:14.609 The female has figured out 00:28:15.568 --> 00:28:19.406 the tree also works as a woodland dating app. 00:28:27.080 --> 00:28:30.166 A site to post her "looking-for-love" status 00:28:31.793 --> 00:28:33.918 for any perusing male. 00:28:45.056 --> 00:28:47.809 Her own Timber profile uploaded, 00:28:49.644 --> 00:28:51.980 now all she can do 00:28:53.565 --> 00:28:55.817 is wait for the tree to work its magic... 00:29:00.321 --> 00:29:02.707 The sap begins to exude 00:29:02.731 --> 00:29:05.034 her signature perfume on slow release. 00:29:08.163 --> 00:29:11.040 Hours turn into days, 00:29:12.292 --> 00:29:14.043 and still no one passes. 00:29:15.503 --> 00:29:16.588 Then finally, 00:29:18.840 --> 00:29:20.008 a male. 00:29:25.555 --> 00:29:28.391 As soon as he gets wind of an available female, 00:29:31.811 --> 00:29:33.730 he's determined to track her down. 00:29:37.942 --> 00:29:39.319 And with a sense of smell 00:29:39.402 --> 00:29:42.071 seven times more sensitive than a bloodhound's, 00:29:46.326 --> 00:29:48.244 he follows her alluring scent, 00:29:52.099 --> 00:29:55.247 all the way to the beach. 00:30:02.020 --> 00:30:04.270 He's only just in time, 00:30:06.676 --> 00:30:10.020 but at least they already know they have the right chemistry. 00:30:16.064 --> 00:30:21.611 All thanks to the mysterious power of a matchmaking tree. 00:30:25.657 --> 00:30:27.470 Beneath the surface, 00:30:29.916 --> 00:30:31.689 further south, 00:30:32.660 --> 00:30:36.358 another animal also taps into the power of trees 00:30:36.383 --> 00:30:38.711 to help win the mating game. 00:30:41.881 --> 00:30:44.092 This periodical cicada 00:30:44.968 --> 00:30:48.930 has been feeding from tree roots in the North American forests of Virginia 00:30:49.848 --> 00:30:52.183 for more than 16 years. 00:31:12.412 --> 00:31:14.956 When he registers the spring sap beginning to flow 00:31:14.981 --> 00:31:16.833 for the 17th season, 00:31:19.068 --> 00:31:22.193 he knows it's time to surface. 00:31:26.676 --> 00:31:31.931 This numerical marvel has calculated his best chances of breeding. 00:31:34.726 --> 00:31:37.520 Still, there are no guarantees. 00:31:39.606 --> 00:31:40.607 Sluggish, 00:31:41.900 --> 00:31:43.026 and juicy, 00:31:44.944 --> 00:31:46.821 cicadas are an easy target, 00:31:49.115 --> 00:31:50.742 even for the slowest predator. 00:31:56.080 --> 00:31:59.125 But once again, they have numbers on their side. 00:32:03.296 --> 00:32:07.467 Incredibly, each cicada population synchronizes their lives 00:32:07.717 --> 00:32:10.803 to a precise 17-year schedule, 00:32:15.642 --> 00:32:18.311 an unpredictable prime number cycle 00:32:18.478 --> 00:32:21.205 that makes it almost impossible for predators 00:32:21.230 --> 00:32:23.923 to count on this glut of prey. 00:32:27.070 --> 00:32:31.950 Millions of them, all emerging at the same time, 00:32:33.952 --> 00:32:37.080 and this is the biggest emergence of all, 00:32:37.956 --> 00:32:40.291 known as Brood X. 00:32:42.669 --> 00:32:44.295 They must reproduce fast. 00:32:44.921 --> 00:32:47.799 In just six weeks, they'll all be dead. 00:32:50.802 --> 00:32:53.763 America's biggest speed dating event 00:32:54.555 --> 00:32:55.765 is about to begin. 00:32:57.392 --> 00:32:58.476 But first, 00:32:59.602 --> 00:33:01.479 an amazing transformation. 00:33:17.286 --> 00:33:18.955 By the time day breaks, 00:33:21.416 --> 00:33:24.002 nymphs have become adults, 00:33:25.920 --> 00:33:27.588 ready to attract a mate. 00:33:31.718 --> 00:33:33.803 Rubbing special organs on their sides 00:33:34.846 --> 00:33:36.889 makes a strange, buzzing sound, 00:33:39.434 --> 00:33:41.686 which their hollow bodies amplify. 00:33:44.105 --> 00:33:48.860 The call for love rings out as loud as a rock concert. 00:33:51.654 --> 00:33:55.324 But not all who respond are quite as welcome. 00:34:05.084 --> 00:34:06.794 A zombie cicada, 00:34:08.004 --> 00:34:13.342 riddled with the powder-like spores of a fungus called Massospora. 00:34:14.761 --> 00:34:20.308 The only enemy to crack the periodical cicada's 17-year code. 00:34:23.858 --> 00:34:24.901 from the inside... 00:34:28.853 --> 00:34:33.649 This fungal body snatcher eats its victims 00:34:34.280 --> 00:34:38.326 while flooding their brains with mind-controlling chemicals 00:34:40.244 --> 00:34:42.789 that compel them to mingle. 00:34:47.335 --> 00:34:51.089 Infected males even mimic the seductive flicks of females 00:34:52.465 --> 00:34:55.009 to entice others to mate. 00:34:56.803 --> 00:34:59.806 And so the contagion spreads. 00:35:03.601 --> 00:35:05.645 The fungus keeps its victims alive 00:35:05.770 --> 00:35:08.940 so they infect as many other cicadas as possible, 00:35:14.445 --> 00:35:15.988 and spread its spores 00:35:17.115 --> 00:35:19.158 far and wide. 00:35:25.123 --> 00:35:28.501 Finally, 14 days later... 00:35:32.839 --> 00:35:34.674 the zombie cicadas die. 00:35:40.680 --> 00:35:42.140 The spores, however, 00:35:43.474 --> 00:35:46.727 will lie in wait for 17 years, 00:35:48.396 --> 00:35:52.608 ready to infiltrate the next generation of unlucky cicadas. 00:36:02.493 --> 00:36:04.078 But with millions mating, 00:36:05.746 --> 00:36:09.667 and with each female laying 400 eggs into the tree's bark, 00:36:12.712 --> 00:36:17.466 such mind-boggling strength in numbers ensures periodicals cicadas 00:36:17.592 --> 00:36:19.468 are always able to multiply. 00:36:23.014 --> 00:36:27.810 For some animals, mating success is about playing the long game. 00:36:33.816 --> 00:36:35.985 On a coral reef in Southeast Asia, 00:36:37.445 --> 00:36:40.573 one creature uses mysterious powers of seduction 00:36:40.948 --> 00:36:43.367 to keep her partner under her spell. 00:36:49.290 --> 00:36:51.250 Female harlequin shrimps 00:36:51.925 --> 00:36:54.231 can only mate for a brief time 00:36:55.421 --> 00:36:57.450 after they shed their skin. 00:36:58.758 --> 00:37:01.510 And that happens only every three weeks. 00:37:04.096 --> 00:37:05.806 She needs to prepare. 00:37:09.810 --> 00:37:12.897 And her best chance of having healthy offspring 00:37:13.105 --> 00:37:16.150 is to eat as much as possible. 00:37:18.861 --> 00:37:21.280 Slow-moving and packed with protein, 00:37:22.907 --> 00:37:25.368 sea stars are her favorite prey. 00:37:32.416 --> 00:37:34.585 But getting to it's soft underside, 00:37:35.586 --> 00:37:36.712 that's hard. 00:37:39.590 --> 00:37:41.590 Ten times her size, 00:37:42.093 --> 00:37:44.553 it's hard to handle on her own. 00:37:46.973 --> 00:37:50.488 Thankfully, help is never far away. 00:37:53.229 --> 00:37:55.168 Her long term partner. 00:37:58.627 --> 00:38:00.918 She keeps him under her control 00:38:01.471 --> 00:38:04.582 by casting an invisible chemical potion. 00:38:10.746 --> 00:38:13.624 The male picks up this pheromone trail 00:38:15.668 --> 00:38:18.462 with hypersensitive hairs on his antennae. 00:38:22.967 --> 00:38:24.635 Powerless to resist, 00:38:27.388 --> 00:38:31.054 he's always around whenever she needs him... 00:38:35.322 --> 00:38:37.498 Sea star finally flipped. 00:38:39.541 --> 00:38:41.742 There's more than enough to keep her fed 00:38:42.179 --> 00:38:43.944 till it's time to mate. 00:38:46.532 --> 00:38:48.534 Thanks to her powers of attraction, 00:38:48.826 --> 00:38:50.552 her partner stays put. 00:38:56.709 --> 00:39:00.153 Patiently waiting 20 days, until finally, 00:39:02.067 --> 00:39:05.052 she retires to her secret crevice 00:39:05.778 --> 00:39:07.645 to undress. 00:39:09.422 --> 00:39:11.559 She emerges from her old shell, 00:39:13.976 --> 00:39:15.436 all soft-skinned, 00:39:17.068 --> 00:39:20.780 But now, she only has a few hours to mate 00:39:22.063 --> 00:39:24.357 even more beautiful than before. 00:39:25.863 --> 00:39:27.531 before her shell hardens. 00:39:28.824 --> 00:39:31.369 So to get her partner in the mood, 00:39:34.497 --> 00:39:36.165 she releases another potion, 00:39:39.794 --> 00:39:40.836 this time 00:39:41.504 --> 00:39:43.839 with powerful aphrodisiac properties, 00:39:44.882 --> 00:39:48.511 turning her submissive shrimp into a lusty male 00:39:49.637 --> 00:39:51.555 with only one thing on his mind. 00:39:57.353 --> 00:40:00.940 Filmed for the first time, they mate. 00:40:06.821 --> 00:40:08.322 It lasts only seconds. 00:40:12.318 --> 00:40:14.142 Then she's back to her old tricks 00:40:14.166 --> 00:40:16.961 So, a few weeks later, 00:40:19.166 --> 00:40:21.060 for keeping him under her spell. 00:40:24.463 --> 00:40:27.591 when her thousand tiny eggs finally hatch, 00:40:29.176 --> 00:40:32.430 he's right there, by her side 00:40:34.682 --> 00:40:37.601 as their offspring escape their mother's embrace 00:40:38.561 --> 00:40:39.937 to take their chances 00:40:40.062 --> 00:40:42.106 in the deep blue sea. 00:40:47.778 --> 00:40:51.115 Our world is full of wonderful animals 00:40:53.534 --> 00:40:56.287 with weird ways to win the mating game. 00:41:01.333 --> 00:41:03.377 But only a few have the power 00:41:05.504 --> 00:41:07.673 to make love last. 00:41:15.181 --> 00:41:19.977 Lar gibbon partnerships can endure for decades. 00:41:22.563 --> 00:41:25.731 But when the reality of family life kicks in, 00:41:26.859 --> 00:41:30.887 you have to go above and beyond to keep the spark alive. 00:41:42.947 --> 00:41:46.610 The mother's attention is focused on raising their young. 00:41:49.087 --> 00:41:50.950 She needs her partner 00:41:52.040 --> 00:41:54.798 to own the job of defending their home. 00:42:08.067 --> 00:42:13.489 A home that is one hundred acres of pristine Thai rainforest. 00:42:16.534 --> 00:42:18.953 It's too large an area to patrol. 00:42:22.915 --> 00:42:25.918 So, he uses a more sophisticated deterrent. 00:42:31.882 --> 00:42:34.385 Singing is his superpower. 00:42:35.928 --> 00:42:40.933 The louder and more melodic the call, the stronger the gibbon. 00:42:43.352 --> 00:42:45.688 Sound travels best in cool air. 00:42:49.024 --> 00:42:51.219 By singing at first light, 00:42:52.133 --> 00:42:57.366 he ensures rivals hear him loud and clear right across his territory. 00:43:00.202 --> 00:43:01.370 But soon, 00:43:03.831 --> 00:43:07.251 the hot sun causes moisture from the trees 00:43:08.752 --> 00:43:10.045 to rise. 00:43:12.756 --> 00:43:16.218 Creating air currents that disrupt his calls, 00:43:17.553 --> 00:43:19.179 reducing their effectiveness. 00:43:22.224 --> 00:43:25.603 By then, his work is usually done. 00:43:28.272 --> 00:43:30.065 But not today. 00:43:36.655 --> 00:43:37.865 Fruiting trees 00:43:38.991 --> 00:43:40.868 at the heart of the family territory 00:43:42.578 --> 00:43:45.843 have attracted the attention of a rival troop. 00:44:06.935 --> 00:44:10.439 If Dad can't defend their home, 00:44:10.689 --> 00:44:12.691 he'll lose his partner 00:44:13.651 --> 00:44:15.110 to a male who can, 00:44:15.986 --> 00:44:18.781 and his offspring could even be killed. 00:44:23.285 --> 00:44:25.579 Time for the father to step up... 00:44:26.789 --> 00:44:28.290 and show his full force. 00:44:43.847 --> 00:44:47.226 With extended arms, hook-like hands, 00:44:48.477 --> 00:44:50.836 and a rotating shoulder joint, 00:44:55.067 --> 00:44:58.028 he accelerates to 35 miles per hour. 00:45:04.827 --> 00:45:07.705 With his awesome display of speed and strength, 00:45:11.667 --> 00:45:13.460 he intimidates his rivals. 00:45:16.130 --> 00:45:17.923 It's enough to drive them away 00:45:19.299 --> 00:45:20.843 and prove to his partner 00:45:22.261 --> 00:45:23.679 he's got what it takes. 00:45:34.857 --> 00:45:35.899 Next morning, 00:45:36.608 --> 00:45:39.153 the male is up and singing as usual. 00:45:47.411 --> 00:45:50.289 But this time, she joins him... 00:45:58.547 --> 00:46:01.884 to let him know he's still her king of swing. 00:46:12.144 --> 00:46:14.938 And let the whole jungle know 00:46:15.105 --> 00:46:18.150 that their bond is strong. 00:46:24.907 --> 00:46:27.201 In the quest to pass on their genes, 00:46:29.536 --> 00:46:33.457 animals use incredible skills to win a mate. 00:46:35.000 --> 00:46:38.337 And spectacular displays to beat their competition. 00:46:44.301 --> 00:46:45.636 After all... 00:46:47.679 --> 00:46:49.890 when it comes to sharing your future... 00:46:55.020 --> 00:46:57.856 only the most super-powered partner will do. 00:47:02.694 --> 00:47:04.279 You think you know nature? 00:47:06.657 --> 00:47:07.825 Think again.